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if all candidates on the ballot are pro-choice and you are pro-life, I would make my vote go towards the candidate that best represented my views on the remainder of the topics.
I would not consider it a sin for voting for a pro- choice candidate if no other voting option is given, but stay home.
If you are the president of a state university and the person best qualified for the head of the organic chemistry department believes in evolution, then that doesn't disqualify the person. If you have a rare disease and you have a choice between a very qualified Jew and a Christian just out of med school, you would be an idiot to chose the Christian to care for you. I personally use a mechanic who is an unbeliever because he's so much better than the Charismatic Christian guy that no one in my family will use him anymore, even though he's a personal friend.
If you are the president of a state university and the person best qualified for the head of the organic chemistry department believes in evolution, then that doesn't disqualify the person. If you have a rare disease and you have a choice between a very qualified Jew and a Christian just out of med school, you would be an idiot to chose the Christian to care for you. I personally use a mechanic who is an unbeliever because he's so much better than the Charismatic Christian guy that no one in my family will use him anymore, even though he's a personal friend.
Why is it any different for politics? You chose the best person for all the reasons you grocery shop where you do.
Isn't this argument dependent on what category we place politics in? Is politics more analogous to fixing cars and bodies, or preaching?
If you are the president of a state university and the person best qualified for the head of the organic chemistry department believes in evolution, then that doesn't disqualify the person. If you have a rare disease and you have a choice between a very qualified Jew and a Christian just out of med school, you would be an idiot to chose the Christian to care for you. I personally use a mechanic who is an unbeliever because he's so much better than the Charismatic Christian guy that no one in my family will use him anymore, even though he's a personal friend.
Why is it any different for politics? You chose the best person for all the reasons you grocery shop where you do.
I stand with Luther politically in that "I would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian." When I cast a vote for the President of the United States I will vote for who I believe would best preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. However, that will most always be the pro-life candidate because of their commitment to grant their deserved Constitutional rights to the unborn.
Oh, and we need to keep in mind the human tendency to justify ourselves. We all have sins we don't do, and it makes us feel better than those who commit that particular sin. We look down on a drunk while we eat too much. We look down on a man who reads p@rn while we cheat on our taxes. We look down on a politician who thinks a woman should be able to take a morning after pill after being raped but we support a godless war in Iraq which has created 300,000 Christian exiles. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.
You've hit the nail on the head. Traditionally in Christian thought since Augustine at least we've had a doctrine two kingdoms. The fact that some people from a small seminary in SoCal have taken the doctrine further than it's every been taken before doesn't mean we need to over react and dismiss such an important Christian doctrine. Politics isn't in the sphere of the Church. So for instance while a woman can't teach men in a Church, a woman can teach men in a State university, even a Christian woman.
Is politics more analogous to fixing cars and bodies, or preaching?
In choosing a civic leader I'm choosing a minister of God who will exercise his duties under the authority of the Law of God.
Any similarities are far out-weighed by dis-similarities.
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
I would not consider it a sin for voting for a pro- choice candidate if no other voting option is given, but stay home.
Okay, then let's up the ante a bit... is it a sin to vote pro-choice if there is a pro-life candidate available to vote for?
---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------
If you are the president of a state university and the person best qualified for the head of the organic chemistry department believes in evolution, then that doesn't disqualify the person. If you have a rare disease and you have a choice between a very qualified Jew and a Christian just out of med school, you would be an idiot to chose the Christian to care for you. I personally use a mechanic who is an unbeliever because he's so much better than the Charismatic Christian guy that no one in my family will use him anymore, even though he's a personal friend.
Excellents points Tim and I would agree with you on them. In fact, at Thanksgiving 2010 I still remember having a conversation with an uncle who said he would never let a Muslim doctor treat him. I took your position that what if the Muslim doctor was the best doctor, yet my uncle did not relent. But I digress...