Inquire of the LORD

posted by guest blogger, BroKen.

A colleague of mine asked an excellent question last week. “What are the spiritual issues raised in the current campaign for the presidency?” I told him I'd have to think about that. I have and here is my answer.

First and foremost is abortion. That is THE moral issue facing our generation. Any candidate unwilling to defend the weakest and most vulnerable of humanity does not deserve support or even a vote.

Does that make me a “one-issue” voter? I don't think so. There are many important issues. But life is so important, a pro-choice candidate is disqualified whatever other good qualities they may have. Similarly, a candidate who is a racist would never get my vote. But I am not a one-issue voter on race, either.

Another spiritual issue raised by the campaigns is class envy. There are wealthy Americans and there are relatively poor Americans. No doubt some wealthy Americans are greedy and selfish. But certainly there are selfish and greedy poor people, too. Encouraging the relatively poor to view the rich with suspicion, bitterness, and envy is a recipe for disaster. We are Americans whether rich or poor and we're all going to be needed to solve the problems we face.

My friend said that the care for the poor was a major issue for him. It isn't for me. Don't misunderstand. The care of the poor is a major spiritual issue. But government care of the poor is both inefficient and ineffective. It is ineffective because poverty is often less an economic problem than a spiritual problem. Since our government refuses to use spiritual resources, it usually just throws money around. That money generally ends up wasted and often makes the problem worse.

Government care for the poor also lets people with resources, when confronted with a person in need, say stupid things like, “I pay my taxes. Let the government help them.” instead of getting involved
themselves. 

Another big issue is the national debt. Yes, that is a spiritual issue. It has been said that since we are borrowing from ourselves, it doesn't really matter. We'll just pay ourselves back. But that is misleading. The ones who will have to pay for our borrowing are our children or grandchildren. Eventually, the bill will come due. It will be paid by restrictions on what government can do because of a lack of funds, or through higher taxes to service the debt, or, God forbid, through an economic collapse as the dollar becomes untrustworthy.

Spending money that we don't have burdens our progeny with the obligation to pay it back. If we are unwilling to choose to restrict our spending, then we compel our children to restrict theirs without any choice. Using freedom (ours) to limit the freedom of others (our children) is quintessentially immoral.

I am embarrassed to admit that I had not thought about the election in these terms before my friend suggested I think spiritually. Here's hoping you will think spiritually too.

Comments

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

BroKen,

I’m with ya’ on the abortion issue, actually all on your list, but what is it you want/expect from Romney, or for that matter any pro life politician, to do considering the Supreme Court has long since ruled on this issue?

Is reversal of Roe vs. Wade even possible?

As your list attests, this country has some serious issues to deal with right now. I have to admit, abortions are not that high on my list, and suspect others too, of what we need to correct.

[BroKen]

Abortion not high on the list? The same could have been (and probably was) said of slavery in the early 1800s. It was still THE moral issue of the day.

Is reversal possible? Perhaps with a Romney replacement of Bader-Ginsburg or Breyer. If Obama replaces them or a conservative justice... definitely no reversal.

So, I want/expect conservative justices appointed by Romney. From other politicians I would want support for legal protections for the unborn. A candidate near me just got into trouble for voicing support for the unborn even in cases of rape. He was clumsy and maybe even stupid in how he said it... but he was telling the truth. A Republican official trying to smooth it over said, "Some Republicans believe that life begins at conception. Other Republicans think there are exceptions to that rule." Consider that. Exceptions to when one is a human. More stupid and clumsy talk from a Republican! But that attitude, exceptions to humanity, are what make this THE issue of our generation.

Thanks, tim, for the comment and the questions.

[Zoe]

Question BroKen:

Are you also pro life in cases of war or the death penalty?

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

BroKen,

Touché on the slavery analogy.

But even with new justices …I’m no court scholar but I don’t recall ever hearing about SC decision being reversed.

~ ~ ~

Zoe,

Yeah, you’re right, an unborn child is exactly like someone who committed a hideous crime.

Also, I can’t think of a better analogy than a fetus and…say…an Islamic suicide bomber, Hitler’s storm troopers, communists…etc. Same, same.

Though I can actually see your confusion, as many on your ideological side would rather terminate fetuses than our enemies.

Keep up the good work, we’re all better people for having read your insightful comment.

[BroKen]

tim, I'm no supreme expert but I'm pretty sure the court can reverse decisions of previous courts. They did it to the Deed Scott decision, I think. Anyway, that is my hope and prayer.

Zoe, I would align myself with just war theory. As to the death penalty, a friend once asked me quite bluntly, "How can a Christian support the death penalty?" I replied, "I think there is a measure of grace in telling someone, especially a guilty person, 'On this day you will meet your Maker. Be prepared.'" My friend went on about how unjust the implementation is. I said, "That's a different question, isn't it?"

[Zoe]

Thank you BroKen.

tim, you are a sad little man...lol.