The Pew Forum article entitled Young White Evangelicals: Less Republican, Still Conservative resonated with me. It is consistent with what I've been feeling, though my attention is less squarely on Bush and more on the party as a whole. I know my views on things are just incompatible with basic Democratic perspectives on life and yet the Republicans don't seem to be getting anything done that I care about.
I'm concerned about the state of our borders, but less about how to keep people out and more about how to allow them in legally without giving them headaches for years and years after entry. If you know anyone who has immigrated to the US, ask them about the efficiency of the INS.
As with anyone who values the sanctity of life and understands it starts at conception, I'm also concerned about abortion. That drum has been beat enough. You know what it's about.
I'm concerned about the state of social services in the US. I'm concerned about the state of taxes and the way those taxes are being spent. I've grown increasingly convinced that the governments role in social services has stripped the churches feeling of responsibility for caring for the weak and down trodden and the "widows" of our day. Why does the church out-source their benevolence, or at least portions of it to the government? I've becoming increasingly concerned that my tax dollars are being squandered in government assistance programs when they would be better put back into the church where people who really care for these folks could really help. This is the state of things and it's where we are so it's what we have to deal with. I don't have any problem with people using these programs because that's how you get assistance in our country, I just don't like they way they are provided. It is my conviction that this is the responsibility of the church and we've let government take it away.
I'm concerned about war and I'm concerned about its affect on the Great Commission. How can a country invaded by angry white guys with guns in their hands ever see the heart of a friendly white guy with a Bible in his hand? God can make it happen, but I fear that war is building walls instead of bridges in our ability to communicate the gospel. Meanwhile, we're feeding the propaganda that jihadists believe and inspire their wrath and actions toward the execution of "the great satan". I fear for the souls of the people of arab countries watching our countries actions. I'm not saying I'm anti-war. I'm just saying I'm not sure about these wars.
Another thing that concerns me is the view of individual freedoms. Our government seems to be stripping them and I'm increasingly convinced that those with the lobbying power have Christians in their gun sights. I want a candidate that isn't going to take away freedom of religion. Why are we silencing Christian principles as hate language (Christians' methods are partly to blame for this) and yet chasing muslims in the middle-east. This seems inconsistent. We need freedom for all or we ultimately have freedom for none.
The falling value of the dollar also has me concerned. This has impacts on US Christians' support of missionaries around the world. There are areas of the world where the dollar sent to foreign missionaries is buying approximately half of what it did only a few years ago. This also affects the price of short-term mission trips. This isn't an issue I'd have had on my political radar until getting more familiar with what it takes in our culture to fund missions. As the dollar drops, the cause of the Great Commission becomes more expensive and more money needs to be raised. It is nearly impossible for a missionary on the field to raise support while in another country. This means they have to return to the US or do with less. Either results in a less effective ministry in the short-term and can also have affects in the long-term depending on their decision.
I'm not officially supporting a candidate yet. The PA primaries aren't until April so I'm not in a rush; although, it may not matter by then. If I were to choose today, I've only seen one candidate that seems to echo my conclusions. In truth, he doesn't reach them all in the same way. He really got my attention recently when watching a video in which, toward the end, he talked a bit about immigration. He came the closest to any of the current Republican candidates to my views, but only said a very little bit. Basically, he didn't give the border crossing nonsense much attention and said we need to fix our system. Exactly! If it weren't for friends of mine already supporting him, I'd not have heard much about the guy. The media isn't paying him much attention, but he's drawing large crowds (and donations) on the Internet where the real voice of the people can be heard. There is a website dedicated to introducing Ron Paul.
With Ron Paul comes the argument of "electability". Can he be elected president? I don't suppose that bothers me. I'm sick of voting for the better of two evils and the feeling of apathy that gives me. I'd rather have my opinions heard and represented then put my vote behind someone who doesn't really reflect me, at least in the Presidential election. I'm not sure I'd hold to that if I was voting someone into the house or congress.
Oh, It doesn't hurt that Ron Paul has been married to the same woman for 50 years. That says something to me, especially as we studied the qualifications of an elder in Sunday School last year. A man who has kept the same wife for 50 years has demonstrated some strength and humility. You've also got to admire his courage in standing up and telling the entire country he thinks the entire government is not just missing, but way over-shooting the mark.
