I’ve been avoiding posting anything political on this blog. I have feared judgement and divisiveness.
Last night Matt and I had dinner out. While talking about a mired of issues, our conversation passed along to an email sent from one of my aunts. My father is the oldest of 13 children and they have a family yahoo group where they can share emails about family, etc.
I have felt that in the past few weeks especially, this yahoo group has been used to coerce family members into a particular type of vote. The substance of the email we talked about was fairly simple. “Pray for the 1/2 hour Obama commercial. Ask God to put a shield of protection around our nation from deception. Pray for Obama to show his true colors to the world.”
And I got angry. We are all entitled to our opinion about anything. It’s what freedom is about. But to put a label on someone whom you haven’t even met? Isn’t that judgment? Aren’t we called to be different than the world?
Abortion is a very volatile issue. I had a long discussion with my neighbor yesterday about McCain vs Obama. What is holding her back is the abortion issue. Yes, it is terrible, tragic, and awful that abortion happens. I do not support abortion. I think that God never intended abortion to be any part of anyone’s plan. Yet, I also feel that Roe vs Wade will never be overturned.
I know many Christians base their vote on the abortion issue. Again, that is your freedom and right. What I struggle with so much is that it tends to be the ONLY issue that people vote on. Yes, thousands of babies are murdered every day. Wrong.
But thousands of babies are born every day into NOTHING! Poverty, abuse. Why aren’t we speaking for them? Why must the Christian right ALWAYS focus on issues that are only a small part of the heart of Christ!!!
I had an aunt who emailed how absolutely livid she was hearing the debate and Obama’s words on abortion. Is McCain truly any different in his views? Can politicians these days really have an ANTI abortion stance and be president?
I don’t know. I do know that I have had to focus on voting for more than the issue of abortion. McCain and Obama are taking a very similar stance on abortion—letting the states decide. If abortion is a deal breaker for many Christians, how can that be reconciled?
I do agree with Obama on many of his social justice issues. That is why I am voting for him. We need someone who has lived in that world of poverty and depression. He worked alongside the Catholic Church for many years in Chicago, bringing change to those around him.
I had to vote for more than just one issue. I had to vote for a leader who cares for the uneducated, the poor, the middle class.
So, forgive my public ranting. I don’t think I can change anyone’s mind. That is not even my intention. I needed to put into words for ME why I voted for Obama. I needed to see in black and white why I chose this candidate. Because I am now responsible to live out what I am saying. If I only talk and never do, there has been no vote cast, no freedom truly lived out!
A few Hours Later:
I realize that abortion is not the ONLY issue people vote for…there is the war, the economy, our health care, etc. My post was conceived after reading that particular email from an aunt.
See, already I feel weird posting this so feel a need to justify my response. I won’t add any more. Please know that again, this is my heart, my opinion. I know your heart and your opinions are also valid. That’s why I LOVE living in this nation. Okay, enough already!
I was born in Jos, Nigeria many years ago. I spent the next nineteen years living in Liberia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
You wrote so eloquently… and you expressed EXACTLY what I do when I attempt to tell other Christians why I am voting for Obama. Abortion is just one issue. I’m with you, friend.
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Just read that you knew Josh Banner at Wheaton… Crazy. That is my Josh’s BF. We love him and his also super intelligent wife (She has her PHD in Poetry… I’m sorry, what? ) Little World.
Yay for Freedom.
Go Obama.
You are not the only one who feels this way! I have another blogging friend (Tiana, if you go to my blogroll) who has written about similar things. She has experienced a lot of criticism. I have avoided anything political on my blog for the same reason. I just wish that Christians could agree that it’s okay we don’t all think the same way. Hopefully all Christians take really seriously their voting, and wrestle with the candidates and come to their decisions not lightly. We sure haven’t. You speak many of the things we feel so concerned about. But it’s so hard to talk about these things and not get huge criticism, so we just don’t! Anyway, there are others out there who think like you. I think we just tend to keep quiet about it.
You are one brave girl… I like that!
I am one of those who put a huge amount of weight on the abortion issue, and I definitely would not consider it a “small part of the heart of Christ”. I believe how one views abortion points to their entire world view concerning life. How you view the sanctity of human life and God’s role in that is foundational and it cannot be separated or isolated from any other issue.
That said I get where you are coming from, and I agree with many of your points, and yet came to a different conclusion. Isn’t America great?!
I too believe that the “sanctity of human life” is foundational to how you view the world and many other beliefs stem from it. To have a consistent viewpoint on life issues goes way beyond opposing abortion. It means directly addressing child poverty, obesity, economic injustice, gender inequality, racial inequality, the use of military force as a foreign policy tool, the death penalty, elder care, education, and so on. If you don’t allow the “life issue” to inform those areas fully, then you aren’t really pro-life, you’re just anti-abortion.
It’s an issue of consistency–valuing life from conception to death and all that comes in between.
You don’t change a worldview (anyone’s, including your own) by the preponderance of facts alone. There is relationship, nuance, and experience woven into the fabric of our lives.
As our pastor, Kelly Williams from Vanguard Church, is fond of saying, our job is not to change people’s worldview or politics. Instead, our job is to love people into a real relationship with Jesus Christ. That can only happen through authentic relationships where you incarnate Jesus “agape” love to others.
Perhaps if we focused more on developing consistent views on public policy, and expressing them through real relationships with others, we would leave room for the Holy Spirit to work.
Oh my goodness! It’s like you knew exactly what I was thinking and wrote it!
Thanks for being bold. You are not alone.
jill
official obama momma
fellow AW momma
I love it when people can speak their mind without being nasty or rude or by just throwing insults and talking points… While I’m going to be voting for another candidate (wonder who) I think it’s very important for you to feel free to speak your mind, especially on your own blog. Good job,no, great job!
I stumbled across your blog and want to thank you for your beautifully put words. My husband and I have this conversation often and always end up where you have. You are not the only one out there who does not just look at the issue of abortion as the only pro-life issue. There are many things I believe are central to my pro-life beliefs other than abortion. Again, thank you for your thoughts and the kind way you conveyed them.
You’re absolutely right.
Those of us who speak against abortion and who could under no circumstances vote for a candidate who endorces it as a woman’s right, should be doing something about poverty and abuse, as well as teen pregnancy and related issues.
And, many of us are.
Many of us are changing our entire lifestyle to go without certain things to give to those very children in need. Many of us are willing to provide every necessity we possibly can to those children and do so on a regular basis.
But even if some are not, it still does not make abortion acceptable and some people’s conscience dictates that they must vote for the candidate they feel best advocates life to honor the very Giver of it.