Bush or Kerry

In the year 2000, the Presidential Election was so close that the Supreme Court was the final voice on who would be the next President of the United States. If for no other reason, I hope we all see that, yes, our votes do make a difference. And now, four years later, it’s time to vote again. So who’s your candidate? Bush, Kerry, Nader, a write in? It seems that most evangelical Christians are voting for Bush this election, and with good reason. Bush tells the public that he is a Christian, that Jesus was the greatest thinker to ever live, that he will defend the right of the unborn - all "classically evangelical" positions.

But here is some food for thought - are those the only or most key issues to you, and more importantly, to Jesus? In the Gospel of Luke chapter 3, John the Baptist calls people to repentance, and so they ask, "What shall we do?" John tells the people to share, to be just, and to not extort money. If you read through the Old Testament, God has some very harsh words for the people of Israel when they fail to care for those in need - the destitute, the impoverished, the lonely, the needy. James tells us that pure religion is to take care of orphans and widows and to be kept holy from the world. What I am driving at here is that there are many, many issues that are of great importance to God that are often overlooked by Christians today. Social justice is covered in a variety of books of the Old and New Testament. Obsession with money -Jesus talks about money more than any other topic in the Bible.

As I see it, the key to a vote well-placed is to see what is on the heart of God and then to see which of the candidates stands closest to His ideals. And I realize that comparing social justice to abortion may be like asking which one came first, the chicken or the egg. I would offer that both are very important, but I think the key to voting well is to know that righteousness, no matter what form in which it comes, is vital to God, whether in the womb of a mother, on the streets of New York, or in your life and mine. Please, take some time to be informed on the candidates and the issues, and then get out there and vote. It’s a gift from God to have your voice heard in a democracy. Over in Afghanistan, people are voting under the threat of death in their first election ever, but many are willing to take that chance for a better future. Will you let your voice be heard?

- Tim Carpenter, Campus Ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UNH