Point: A Christian Can Vote Pro-Choice
Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl and tagged with Abortion, Point/Counterpoint, Politics on October 27, 2008This is it, the controversial subject that I’ve mentioned for weeks. Sorry for all the suspense. It’s not an easy thing to talk about so I didn’t want to treat it superficially. I’d love to hear comments, but I ask that you be civil and respectful, as you always are.
Other point/counterpoint discussions can be found here, and my original post about these series can be found here. Tune in tomorrow for the counterpoint view.
Point: A practicing Christian can, and sometimes should, vote for a pro-choice candidate.
There are several reasons why Christians should not be so quick to condemn pro-choice candidates for local, state, and national offices. The issue of stopping abortion has been so associated with Christianity in recent times that it can be hard to seperate the faith from the issue, but it is necessary to do so.
First of all, Christians limit their potential impact on an election if they simply choose a pro-life candidate for that reason exclusively, regardless of the other issues. This is further compounded when they exclusively vote along party lines. Neither political party corresponds directly to Christian values as laid out in the Bible.
A major point to consider is that while Christians should not be pro-abortion, they must realize that God judges morality, not the state. We shouldn’t expect or want a government body that regulates morality. This means that the Christian should not be willing to have an abortion herself but should allow others to stand before God for their choices rather than judge them here on earth. It is a matter of personal choice, but that does not mean that choosing to have an abortion and choosing not to have an abortion carry the same moral value before God.
This means that rather than focusing so much time on issues like abortion and gay marriage, Christians should fight for other issues that are also thoroughly biblical like justice and helping the poor. In these things they can be like the one they claim to follow, Jesus Christ. If Christians spend too much time fighting against abortions and changes to the understanding of marriage, they will neglect the serious issues that Jesus attended to.
For these reasons, a Christian should judge a candidate not exclusively on the issue of abortion, but take the candidate as a whole. There can and will be times where the pro-choice candidate will be the proper and more Christian choice.
The counterpoint and second post on this subject can be found here.
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October 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I always love your point/counterpoint posts. My input? This is not easy, of course, which is why it’s so controversial. Basing a decision on one reason, regardless of all other issues is not a good decision in my opinion. What if BOTH candidates are pro-choice or vice versa, where do you go from there? It’s a bigger picture. So, I say, yes, a Christian can vote pro-choice with prayerful consideration.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:46 am
I am looking forward to reading the counterpoint tomorrow!
And yes, I agree. You can’t always base your decisions on how the candidate stands on one or two issues. You must take the candidate as a whole.
How about the argument that a Christian can be pro-choice? As opposed to just voting for a pro-choice candidate? I believe that abortion is morally and Biblically wrong, but I do believe that ultimately a woman should have the choice to have an abortion. That is not a decision the government should be making for individual people.
October 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I agree with this point very strongly, but I am looking forward to your counterpoint as well!! This is very though provoking! Thank you!
October 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am
What a great argument. As a friend of mine (who proclaims herself a “left wing Christian”) says, “Must be nice to be able to base your entire vote (for president) on one single issue!”
October 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I think you said it well I have the same view as you. I take in consideration all the politicians views and if I believe he or she is going to do the best for that position then I vote.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Such a great thing to think about… thanks for bringing it up. There really are so many issues that need to be considered. :)
October 27th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I’ll definitely have to think about this one! Can’t wait to read the counterpoint! Should be interesting!
October 27th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I think something important to interject into this current election particularly is that as Christians, we can vote our conscience – and that could mean for some people not voting. If a pro-choice candidate rubs on your conscience then you don’t have to go with the ‘lesser of two evils’, in the same way if a candidate’s views on foreign policy, or the war, or the poor presents an issue for your conscience then you don’t have to vote for that person. And if as a Christian you feel like you need to vote – then vote! But I think freedom in Christ extends to us as believers in making these choices to follow our conscience and the example of Jesus.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
That was a well written point of view. I can’t wait to see your counter point.
If you were to believe the media you wouldn’t think there was a Christian alive who was actually pro choice. I however know differently. :)
October 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Interesting. I’m more interested in your counter-point, though, as I really don’t understand the alternate point of view than the one you’ve written here. Nicely stated!
October 27th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I’m the proud member of the religious left that ElleBee wrote about, and the issue I have (that I just blogged about today, and in the past few weeks a couple of times), that apparently I can’t be a “good Christian” and vote Democrat. I remind my friends (and yes, this is from my evangelical friends, as I myself am) that I tend to agree with them in most positions, but prioritize them a bit differently. I just cannot wait for this election to be over so that all the drama is over and I can have my friends back (at least until next time).
