Voting and Being Involved

Last night I spent the evening at the Karen Handel celebration as she bolted into first place.  I am excited for her and her team.  They worked hard and have overcome some unbelievable odds.  What did Karen do - remained gracious, thanked everyone - including those she ran against - and went right back to work.  She is tenacious and really shows a desire for being the next governor of Georgia.

I also voted yesterday.  Karen and Bruce Williamson won.  Several candidates for whom I voted were crushed.  I was surprised.  The telling numbers however show in the unopposed incumbents.  Johnny Isakson and Casey Cagle both received about 120,000 less votes than the total votes cast on Republican ballots.  Shocking because I was almost one of those who did not vote for them.  I assume people just didn't vote for them because they thought it wasn't worth their time.  But I also wonder how many of those non-votes were from people protesting against the incumbents?  We may never know.

One thing I have learned, however, is that a lot of people complain about the government and those running for office and many of them never participate in voting and never educate themselves on the issues.  What is more shameful is that evangelicals are becoming a vast minority at the polls.  As an evangelical minister, I wonder why so many Christians fail to be involved in the process?

What worries me more is that as more and more Christian values come under attack from various groups and as more and more Christians are being shunned from public arenas, these Christians who did not get involved are the very ones who could have made a difference.  Many people complain about officials yet they do not offer up viable alternatives.

I support Jody Hice for my congressional district.  I believe he understands the issues facing our country, and he understands the frustrations more and more Christians are facing in a country that touts its Christian morality but shuns the responsibility of living up to those values.  Rob Woodall may very well believe the same things but I have yet to hear it from him - his single-most issue is bringing the FairTax into being.  I think he would also be a good representative but right now I am leaning towards Jody.  I must admit, we have had a lot of great people come forward to run as a candidate this year in my area.

I like the FairTax and have been tooting that horn for a few years now.  I have read the books and research papers.  We as a nation will not turn around, however, until we as a nation embrace God.  This will not happen if Christians continue to sit on their hands instead of using them to either run for office or at least for pulling the the levers (or pushing the touch screen).

I challenged my Sunday school class to start getting involved in their community and I choose to lead by example.  I will not let my country continue to suffer by not being involved - I failed at that when I did not jump full force into two campaigns: Herman Cain for Senate and Mike Huckabee for President.  I was determined not to let that happen again this election cycle, and I am glad to be making a stand now. 

For those Christians who have not taken time to get involved and vote, now is still open!  For Georgians, you can still register to vote in the November elections: Georgia Voter Registration

For those looking to be involved: research the candidates online, go listen to them speak, and jump on board.  God's hand still leads so pray earnestly and with fervor.  I look forward to hearing from you if you are motivated to get involved.  If you are involved, leave an encouraging comment for others.  God Bless!

It is the duty of all men to aid in the establishment and support of human government.
As the great law of benevolence, or universal good-willing, demands the existence of human governments, all men are under a perpetual and unalterable moral obligation to aid in their establishment and support. In popular or elective governments, every man having a right to vote, every human being who has moral influence, is bound to exert that influence in the promotion of virtue and happiness. And as human governments are plainly indispensable to the highest good of man, they are bound to exert their influence to secure a legislation that is in accordance with the law of God. The obligation of human beings to support and obey human governments, while they legislate upon the principles of the moral law, is as unalterable as the moral law itself.
—Finney's Systematic Theology