A Choice Between Two Futures — Part 1

When I introduced this web site in 2016 and began publishing blog posts from it, I said that although I am a Christian and form my opinions from that value system and worldview, I wanted to avoid routine use of  phraseology that my non-Christian readers might view as “religious dogma” and use terminology that would pique the interest of any reader, Christian or not. I haven’t been publishing posts to this blog as frequently for the past couple of years, but at this point I feel that I should address this post and the others I am planning between now and November 3rd specifically to Christians — even more specifically, to Christians who are eligible to vote but have not yet done so.

In this post — Part 1 — I’ll outline the message I feel is important for any Christian reading this post to hear, and why I feel compelled to share that message.

The upcoming election is NOT about choosing between two PEOPLE. It’s about choosing between two diametrically opposite IDEOLOGIES. More on that later. For now, l’ll state up front the “bottom line” — that Christians CAN actually dictate the outcome of this election. In subsequent parts over the next couple of weeks, I’ll back up that statement — not with my opinion but with facts and statistics that show why I believe very strongly that they SHOULD.

The “Bottom Line”

Only 40% of American adults are “born again Christians” [as that classification is defined by the highly respected Barna Group.] That percentage of people of voting age is 102,080,149 people, but only 58% [59,206,486] of them actually voted in 2016. If you consider that sad fact in context with the fact that the average margin of victory in the last three second-term presidential elections was 5,398,610, it is obvious that born-again Christians can EASILY dictate the outcome of this election if 1) all of those who voted in 2016 vote this year and 2) as few as 15% of all who say they are “born again” and did not vote in 2016 vote this year [if all born again Christians vote this year, and do so after much prayer and following the  guidance of the Holy Spirit, the result would be a landslide for the winning party, and the world would see God’s will unfolding clearly and visibly.]

But what about the polls? Isn’t the election outcome already set? The short answer is “No, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over” in Yogi Berra’s words. At this point in 2016, Clinton was ahead of Trump in most major polls [RCP average: 5.6%] just as Biden is now [RCP average: 9.0%.] In “battleground” states, the margin was/is much tighter [Clinton by 5.0%, Biden by 4.5%.] Media coverage was very similar to what it is now [Clinton (now Biden) is a shoo-in, no possible path to 270 for Trump, it’ll be a landslide for Clinton (now Biden.)]

Why I’m Posting These Thoughts

God is sovereign, and “[His] thoughts are not [our] thoughts, nor are [our] ways [His] ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [our] ways, and [His] thoughts than [our] thoughts” [Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV.] His will is something none of us can predict — or even assume based on our interpretation of His Word. So I’m not trying to say which outcome of this election would be in line with His will, because that would simply be my opinion. What I do feel strongly about is that I need to point out to anyone who will read what I write the stark contrasts between the options before us — and that it’s NOT “just politics” or “about which of two people is more likable personally;” it’s about recognizing the moral choices [as expressed in the PARTY PLATFORMS] we have before us.

So my goals in writing this series of posts are …

Coming In Subsequent Parts

In Part 2, I’ll give a quick overview of “election math” under the current paradigm in this country, and why “protest votes” [voting for minor candidates, writing in somebody else, or not voting at all] are actually unwitting votes in support of either the Democrat platform or the Republican platform — but the voter won’t know which platform he/she supported until the election is over and the results are analyzed. This is true because these votes always reduce one candidate’s chances of winning and increase the other’s. Since I wrote extensively on this topic in 2016, I’ll probably include links to some of my posts back then.

In Part 3, I’ll point out what I believe are the contrasts between the two platforms that are the most critical from a Christian perspective, and why this election is a time for Christians to rise up and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all entrusted to the saints” [Jude 3 NKJV/NIV — “the saints” are us]. I’ll close that post with an earnest plea for all Christians to pray diligently about this decision and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making it.

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