As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Poll Results
If the Election Were Between Romney and Obama, What Would You Do?
I would or probably would vote for Romney Votes: 25
I would or probably would vote for Obama Votes: 1
I would or probably would vote for a third party candidate Votes: 1
I would or probably would not vote (at least for president) Votes: 0
I really do not know who I would vote for/undecided Votes: 2
Other Votes: 0
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Gloomy. That’s the general outlook that the vast majority of Americans seem to have when it comes to our future. Whether it’s political wrangling, economic turmoil, pandemics or education—the present is bleak and the future is downright scary. It’s not just Al Gore predicting global devastation caused by global warming, nor is it simply the war-mongers who see a jihadist behind every bush, it’s Christians too, who seem to enjoy pointing out how bad things are (and are getting).
I know. It’s the wrong season for thinking about politics. Nonetheless, I’m thinking about it, and sometimes you have to serve up your ideas while they’re still warm.
A perennial (or perhaps biennial or quadrennial) question in the American political experience is “Should people of conscience vote for the lesser of two evils?” The question is of interest to all who care about right and wrong but carries special interest for Christians since their aim is to do all things in obedience to Christ.
My thesis is simple. In a vote between two evils, Christians ought to back the lesser of the two.
For the purposes of this essay, I’m assuming readers already believe Christians ought to vote. My aim is to present three arguments for voting for the candidate who is least evil, whether the office is President of the United States, U.S. Senator or Village Clerk.
The first argument for voting for the lesser of evils is in the proposition itself: less evil. Who can be against that? Here’s the argument one statement at a time:
The adjective that economist Friedrich Hayek famously called a “weasel word” is alive and well in the feel-good phrases social business, social justice and the social gospel.
Discussion