Conservatively conservative
I’m not usually one for heated political debate, or political propaganda, and especially not political rallies, but I went to one yesterday. Pastors and leaders of local conservative churches were invited to hear Dr. Ralph Reed tell us how/why we need to get our congregations to vote.
I try not to tout my conservative/republican bent to heavily because it can affect the effect one has with outreach on a primarily liberal campus with a primarily liberal (read: uninformed/naive) student population.
That’s right. I called liberal students naive :)
BUT let me set the record straight. I by no means am of the opinion that to be a smart/upstanding/christian human being one must be conservative or republican. I don’t see conservativism as an ultimate good, republican as perfect, or liberalism as brash and unwise. In fact, I think to nail yourself into one of these categories is unwise at best, dangerous at worst. Rather, you should take the time to filter all sides and all views through the authority of scripture. Don’t just assume that because something is conservative, or republican, that it is right. People are imperfect. This world is a tricky place, and the enemy is smarter than you are. Saying that if you are Christian, you have to be republican/conservative is putting the cart before the horse. Also, I think Jesus was very, very liberal, and that we have really bastardized the word liberal. I mean, come on, ANYONE can be saved??
That being said, I do think it takes about 30 seconds for a Christian to discern the Bush is the only right choice for them. On issues such as human life, homosexuality, marriage, and other moral issues, the choice is very easy. On economic issues, a little realism, research, and consideration of our present situation with all its mitigating factors, puts to rest doubts that are rightfully in the minds of a lot of Americans.
But here is my single most important thing I could possible say: VOTE. We have an INCREDIBLE blessing in this country (actually we have many): being able to have a say in our government. Unfortunately, as with most (all) our priveleges (being able to posses a bible without fear of death), we take it exteremely for granted, and do nothing with it. Vote. And if you aren’t going to, give me your vote. I’ll help you get registered, get an absentee ballot, and I’ll help you fill it out.
Don’t throw out any of those garbage excuses about legislating morality or separation of church and state or what some rockstar thinks about Bush.
You have a conscience, you have a vote; if you use the first without the second, your conscience really isn’t good for a lot… if you use the second without the first (coughjohnkerrycough) you are dangerous.
Also, if you aren’t sure when/where you will be able to vote, get an absentee ballot.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
And here, if you don’t know where to start to get registered to vote:
If you are in story county: Go here to download the registration form
If not: Go here to get started with your registration.
So my computer has crashed maybe 5 times since I bought it over a year ago. And it crashed when I clicked on the registration form link. Hmmmmm.
Dang… sorry about that. Worked fine on my mac using Mozilla… you use safari?
Partisanship aside, encouraging people to vote, especially by making it easier for them, is a terrific use of a blog.