A Godly President

By Beniah Wilson

 

In this election, we are faced with a choice: elect Godly leaders, or choose candidates whose political stands and personal qualifications violate the standards laid out in the Bible. Although there weren’t many democratic elections of kings in the Bible, there are still principles and even commands concerning what kind of rulers ought to be in charge. Some of the more direct passages include Ex. 18:21, Deut. 17:16-17, Ps. 72:4, and 1Tim. 3:2-13. Some are more indirect, like 1Sam. 12:14-15, Isa. 1:23, Psa. 5:1-5, and Prov. 31:9. In these passages, we find that a good ruler needs to fear God, be trustworthy, give justice, defend the rights of the poor and needy, and fight oppression. He must not look to other nations for help, have many wives, acquire excessive wealth, or accept bribes.

How do the different candidates measure up to these qualifications? The democratic nominee comes up short on many of these, the first being the fear of God. If someone is to fear God, then they must obey His word, including passages like Ex. 20:13, and Lev. 20:13. Because Barack Obama supports killing of babies (through abortion), same-sex marriage, trusting in other nations, and withholding rights (through progressive taxation, eminent domain, gun bans, etc), he fails these requirements.

Perhaps our republican candidate is a better option. However, he falls short of these qualifications on several accounts also. First, he has not been trustworthy. For instance, he claims to be against same-sex marriage, yet he voted against a constitutional ban on this. He was not faithful to his wife, either. He left his wife and three children after having an affair with the woman who is his current wife. He has also been unfaithful to his party. He considered leaving the Republican Party in 2001 and in 2004. Ironically, the current democratic vice presidential candidate, Joseph Biden, endorsed McCain to run as democratic VP to John Kerry in 2004. Second, he does not uphold the rights of the fatherless (Isa. 1:23). He is in favor of allowing abortion on children conceived through rape or incest. Third, he trusts in other nations for help. Fourth, he also has restricted rights, such as free speech. Did you know that the McCain-Feingold act restricts non-profit organizations from speaking for or against candidates? For this reason, I must stress that all views presented here are mine personally, and I do not represent this newspaper or any other organization in saying these things. Because of McCain’s legislation, I must include the previous sentence. Also, he has supported legislation like the Patriot Act, which violates the right to privacy. Fifth, he distorts justice by favoring amnesty to people who have illegally immigrated to our country. Sixth, he believes that the government is man’s savior. He supports the government taking over free-market systems such as banking. As it turns out, this is one of the Marxist planks for destroying a free society.

Doesn’t McCain’s running mate make up for these shortcomings? Sarah Palin is heralded by conservatives as a great Christian mother who is very pro-family. However, she too fails the biblical qualifications on several levels. First, as governor, she vetoed a bill to ban same-sex marriage in Alaska. Second, she believes in teaching the theory of evolution in schools as “accepted principle” as she stated in an interview with Katie Couric of CBS. Third, she is not running her family well; her 17-year-old daughter has not conducted herself properly and is now pregnant. Also, by running for office, she is neglecting her children. She is compromising family values, to support family values. This is a contradiction. Fourth, she is a woman. Everywhere that God gives qualifications for leaders, He refers to the leader as ‘he’ (see 1Tim. 3:2). Fifth, she is a feminist. This is rebelling against God’s rule for men to lead. Feminists for Life member Sarah Palin has even been endorsed by democrats like Shelley Mandell, president of the Los Angeles, California, chapter of the National Organization for Women, simply because she is a feminist.

Many conservatives are voting for McCain out of fear that Obama will win. But is fear the right reason to vote? I hold that voting based off of God’s criteria for a leader should be a higher priority than fear. Seeing as neither the Republican nor the Democratic candidate matches God’s qualifications, we are forced to turn to the third parties. Out of the FOUR other candidates that have the potential to win enough electoral votes to win the election, only Chuck Baldwin meets all of these criteria. I have included part of a voter’s guide for all five of the candidates that will be on the Kansas ballot. (Complete presidential voter’s guide is available at www.natewilsonfamily.net/2008PresVoteGuide.htm )

Doesn’t voting for a Godly candidate who is sure to lose split the Christian vote? No. Voting according to God’s principles is the only Christian vote. Regardless of who wins, you will know that you did the right thing rather than having a scar on your conscience, knowing that you voted against God’s standards. A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil. John Adams said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” A wasted vote is a vote for a candidate that you do not or should not support.

God tells his people, “Fear not” 33 times in the Bible. He says, “Do not be afraid” another 33 times. Ten times, He commanded them, “Be strong and courageous”. Will you obey God, be courageous, and vote based on God’s qualifications, or will you disobey God, yield to fear, and vote for a less-than-ideal candidate because you are afraid of his rival?

This Tuesday, you have a choice to vote for a not-so-godly candidate or for a candidate who meets God’s requirements. Will you vote in fear of Obama or in fear of God?

 

Candidate

John McCain

Barack Obama

Ralph Nader

Bob Barr

Chuck Baldwin

Party

Republican

Democrat

Independent

Libertarian

Constitution 

Occupation

US Senator

US Senator

Activist; Attorney

Attorney; President of consulting firm

Pastor

Family

Divorced first wife after affair with second wife; Father of 7

Father of 2

Not Married

Has divorced twice; Father of 4

Homeschool father of 3 children

HUMAN LIFE           Against all abortions except to save mother's life

NO                  (Exceptions for rape and incest)

NO

NO

YES                                (But let his second wife, have an abortion)

YES

Supports embryonic STEM CELL RESEARCH

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

INCOME TAX            Favors a socialist progressive income tax

MIXED

YES

YES

NO

NO

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF FREE MARKET Supports the economic bailout

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

AMNESTY                           Favors granting amnesty to illegal immigrants

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

UNITED NATIONS   Supports a one world government

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

Supports the RESTRICTION OF LIBERTY of citizens if the government sees fit

YES

YES

NO

MIXED

NO

EMINENT DOMAIN         The Taking of private property for public use, or for the general betterment of society

For public use only

For public or private use; for the general betterment of society

For public use only

Never without overwhelming public interest, public use, and fair compensation

Never without overwhelming public interest, public use, and fair compensation

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE in federal laws; Supports Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

YES                            (But voted against Constitutional Ban on same sex marriage)

NO

NO

YES                 (Introduced DOMA; but opposed to constitutional ban)

YES

OPPOSES GAY PRIDE

YES

NO

NO

NO

YES

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION              Supports mandatory hiring of women and minority groups

MIXED

YES

YES

NO

NO

GUN RIGHTS       Opposes an assault weapons ban

YES

NO

NO

YES

YES

HEALTH CARE      Supports governmental control of health care

NO

YES                            (But Voluntary for Adults)

YES

NO

NO

OPPOSES JUDICIAL LAWMAKING             Supports originalist supreme court justices

YES

NO

No Stated Position

NO                                 (If it supports liberty)

YES

PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION          Supports parental choice of schools in education

YES

NO                        (Parents should be involved though)

YES                            (As long as it is a public school)

YES

YES

Sources: ontheissues.org, votesmart.org, candidate’s websites, news articles, etc

 

Voter’s guide for local elections is available at http://www.natewilsonfamily.net/2008VoteGuideManhattan.htm