Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Single-Issue Voting

It's obviously that time of year again! The national elections are just around the corner.

Many people who call themselves "Pro-life" are often subjected to the accusation of being "single-issue voters"... as if that was a bad thing. If you are truly making a decision to vote FOR a candidate based on a single issue along, it certainly IS a bad thing. But if you are disqualifying a candidate because of a single issue that is important to you, then it is a GOOD thing.

In 1995, John Piper published a wonderful article discussing this very issue. It is as valid today as it was then and I would commend it to you HERE.


3 comments:

Bluegrass Endurance said...

Hi Charley:

Thanks for the link to the Piper article as it is very timely. I like the distinction between voting for someone base on a single issue and the disqualification of a candidate based on a single issue.

It is good to hear from you again.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Elspeth said...

Hey Charley,

I was glad to get a comment from you today though I admit I was hoping that you would have written a post divulging your thoughts on the Palin issue.

I admit that I am quick to disqualify a candidate based on a single issue (abortion, usually), but I have found that the average pro-abortion candidate parts ways with me on almost every issue. My problem is that I find myself voting against candidates in recent years rather than voting FOR anyone I really believe in.

Yes, I could go third party but that always feels like tossing a vote to the person I don't like. What to do, what to do!?

Charley said...

I haven't written yet on the Palin issue primarily because I am in a quandry. Half of me is excited to see someone with what appear to be strong conservative credentials accompanied by a non-Washington background rising in the Republican party. The other half of me cringes at the thought of the feminist message being sent to our young ladies about what their futures should look like. Even her acceptance speech started with something to the effect of, "I was a mom...." In other words, "mom" was something she did until something better came along. While I applaud her large family and her bringing Trig into this world, I can't help but wonder if her unwed pregnant teenage daughter wouldn't be in this situation if she had been there more....

Does our country really need her more than her family?

From an eternal perspective, is placing her family second the better choice?

Are there other Deborahs, or is she a one-time example from the Bible of God's judgment upon a people by raising up a woman to lead them...even if it was successfully?

I suppose this is the beginnings of a post....

Thanks for reading.

Charley