Article 1-11-08 "Should A Baptist Preacher Be President?"
I would like to start off by saying this is not an endorsment of Mike Hucabee for President of the United States. For me, I have to confess at this point in time, I have not yet decided who I will vote for in November. I had almost come to the conclusion that 2008 may very well be the first election that I did not participate in. But I know that to do that would be a disaster. We cannot afford to ignore our responsibility to involve ourselves in the political process. We must voice our principles and cast our vote for morality and traditional values.
You would think that every Christian would be jumping for joy at the thought of a Baptist Preacher (the media refers to him as a Evangelical) taking the office of President. But I must confess that I am not so excited. For me it is not his Baptist Preacher part that I am concerned about, but besides from being a Fundamental Christian, I am a Conservative in my political life. To fly the "religious" flag does not guanantee my vote, but a person's stand on the issues.
As a Christian I am concerned about various social issues. Abortion and the right to life, the sanctity of the home and traditional marriage, gay rights and the homosexual issue, humanism and the education or lack thereof of our children, the right to worship freely, free speech, the right to bear arms, just to name a few. And in these areas, I am sure you could be comfortable in supporting this candidate along with many of the other conservatives.
Most of us agree that this is the proper stand for a Christian or in this case, an Evangelical. I would not even write this article if these issues were not agreed upon. But the danger that many voters face is the reflex response that just because someone is a "Christian" then we can support them as a candidate. It would be good if that is true. But most of us have had experiences with people who have professed religion, yet have not demonstrated true Christianity. I am not saying that is the case of Hucabee, but I am just suggesting let's don't get blinded by the package and fail to see and examine him on the basis of principles.
Where does Hucabee stand on the other issues like immigration? What about tax increases? How about home schoolers and Christian education and their rights? What about the Iraqi War and the War on Terrorism? What about our defense? What about the out of control growth of government and this out of control spending? What about our Social Security along with other entitlement programs? What about the burden we leave behind for our children? What about this dependency on foreign oil and the high price of gas? These are things I am concerned about as a Conservative Christian. And just because a man is a Baptist Preacher, does not guanantee that this issues will be dealt with in a way that guanantees my family will not be added with any more of a burden than necessary.
I am a advocate of individual freedom. The less government, the better is my philosophy. I understand that we need government to take care of our place in international affairs. Our leaders are to protect us, our families, our freedoms and to provide for those among us who may suffer tragedy and need our help as neighbors. We need government to enforce laws and maintain civil liberties. But I am not sure we need so much government in our schools, homes, and lives. And will a Baptist Preacher be the answer?
By now, some of you are thinking that I am attacking Hucabee. That is not the case. What I am hoping to do is to get you that are my brothers and sisters to look deeper than his testimony and do not get blinded over the fact that he is a preacher. Sure preachers are some of the greatest leaders and human beings on the face of God's Earth. Preachers are some of the best citizens and promoters of freedom and morality. But being a preacher does not automatically qualify you for the highest political office in the land and therefore should not be the first and main reason for our support.
If a Baptist Preacher does become President, will anything change as we know it? Will the White House quit serving alcohol? If not, how will you react? Will the church experience a "space of grace" during his term? If not, how will you react? Will the nation respond with kindness and support for him and will we see a moral climate change in this nation? If not, how will you respond? Will you be disappointed if the presence of a Preacher in the White House does not change things for the better? What if the division in Congress becomes more severe under his leadership? What if the "religious card" becomes a hindrance in his leadership of this nation?
I just raise these questions to get you to understand that electing a "preacher" is not a quick fix in this nation. We do need preachers and I believe the answer to this nation lies in God raising up men of God to proclaim truth and righteousnes. But the move of God that has touched our nation has never come from the White House, but from the Church House. The answer to this nation's delimma is in God touching us with a real revival that changes men, their hearts and their homes. I am sure that it is a "Preacher" that we need, but I am not convinced that the White House is the answer.
Do not get caught up in believing that any man we elect will have the ability to turn this nation back to God. God may use a leader to give us a little reprieve, but not a revival. When it comes to morality and righteousness, we need preachers again to preach and proclaim the truth. When it comes to national politics and the atmosphere and climate of an election, we must make our decision to support a man based upon his qualifications, his stand on the issues that effect us, and the person who can be worked with by Congress and give us confidence in times of national tragedy. If he is a man of faith, that is a plus. If he is a Christian Conservative, that is a plus-plus. But if he is a Baptist Preacher, I cannot say if that is worthy of any added bonus points. I am sure that some of you by now think I have lost my mind and I am compromising and I am not. I am just not ready to pick the man who will lead the greatest nation in the world based on his past role as a Southern Baptist Preacher. I am more interested in how he governed Arkansas for 10 years. I am more interested in how he is going to take the role of govenment and downsize its role in my home and daily life. I am more interested in how he is going to lead us through this time of terrorism and danger. I am more concerned about my tax burden, social security, and the future we leave behind for our children. I am doing all I can do to leave behind to them a Spiritual Heritage. I want a leader to leave behind a National Heritage where our families can be free, safe, worship God, and raise our children's children with the same privileges that we have enjoyed for over 200 years. For that we need a statesman and a leader with morals, values, and courage and vision. If he happens to be a Baptist Preacher, so be it. But just because he is a Preacher, he does not automatically get my vote. And that is my opinion!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison