Encouragement for people tempted to quit

sonnyholmes

Aug 24, 20203 min read

The Christian vote 2020

The story of election 2016 was the Christian vote. And, for me, that's perplexing and more than a little disappointing. Hold it. Not that Christians voted or even cast their ballots for Donald Trump. It's the story element, the surprise among media elites that Christ followers would favor the Republican agenda and their candidate rather than the clearly secular path of Mrs. Clinton and the Democrats. Of course, the main stream media made the results about the two candidates and questioned how a majority of believers could ever vote for a dirt bag like Donald Trump. Lost somewhere in their post-election blather was the truth about issues. Christians across the fruited plain voted for Mr. Trump because they favored the Republican platform heart and soul. Many of them winced when they put their check mark beside Mr. Trump's name, fully knowing his questionable past, lack of government experience, and some of the character issues the MSM broadcast in every media outlet.

Post 2016 election analysis reveals great voter division in the religious categories. A March 10, 2017, blog at Religion in Public noted the diversity of the religious vote among Black Protestants, Evangelicals, and Mainline Christians. They also tracked the voting preferences of the other religious groups in America, including the atheists. To review their data, please click here. Black protestants clearly favored Mrs. Clinton, registering 81.1 % of the vote. Mainline Christians voted predominately for Mrs. Clinton as well, at 43.4%. Evangelicals totaled 75.8% for Mr. Trump. Of course, the results have been debated greatly since the previous election. Many Christian leaders and groups seemed almost embarrassed by the large evangelical preference for Mr. Trump. Still, that was then, and this is now. Today, as November 3 approaches, the big question is how the Christian community will vote in 2020.

Who's chasing the Christian vote in the coming election? Well, part of that is already known after the recent Democratic convention. They chose to leave out the name of God in their recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Even more, their candidates have made disparaging remarks about the Christian faith and the role of Christian beliefs in the dynamics of the 2020 vote. One of the significant discussion points is about the real factors that will define the Christian vote this year. Will it be the candidates? Or, the issues?

A January 2020 article at Relevant Magazine indicates that the issues are not what most of us would think. Now, it must be noted that the Relevant Magazine system questioned the voting preferences of younger Americans, primarily twenty and thirty somethings. Their studies indicate that white evangelicals top issues are terrorism, immigration, and health care, closely resembling the favored preferences of white mainline Protestants. Among Black protestants the top issues are health care, crime, and the fairness of Presidential elections. The people at Relevant list abortion as a middling influence in them all. Evidently, the issues in the 2020 election have changed over the past four years. Just as clearly, it is obvious they didn't ask me or many of my evangelical friends.

If their conclusions are accurate, it reflects a yielding of strong evangelical beliefs to the whims of our secular world. And, that brings me to Scripture. My faith leads me to favor biblical themes and political positions that resonate with the principles of the Christian worldview. Several texts are examples of this stance---

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable

and perfect.

Romans 12: 2, ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to

human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to

Christ.

Colossians 2: 8, ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with

God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of

God.

James 4: 4, ESV

As usual, there are many others. The vote of Christians in election 2020 should be consistent with Christian doctrine. This week, we'll review some of the issues that should characterize the Christian vote. Join me!

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sonnyholmes

Aug 21, 20203 min read

We the people...

Our founders vision about "we the people" voting was conditioned by the times. Voting rights were narrowly defined, granting suffrage to white male property owners over age twenty-one years of age. Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and civil rights legislation over our 244 year history have broadened voting rights to include every United States citizen who is eighteen years of age and meets state residency and registration requirements. Of our current population estimated at 328,100,000, roughly 250,056,000 are voting age. Although there is no official account of registered voters in the United States, it is believed that around 153,000,000 are thus registered. In the 2016 Presidential election, 138,847,000 actually cast votes. Do the math. Barely 61% of eligible voters are registered. Slightly more than 55% voted in the 2016 Presidential race.

A huge question is whether or not we really desire for more Americans to vote! Like most questions with political edges it depends on who you ask. The demographers at Gallup estimate that 31% of Americans are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 26% with the Republican Party, and 41% aligned as Independents. They all have their preferences in the new voter category. And, let's not go there. Identifying party favorites requires more profiling than I'd like to dive into this week. That will come later, when I'm getting more specific and personal about the 2020 election.

