Well, I’ve been going over this in my mind quite a bit here the last few days and I’m pretty sure I’m about to open a can of squirming worms. That’s okay… I’ll live if you disagree with me.
To put it short and blunt, I completely disagree with the choice of Sarah Palin as the Vice President nominee. I already wasn’t thrilled with John McCain but this… well, it’s going to lead the church into further compromise. The church of Jesus Christ (do we even dare call ourselves that anymore?) wants it’s cake and to eat it, too. We want to stand upon grace, claim salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ and yet live the way that feels the most comfortable to us. We want what the world has, but not the penalty they carry. We want to send our women into battle when the Holy Scriptures are full of the order to and example of protecting them. We want to raise our daughters to stand independent when the Bible clearly instructs them to be a helper either to their father, brother or husband. We want to scream that a woman has the right to the highest office in the land when the Word of God plainly speaks of a godly woman’s husband sitting in the gates. We want to say that separation of church and state is illegal and yet as Christians, we’ll have no choice but to separate our belief in what God says pertaining to the life of a woman from our decision to vote for the Republican ticket.
Here’s a few questions I’ve been pondering: Where are the men? Better yet, where are the women who are suppose to be backing them so they have the courage to “stand in the gates?” Is it truly “pro-family” for the Republican party to take a women away from her family so many hours a week? Who’s going to honor and support Mr. Palin, keep his home, train their children? (Look, I realize as governor of Alaska, Mrs. Palin may not have been seeing to these tasks either. But that doesn’t change the right or wrong of it.) What is wrong with the supposed conservatives (which is commonly assumed to be Christians) when they will put victory over the standards spoken into existence by God Himself? Are we as a nation even able to hear the Lord anymore when our church leaders so easily look the other way?
12 responses to “Thoughts on the Choice of Sarah Palin”
I’ve heard her likened to perhaps the Esther of our day- sent for just such a time as this. What do you think?
@trufflequeen – You know, I might be able to agree with that if she wasn’t married and then married with children, but even then I’m not sure. Esther didn’t have to compromise her God ordained role to fulfill the task of saving her people God laid out before her. She faithfully met the needs of her people by being an obedient niece and wise queen and counselor to the king. She stayed within the realm for which she was created. She didn’t become king or even second in command in order to provide escape for the Jews.
@daughter80 – Then again, what kind of compromise would it be to elect a man that has blasphemed God/Christians publicly? It is not ideal for us to elect a woman as second in command…and I am concerned for her family’s sake. But I also realize that God can use her too- even as He uses us despite the fact that we sometimes go against His ways. It’s the alternative that concerns me (i.e. Obama). By voting for anyone other than McCain/Palin, it’s essentially a vote for Obama and I can’t in good conscience do that.
@trufflequeen – I wrestle with that, too. Jarod hasn’t decided what we’ll do. We may very well vote the Republican ticket, I didn’t say we wouldn’t. However, I do view this as a very slippery slope… If they win, she’ll most likely be the nominee for President in 4 – 8 years. What then? Where do we draw the line? Or are we as a nation so far from where we started (i.e. founded on the Word of God) that we shouldn’t even consider God’s opinion when making voting decisions?
You know, if all the Christians stood firmly on God’s Word, without compromise and voted for a third party, we would most likely win. However, because Christians are so divided it will most likely never happen…and this country will continue it’s slow progression downward…
@trufflequeen – …better yet, if we stopped voting for people who only halfheartedly held our views (Republican or not), encouraged to run and faithfully voted for godly men of morals, the Republican party might get their act together and come back to center. But right now it feels like Christians are far too willing to settle.
I liked what David Barton said a long time ago. Sometimes we have to settle for a first down instead of staking all for a touchdown. I was so concerned over some of the choices on McCain’s ‘short list’, I was actually relieved when she was named. Is her presence an indictment on America? I think yes. We are obviously in a moral back slide. But I have to believe that a pro-life woman beats a pro-death man any day. As Deborah was an indication of the absence of men who would obey God and lead, so is Palin. She would never be the choice in perfect scenario; however, I truly believe anyone outside of Washington would do a better job of finding the right path for our country than someone inside Washington. No way is she the right choice. Let’s face it: McCain isn’t the best choice. But for this time, they are the only choice.
@daughter80 – I agree and admire your willingness to stand alone on this issue- even when it doesn’t seem popular! This issue a I appreciate that Sarah Palin is willing to speak out on the right side of major moral issues and is willing to be bold about her faith. God can use her in amazing ways if she’s placed into the position of one of our land’s highest offices. I guess this is a case of situational ethics- definitely not an ideal situation in that she’s a wife and mother. But, I also believe God has had mercy on our country by allowing her to be chosen as McCain’s running mate.
Anna – I agree with you. I also feel voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil. Christians have to take a stand even if they are alone. We had the opportunity to vote for a godly Christian man who is experienced and is not afraid to stand alone. We now have the opportunity to vote for Chuck Baldwin another Christian man. I have to answer to God someday as to how I cast my vote. I am tired of Christians compromising. That is why we are in the ess we are in.
I agree that we need to evaluate our candidates based on truth, not based on which is less harmful, or has the appearance of being “more conservative.” Thank you for sharing! It is easy for us in the name of “Incremental progress” to incrementally step backwards. May King Jesus give wisdom as we evaluate and vote as those who will give account.
