Your Vote Counts

On Tuesday, November 7, 2006, our country faces another important election. The balance of power in the Senate and House of Representatives is up for grabs. A slight shift of numbers in either party could determine the fate of laws concerning abortion, marriage, lower taxes, and other topics that are important to us as Christians.

If you are like me you have grown weary of the political infighting among our elected officials. The Democrats blame the Republicans for our problems and the Republicans blame the Democrats for everything. There are many problems facing our country yet our elected leaders are not willing to take responsibility for the poor decisions that have caused these problems.

Several years ago I heard a preacher describe the political dilemma in our country. When referring to Republicans and Democrats, he said, “One’s the skunk and the other is the smell. I’ll let you determine which party is the skunk and which party is the smell.” While that may be humorous, there is some truth to that statement. No one in our government is perfect. If we had a perfect government, we would not be in our current mess.

So what is a Christian to do? Should we abstain from voting, simply because we cannot find a "perfect" candidate? Should we "fast" from politics, as some of our critics have suggested that we do?. Should we stop fighting for the right of an unborn child to live? Should we stop fighting for the right of our students to pray in school? Should we stop fighting against those who are trying to remove God from our public life? Absolutely not! The stakes are too high and these battles are too important to neglect.

In 1987, Chuck Colson (president of Prison Fellowship Ministries and former aide to President Nixon), wrote the following in his book "Kingdom in Conflict:

"'Christians need to influence politics for justice and righteousness.' But we must do so 'with eyes open, aware of the snares . . . Today Christians may find themselves suspect—I have experienced this myself—to the very people on whose side they are fighting. But that is the price they must pay to preserve their independence and not be beholden to any political ideological alignment.'"

So go to the polls Tuesday, and vote. Vote principle, not party. Vote principle, not personality. We are called to be salt and light in the world so let's make a difference. Your vote is just one vote, but one vote can make a difference.

In 1645 ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave him control of England.

In 1649 ONE VOTE caused Charles I to be executed.
In 1800 ONE VOTE kept Aaron Burr--later charged with treason--from becoming President.
In 1839 ONE VOTE elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts.
In 1845 ONE VOTE made Texas part of the United States.
In 1868 ONE VOTE saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
In 1875 ONE VOTE changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
ONE VOTE admitted California (in 1850), Oregon (in 1850), Washington (in 1889), and Idaho (in 1890) into the Union.
In 1876 ONE VOTE elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the Presidency, and the man in the Electoral College who cast that vote was an Indiana Representative also elected by ONE VOTE.
In 1923 ONE VOTE made Adolf Hitler head of the Nazi Party.
In 1941 ONE VOTE maintained the Selective Service System only 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor.
In 1960 ONE VOTE per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon, rather than John Kennedy, President.

With God's help you CAN make a difference! "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13, KJV).