512 The Problem With Voter Guides Part 1
The election season is now in full swing and it is the perfect time for …an epiphany.
“Clothman,” The Chafe Master said excitedly, “I had an epiphany while I was running today. I finally realized the core reason why I stopped going to church.”
The Chafe Master was never comfortable with the rising influence of the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition but he didn’t let that affect his church attendance. That is, until the day they passed out “voter guides” at a morning worship service during the 1990 mid-term elections. He left church and never returned.
“I just realized that what really bothered me was that churches were teaching me ‘what’ to think instead of ‘how’ to think. I don’t think they should do that, especially when it comes to politics.”
Instantly, The Chafe Master’s epiphany became mine. For years I struggled with the voter guides that were enthusiastically distributed to us pastors. I felt obligated to go along with my peers who inserted them into their church’s bulletins, but I could never pull the trigger. They made me more nervous than driving on an icy road, but until now I didn’t really know why.
Voter guides, tend to submit candidates to a simple 'litmus test' against a few, narrowly selected issues. Congregants are then pressured to only vote for those who are in alignment with their particular voting guide. (Incidentally, churches aren’t alone. Voter guides are produced by everyone from The League of Women Voters to the NAACP; AARP to the NRA.)
Those who produce the Catholic Answers voter guide rate candidates against their five "non-negotiable" issues. "No one,” they say, “endorsing the wrong side of these issues can be said to act in accord with the Church's moral norms." The Christian Coalition says, “We must see the political tide of this nation continue to turn away from liberalism and toward traditional family values in legislatures all across the land.” Of course they see this happening only as Christians vote for candidates who support the few non-negotiable issues on their voter guide.
Which side is God on? Which voter guide does he indorse? Which candidate? Which issue? I guess it depends upon which church you attend as to how you answer these questions.
The Chafe Master is right; churches do tend to tell people what to think more than teaching them how to think. His epiphany also made me realize that church leaders, like me, do this in most all areas of life – politics is only one. Does anyone really believe God is playing along with this? That God is only on “my” side?
Voter guides have a place, but it is limited. God is not the author of this or that voter guide; he is the author of life – the God of all. “…there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live” (1 Corinthian 8:6). He has more than just five non-negotiable priorities. He is not Protestant or Catholic, Mormon or Muslim, Republican or Democrat.
You are free. Free to study the issues and candidates for yourself. Free to think for yourself. Free to vote your conscience, not your voter guide. Enjoy.
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