Dearest Anna – I’m very proud, and not surprised, to see your opinion on this matter. Your views and committment in this regard is one of the many outstanding qualities that make you such a treasure to us, and to the many other who admire and love you. You are truly a “quiet revolutionary” in our day – as I have frequently called your mother in law.
I know you indicated that you all have not decided exactly how to vote. Let me offer just a couple of thoughts – not just for you, but for others who have similar concerns – that might inform this decision.
1) The reality of our current political situation. As a person who has 25+ years experience in and around politics, I can tell you that the reality is that the country will elect one of two people President of the United States. That person will likely serve for at least 4 if not 8 years. There is no chance whatsoever for a third party candidate and they will readily admit this. A third party vote will only pull votes that might have gone to one of the other two. A person who leans toward a more conservative view (on abortion if nothing else) and also votes for a third party candidate, or does not vote at all, will – in a very meaningful way – be voting, in effect, to elect Barack Obama President. This is just the sad reality. Votes for Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996, in fact, elected and re-elected Bill Clinton president.
2) I agree that the Lord cannot be pleased with the current state of our families, with so many parents altering the priorities of the Lord when it comes to family roles and responsibilities. Most are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that those priorities are kept. That said: I am even more confident of the absolute horror of abortion and infanticide, and that our God is greatly grieved over this. I know you feel the same way. Barak Obama is a committed devote’ of abortion, and has, as a state senator, vehemently defended the practice of infanticide (guaranteeing a dead baby following any sort of “botched” abortion, in which the baby survives.) In addition, he will most definitely appoint Justices to the Supreme Court (and other federal benches) who can be in that court, making anti-Christian, anti-family, anti-religious freedom, anti-life decisions for as long as 40 years!
3) To voluntarily participate in saddling the country with a Marxist, pro-abortion, liberal activist, who will force judicial tyranny on all the people of America for the next generation, and to further put our lives in greater danger to international terrorism, to me, is not demonstrating Christ’s love in the public square. Because this may be, indeed, a close election, it is hard to see that any vote that does not increase the chances of keeping that from happening is one that would be a good example of Chrisitian voting stewardship. As you know, I was not a McCain supporter in the primary. In fact, I was severely critical of him. But, the fact is he is the only alternative to Barak Obama in the real, mixed up world we live in.
I have friends who would like to “make a point” and “show the liberal Republicans a thing or two” by not voting for McCain. Unfortunately, “making a polticial point” is many times a point of pride more than a principled stand (of course, this does not apply to you, dear). Similary, there are people who will not support pro-life candidates or legislation that does not go “far enough”. As you know, I have been a pro-life activist. But I liken their attitude to someone who would not run into a burning building to save most of the children inside only because they knew they couldn’t save them all. Or, worse, not trying to save some in order to “make a point” that there should have been a plan to save them all. That is just not right, nor is it even decent. Public policy works much the same way in the world in which we live. One should purpose never to compromise on principle. But, when you can “move the ball” forward toward a right policy, or defend against a threatening, devasting defeat, then our actions do not constitute compromise, but partial victory, and in a sense, “standing in the gap”.
As you know, I have met and spoken to Sarah Palin. As we talked about public policy and military families, and families in general, she cuddled her newborn in a little papoose-like cradle in front of her. She struck me as someone without any degree of pretentiouness…very real. (The fact that McCain chose this conservative – rather than the liberals he was being urged to name – helps me believe in him a bit more.) But, though she is a successful Governor and now on the national scene, I know she could learn a great deal from you about the best things in life, and its priorities. Perhaps we should at least just pray that God will protect her and her family, by His mercy, until such time as she sees her family situation differently. My guess is, if the team is elected, that she will not likely be a candidate for President in the future.
Lovingly, Your proud Dad (in law).
I tend to agree with you. Thanks for being willing to state the truth!
Ok, can I jump in with my “two cents” ? Yes, I’ve compared or thougt that maybe she is a modern day Esther. But my first thought was Deborah who was Judge over Israel. During the times of the Judges, the Judges were the top leader in Israel. They didn’t have a king at the time, they had a judge as ruler. God hand picked Deborah as the leader of Israel. A woman. Some say it was because men wouldn’t step up and do their job. Go read the story. Not one time does it say that men were failing. It says that God chose Deborah. That in and of itself is the story. God allowed Barak to follow Deborah. He didn’t tell Barak that Deborah should be in the home. God calls women to work for Him. Don’t take this wrong please, it’s just a thought I had. When the angel came and told Mary that she was annointed, chosen to bear the Savior, she didn’t run to get Joseph’s permission or her father’s permission. She said yes and did the job God gave her. I believe she could have told God “no, I’m not willing.” Of course she wouldn’t do that she said “yes” and you know the rest of the story. I believe God calls some women to stay home, not all. If I stayed home according to the “rules” as I understand them then my oldest brother would be my source of income or my 70 year old retired, fixed-income mother. That doesn’t make sense. That’s not God. So either I’m totally out of God’s will by being single or totally out of God’s will by not relying on Walter or Momma to support me. Which is it? Where is God in that equation? I’m certainly not a “women’s libber” but I’m telling you God called me to the ministry I am in. If I were to get married right now, then I would continue to teach. That is my calling from my Father. In the time that I’ve taught (little over a year) I’ve had at least 10 students to accept Christ as their Savior. That’s God.