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On May 16, 1920, George W. Truett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, stood on the East Steps of the Capitol at Washington, D.C., to preach of the Baptists’ role in the shaping of America. Before him stood a large crowd of people, eager to hear his planned address. As J.B. Gambrell shared, “The shadow of the Capitol of the greatest and freest nation on earth, largely made so by the infiltration of Baptist ideas through the masses, fell on the vast assembly, composed of Cabinet members, Senators and members of the Lower House, Foreign Ambassadors, intellectuals in all callings, with peoples of every religious order and of all classes.” Truett’s historic words addressed a diverse society clearly on a roll! The thriving stock market was still years away from “Black Tuesday” and the period between the two world wars was vibrant with frivolity, progress and hope. Respect for clergy and religious convictions were running high. Politicians may well have been no more religious than they are today, but they were wise enough to realize a need for the mainstream Christian vote. This attitude would change in just two generations.
In less than 100 years, the political landscape in America has been vastly transformed. No longer does a political candidate in America need Christian values to be elected. Society’s warm embrace of recent candidates espousing a plethora of anti-Christian ideals and rhetoric has decisively proven this to be true. The decline is so monumental that many Christians are finding themselves on the horns of a dilemma as to what to do come November.
This became apparent after a Sunday morning sermon when an older gentleman. He shared that for the first time he was unable to vote for either candidate for president because he could never cast a ballot for someone he believed was not a Christian. Therefore, as neither candidate professes a true belief in Christ that is borne out by moral decisions upholding Christian values, he would protest by opting out of the American political system and refuse to vote. While I appreciate my friend’s desire to honor God with his vote, if all conservative Christians employ the same strategy we have little or no hope for any restorative change in the moral climate of America.
So, what is a Christian to do and how should a candidate’s religious belief (or lack thereof) inform and shape the evangelical community’s vote? On the one hand, President Barack Obama professes Christianity and yet does not espouse what many would recognize as a biblical ethic. On the other hand, Gov. Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Regardless of the liberal media’s errant definition of true Christianity, Mormonism remains un-Christian in doctrine as well as practice. The average Christian in America, therefore, is faced with an unpalatable choice.
In a recent discussion with Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He told me, “Christians voting in a secular arena often face a circumstance in which they do not have a candidate that they feel good about supporting. In such cases, a believer is obligated to vote against the candidate most likely to do harm to his most cherished biblical principles. When one candidate threatens religious liberty, declares war on preborns in the wombs of their mothers, and attempts to redefine marriage, a true believer has no choice but to endorse the lesser of two evils, thus prolonging the hegemony of righteousness as long as possible.” Clearly, the Christian community faces a choice like this in 2012.
Scripture shows that God used even the most evil authorities to enact his plans and purposes in the world. When in disobedience Israel acted independently of God, he regularly utilized unbelieving nations as instruments of reproof and correction. Numerous pagan kings appear in the Bible as unknowing servants of a powerful God. Whether Artaxerxes, Nebuchadnezzar, Ahasuerus or some other unbelieving authority, the pages of Scripture prove God can use that which is evil to carry out his purposes.
Proverbs 21:1 sheds light on the authority of God over every earthly leader: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.” When I read this verse it reminds me of when my son was a 4-year-old. His height was perfect for me to simply place my hand on the back of his head and gently guide him to whatever path I desired us to take. One time we were in a crowd of people and without realizing it, I placed my hand on the head of another child my son’s size and began guiding him. Very quickly I learned the error of my ways and apologized to the young boy’s father. The difference is that God sovereignly directs the course of his world with perfect precision. He can use any person he chooses and never places his hand of guidance incorrectly upon any world leader regardless of appearance. He can always be trusted, even when no ideal choice is offered.
Do the religious beliefs of a candidate impact how we should vote? Absolutely they do. But staying home on Nov. 6 must not be an option. Christians must vote for the candidate who most aligns with what the Bible teaches, even if it means voting for the lesser of two evils.
—Byron McWilliams is a past SBTC president who serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Odessa