So, for the moment, just right now, forget the politicians, the political parties, the hacks and pundits, the platforms and planks, and your own snipes. Would you like to see more people exercising the franchise, you know, going to the polls? If you don't have an opinion, or your answer is the party line, then take a few minutes, enjoy a cookie or your favorite beverage, and just veg for a couple of minutes. Pay attention for a minute if you'd like to see more Americans at the polls. There's some personal action steps you can take---

Volunteer to assist someone is registering to vote. Chances are you have family, friends and neighbors who are not registered to vote. Voter registration materials are on -line. Help people important to you make this "we the people" decision. If you're in South Carolina and are interested, click here.
On election day, take someone to the polls. Polling locations are situated throughout the state of South Carolina, in virtually every community or local neighborhood. You can find great information about voting in South Carolina, including all of the polling places, by clicking here.
Teach the younger Americans in your family and community the blessings of the Constitution of the United States and the right of "we the people" to vote. Click here for a guide to US election law and voting.

If our founders saw "we the people" as the groundwork of forming a more perfect union, there's a bigger picture here than me and me alone. "We the people" was certainly more than a gimmick phrase for them. It was the foundational principle of this union, the shared blessings of unique governance and life in these United States. Yes, even now, United. And, like it or not, they were governed by spirituals beliefs that gave them hope in such a "one nation" concept. Consider these verses---

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an

opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5: 13, ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more

significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2: 3, ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 11, ESV

No, I'm not asserting that our founders used these Bible verses to formulate their thoughts about our national Constitution. But, they are biblical ideals that should give us impetus to help others, regardless of the need. Even in voting.

You see, it's what "we the people" is all about! And, that is a voting matter that matters.

sonnyholmes

Aug 20, 20203 min read

Election central.

Our founders were indeed visionary. How they proposed the election of a President and Vice-President to lead the new nation was a significant innovation, one that few of us understand and that I can hardly explain. But, the truth is, election of our national leaders was never thought to be a purely democratic vote. Most voting particulars of Senators and Representatives were entrusted to state governments. Election of national leaders like The President and Vice-President was assigned to electors, chosen by the states for that particular service. Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States, ratified by the states in 1788, the longest section dedicated to one topic, provides the details for the election and service of these electors. They are the ins and outs of the electoral college. It is election central in our voting system. If you would like to read this section of the Constitution, click here.

Of course, there is a popular vote for these national leaders. In most cases the electoral college vote totals and the popular vote totals express similar outcomes. Only in five voting occasions have their election totals been at odds---1824 when Andrew Jackson won the popular vote and John Quincy Adams was elected President by the House of Representatives; 1876, when Samuel Tilden won the popular vote and Rutherford Hayes the electoral college; in 1888, when Grover Cleveland narrowly won the popular vote, and Benjamin Harrison the electoral vote; in 2000, when Al Gore won the popular vote and George W. Bush the electors, decided finally by the Supreme Court; and in 2016, when Hillary Clinton prevailed in the popular vote but Donald Trump overwhelmed in the electoral college. Most researchers indicate that a majority of Americans prefer abolishing the Electoral College in preference for a simple popular vote. They indicate that this is unlikely because it would require a Constitutional Amendment needing approval by 2/3 of the Congress, and 3/4 of states.

Th electoral college has abundant detractors and proponents. Up front is the criticism that it is not purely democratic, the "one man, one vote"idiom most of us presume. Of course the electors were a significant element of our constitutional government from the beginning. Our election of President and Vice President has, in the word of most originalists, always been that way. Another complaint is that this election process had severely racial overtones, especially as states counted their populations for election of representative and electors. Our most recent voting laws have, however, eliminated these population discrepancies and have given all Americans the privilege of voting.

In my study, which is not extensive, the electoral college also moderates the influence of factions in our election systems. Without the electoral college our largest cities---New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and others---could control the voting dynamics that far outweigh the smaller popular votes of rural voters and less populated states. The electoral college balances these prominent political party trends. In the past Presidential election Hillary Clinton won the popular vote through large Democratic counties in Chicago and Los Angeles. In the electoral votes, Mr. Trump won big.

Once again, Scripture doesn't address the electoral college, pro or con. The Bible does, however, give us instruction about the Christian life and our support of the government entrusted with our care. Let me focus today and what Simon Peter wrote---

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor

as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise

those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to

silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your

freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the

brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2: 13-17, ESV

Yes, the electoral college is one of our human institutions, envisioned by our founders, and in place for our good. I support the electoral college, and will vote in every election while I'm alive to see it continues to help us affirm our chief elected officials.

Like to know more about the electoral college. Click here.