Evangelicals energized as election nears

For several months, I have been seeing a remarkable energy within the
evangelical community as the November elections draw near. I truly have
not seen such a vigorous groundswell of anticipation regarding the
elections since Ronald Reagan first claimed the White House in 1980. I
believe this unified spirit is the result of eight tumultuous years of a
Clinton administration that has dishonored and disrespected the history
of honor within the Oval Office.

A USA Today cover story on Thursday, Oct. 19, noted that Republicans
are “more fired-up than Democrats” regarding the election on Nov. 7th.
I believe this is largely the result of the influence of evangelical
voters.

In my own People of Faith 2000 effort, we sincerely believe that we
have enrolled and energized several million evangelical voters who would
not have voted on Nov. 7th without this effort.

However, in the USA Today article, Republican pollster Bill McInturff
warned, “I’ve seen a lot of elections where the Democrats mobilize their
base in the last 10 days, and the Republican advantage in intensity
evaporates.”

That is a legitimate caution, especially when one considers the
devious tactics the White House team is willing to utilize to secure a
win for their candidate. They will do virtually anything to stir
Democrats to action in the days prior to the election. President
Clinton actually went into a black church in 1998 and warned black
voters that Republicans were manning the polls to prevent African
Americans from casting their votes. And he got away with it.

Mr. Gore has already implored black pastors to push for his election
— from their pulpits. “I’m asking you in your sermons to do the work
of the Lord here on earth,” the New York Times reported him saying to
the pastors. (I noticed that there was no complaint in the article by
American’s United for Separation of Church and State — the group that
habitually attacks conservative pastors and churches — or the Federal
Elections Commission or Internal Revenue Service.)

I shudder to think what else the Democrats might concoct in the next
few days in order to secure their hold of the White House — especially
now that many polls indicate Mr. Gore is continuing to lag behind
Republican candidate George W. Bush. The latest rumor to sweep
Washington — and there are many — is that the Gore campaign intends to
release what they believe is scandalous information on Mr. Bush just
prior to the election so that he does not have time to address the
charges. In other words, an “October Surprise” could happen at any
moment since Mr. Gore’s campaign is floundering.

The Oct. 19 USA Today/CNN/Gallup Tracking Poll (based on polling from
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) shows Mr. Bush with a 48 percent to 42
percent lead over Mr. Gore (with a margin of error of plus or minus 4
percentage points). Other polls indicate similar findings. These are
amazingly poor polls for an incumbent candidate in a positive economic
environment.

It is up to us — conservative people of faith — to remain confident
and committed to supporting the candidate whom we feel will embrace the
moral and ethical leadership that was once expected of our
national leaders. Conservative Christians are one of the largest voting
blocs in America — even if we are frequently the most despised and
ignored group — and we must collectively vote from our hearts on Nov.
7th.

I am including in my column today a Bible-based diagram outlining the
six duties of Christians as related to the election. I hope this
outline, formulated by my dear friend, Dr. Clifford Clark, will
encourage all Christians to fulfill their God-given duty to participate
in the election process. This outline is intended to give Christians a
perspective on voting by relating what the Bible has to say about
political activism and the responsibilities of believers regarding
governmental matters.

Six biblical principles for Christian voters

1. Christians are to be involved in the democratic process of voting.
(“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto
God the things that are God’s” Matt. 22:21.)

2. Christians are to pray for their governmental leaders. (“I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that
are in authority …” 1 Tim. 2:1-3.)

3. Christians are admonished to respect and obey their governmental
leaders — except when they are commanded to disobey the teaching of the
Holy Scriptures by those leaders. (“Let every soul be subject to the
higher powers …” Rom. 13:1-7 and, “Then Peter and the other apostles
answered and said, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men'” Acts 5:29.)

4. Christians should elect to office those candidates who will uphold
and mirror, in their personal lives, biblical righteousness.
(“Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people”
Prov. 14:34.)

5. Candidates should reflect biblical righteousness in these areas:

• The biblical family structure. (“So God created man in his own
  image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
  them” Gen. 1:26-28.)

• Local churches should be allowed to remain free from governmental
  interference. (“That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
  not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
  holy and without blemish” Eph. 5:25-27.)

• The sacredness of human life, from conception to death (“for I am
  fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my
  soul knoweth right well” Ps. 139:13-16.)

• The work ethic and thrift. (“For even when we were with you,
  this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he
  eat” 2 Thes. 3:10. “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand;
  but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer
  is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth
  shame” Prov. 10:4-5.)

• Accepting full and ultimate responsibility for attitudes and
  behavior. (“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to
  himself. … So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
  God” Rom. 14:7-12.)

• Reflect a Christian lifestyle and character. (“I am the Lord thy
  God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
  of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:1-7. “And
  that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
  and true holiness” Eph. 4:24-28.)

• Loving others regardless of rejection, race, color, economic
  status or religion. (“Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity
  envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not
  behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
  thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth
  …” 1 Cor. 13.)

6. Christian Americans should endeavor to live their lives so that
God can and will bless them and their nation. (“For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light
…” Eph. 5:1-11.)