October 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I believe that voting on one issue seems narrow minded and short-sighted. However, there should be prioritizing of the issues that are important to you. My vote is going to a person who does not represent my beliefs entirely but his opinions on the issues that are highest on my list are what are driving my decision. I will be interested to hear your counterpoint.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
This is actually an issue I’m struggling with right now. I’m looking forward to reading your counter-point.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Very brave and important post!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Thank you for this post. Last year when we were faced with the decision of continuing or terminating our pregnancy with Angelo, I was so shocked to find myself actually considering termination. I’ve always been pro-life, but there I was pregnant with a baby who we already knew would die, and I was sicker than anything for the entire pregnancy. I chose to continue the pregnancy and am so glad I did, but I have a new empathy and understanding for people who, in similar situations, make the other choice.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I appreciate you going out on a limb, even for those of us who disagree. These are the kind of topics that I don’t touch on my blog because I want people to hear my tone. You did a great job.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Good point. Well put. :) I look forward to your counterpoint. Perhaps I’ll learn how to write longer sentences by then.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I’m not so sure I agree. You write: “they must realize that God judges morality, not the state.” I disagree with that because God judged Israel and Judah as a whole when their citizens began to fall away from Him. The whole nations were taken into captivity, even though certainly there were a few who still loved and obeyed God. I fully expect God to punish America (and perhaps He already has–I’m not speaking of specific instances here) for the way that we are abandoning Him and His morals.
You also wrote: “We shouldn’t expect or want a government body that regulates morality” I disagree with this as well. I want my government to regulate morality from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. I realize this is slowly slipping away in America, and in the rest of the world. But wouldn’t this be how God would want us to govern? No, we can’t force people to like the morality of the laws, but we do it for the sake of citizens and communities as a whole. If we were to reject government regulation of morality then we would reject punishment for murder or lesser crimes. After all, who is to say that what the criminal did wasn’t moral to them? This begins to slide down the slope of whatever is moral for you is fine and whatever is moral for me is fine. It’s secular humanism. A government will regulate morality…if they choose to allow abortion they are taking a loose stance on it. Just because they’re not taking a stance that abortion is wrong doesn’t mean they aren’t judging its morality. So since a goverment is always going to regulate morality, I want it done on God’s side.
I’m probably rambling a bit. What I’m afraid of is Christians not standing up for what God would see to be completely wrong. Are we rationalizing our vote because a pro-abortion candidate seems to have better ideas about other issues? How does a Christian reconcile that? What is more important: life? the housing crisis? health care?
October 29th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Protecting the life of the innocent seems to be a bigger issue than health care, taxes, or anything else. It speaks volumes about the candidates character. Especially when one of the candidates supports this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5qu87aXc20
October 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I just don’t think that some politican should be allowed to tell me what I can and cannot do with/to my body.
Apparently, a computer switch get’s me commenting on most blogger blogs.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’m glad that it worked for you, Jamie!
I agree with you (I’m all about less government!), but my point (made in the other two posts) is that a baby living inside a woman is not an extension of her but another, unique human being.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I’m about to read your counter-point and conclusion. But I’d have to say that you stated this point very well.
I know it’s gotta be a hard subject to blog about.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm
This is a great post.
Me, I could NEVER have an abortion. Just not in my fiber. I’ve known people who have. Some for reasons I could understand, others I wanted to strangle.
But the government should never decide this for a woman. NEVER.
There is something about that separation of church and state stuff that seems to come into play here. The founding fathers chose those words for good reason.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
So who will protect unborn babies? I truly believe the economy which has its ups and downs has been pushed to the forefront of this election so issues like protecting life can take a backseat in people’s mind. When we stand before God it will not matter what tax rate we paid or what the stock market did, but we will have to answer to how did we protect the unborn and right now one way is to elect officials who value all life. God will judge an entire nation for their sins. He wants our focus on Him.
Hosea 13:6 reads: When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot Me.
This scripture sums up the United States.
We have a lot of praying and asking for forgiveness and mercy to do. I don’t vote based on what I think or what I think someone’s rights are with their body, but based on God’s Word.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Thank you for this. For BOTH sdes of this, actually.
I am pro-choice, and there are days when I feel like the only agnostic blogger in the world. I appreciate and respect the pro-life POV, but I am not amused when it is implied that pro-choice is decidedly pro-abortion.
Honest and respectful discussion is far more productive then shouting accusations and codemnation. So, again, thank you.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Thanks for this thought-provoking post!
I would have to agree with you on this. It’s NOT that I am pro-abortion, but I feel that there are so many issues to consider when choosing a candidate.
And I often struggle with the whole Church vs State idea. While I don’t want to condone abortion personally – I feel that God is the great Judge of that, and I am not.
Thanks for taking on this tough topic. I think I’ll link to it this week on my blog, if that’s okay?
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
NV and others: I do believe in separation of church and state. However, the actual wording in the constitution is “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That’s a far cry from what many think it says (that religion should have no influence on the government). The founding fathers were concerned about freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.
Thanks for all the comments! I appreciate hearing other points of view as well.
November 5th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
this is articulate, well put. Sadly though, it is a deeper argument then this. If Hitler had won WW2-and the state policy (and Majority of Germans agreed with Murdering Jews as a “choice”) would you feel the same way? We will all have to be accountable for our thoughts, actions and perhaps even votes before the Lord one day.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Anonymous: Good point. I guess you didn’t see the second two posts in this series. This actually is NOT my view.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
[...] Point: A practicing Christian can, and sometimes should, vote for a pro-choice candidate. [...]
January 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
[...] Point: A practicing Christian can, and sometimes should, vote for a pro-choice candidate. [...]