Applying Your Faith to the 2020 Election

Hi this is Jim Daly inviting you to show your support for the sanctity of life and the protection of the pre-born, along with millions of concerned citizens.

Mark your calendar for September 26 to witness a transformational pro-life event were calling sea life 2020. Join the movement to end abortion and love every part text heartbeat 72,000 and join us see life 2020 text heartbeat to 72,000. I'm concerned about honoring God. I feel limited with my consommé choices I got work to do. I need more information. I feel the patient make concerned my vote will cost, relationships, and potential future job. Or maybe you can relate to those comments and you feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped to vote this year will today on Focus on the Family will review by its so important and valuable involved in the political process and why your faith perspective, especially in this year's election is essential your hostess focus presidents and Dr. Jim Daly and I jump Jan I can't believe election day is only nine way Tuesday market on your calendar November 3, and this is like we often say the monumental election year. Every election seems to be that the most monumental of all why will we need to exercise that freedom that we been given. You know when I go to vote. One of things I think about are the many veterans I've met through Focus on the Family Roger Sherard, a friend of mine who was on the battlefield in Vietnam, and the number of men he lost as a commander in the battlefield. That's a picture for me to think what price was paid for me to vote on November 3. I think of Roger Sherard.

I hope that there is something motivating you in a similar way to get out and vote want to tell you how to vote.

We shouldn't do that and we can't do that but we want to cover some of the issues and what's at stake in our country from a variety of directions and I traveled by John to 70 different countries and I'm telling you the first time I came back from my first international trip all those years ago I did. I knelt down and kissed the tarmac when I got here because our country has something that is priceless, and these the things that are at stake. Freedoms that are at stake, religious freedoms expression the things that I think we take for granted so often. Yet people have paid with their life. To maintain these freedoms for us. Yet it said it, it's not a perfect system. There are imperfect people and the process gets messy, their contentions, but still I agree with you.

We have something that really is special here in the country we do and we want to address that is restarted today with a discussion about it. In fact, that we've invited to great guest to help us navigate these issues. John Stonestreet is back with us. He's the president of the Colson Center for Christian worldview and a good friend of mine. He writes and speaks on faith and culture, theology, education, politics, if you don't get his morning blog. You definitely should sign up for at the Colson Center website. He's also the host of the popular breakpoint broadcasting podcasts.

Welcome John thanks And we also have a Lisa Anderson our colleague here who heads up our ministry to young single adults who is an author and host of our weekly boundless broadcasting podcast and it's great to be here good to be here right let's kick it off.

John, can you believe that it's been four years we were here in 2016. Having this discussion before the election, so it's good like is that they have you back to talk again about what's going on. The culture and we see you brought some prerecorded comments from voters who express their concerns and struggles about this year's election and that working to share some of those observations that you are able to get into, and in fact, year, and some of these comments as well.

So let's take a listen. It seems for a lot of people that politics has replaced religion and they're looking for. This godlike figure to solve all their problems in the and the government will just never will never do that. That'll never be the case may feel like we're in this stage in our society where were just in a mob mentality like I go on social media and everyone is yelling and I can literally hear it through my screen. Everyone just being so angry. Each party has different concerns for different groups of people. If I vote for one my supporting some people.

But then the night neglecting others and can I do that with a good conscience. This idea that I used to like this elevated idea of I'm in a vote for as statesmen, I'm in a vote for someone who represents everything that's great about the country. I was born in about the issues that I love about and that's kind of taken off the table, to the point where I'm just going to be honest to me when I talked to friends who, especially those who aren't here in the states. I feel like I have to give all these qualifiers about like well you know this is how our process works and this is why it isn't perfect. John, let's pick it up there that one comment about the combative nature of the mob mentality. I think she said of what were experiencing in politics today. You know, we think it's unique. But when I read you know the mob mentality during Lincoln's election. For example I mean is pretty brutal. The way the press would attack Lincoln in that moment, and in no other presidents to enter Jackson on the go right to the list.

It was in a kind process. 100 years ago. It was a brutal process, then like it is today. You write it. It was maybe one of the differences now is the 24 hour news cycle. The constant social media world that we all live in effect at a recent study just found the more people spent on social media, the less informed. They actually are. And as any crapshoot recently on on on presentation that we had. We need we probably need less information and more context and I think that's really one of the things that is a feature of this political cycle.

Maybe the last couple you're right. I remember the evening. You know, more recent presidents impress it on each side being, you know attacking character unnecessarily. You know, making broad assumptions and pinching motives and all that none of that's new. That's how you it is so noisy in our world. It is such a noisy time to be a citizen that blocking some of that out or at least discerning and navigating your way through it is is is nothing more difficult than ever. So I sympathize with that comment. You know it myself.

Yes Lisa, that tone of apathy. You know doesn't really matter to me my butt is one vote.

Why does it even matter, but it does matter, and this is part of democracy and that many nations not many people have had the privilege to live in democracies. It's a relatively new phenomenon in human history and speak to that person who's apathetic you represent. Boundless air focus and you speak to young single folks who probably express that this fatigue.

What you hear and that's where I would say it's probably more of a disconnect.

Then in apathy, because then you when you talked at the front end of the show about, you know, the idea of like these veterans that you know I mean, my average listener in my shell has no real connection to someone who served in war. Maybe they have a grandpa who was in Vietnam. Or maybe not, but it's good to be a couple generations removed. So this idea of like what our country went through and all what they read in the history books, maybe.

But as far as a real connection to Yaqui white. Remind me again why we love our country it's it's often not there, and so there just in this marketplace of ideas on social where they are hearing. They yelling you heard a listener say that and they're kinda like okay really does this.

You know, is America great.

Should it be great.

What is this look like, how should I feel about this. My friend next door doesn't really think so and I don't want to be this you know weirdo who is yelling at them about stuff so the conflicted unit going back to an earlier comment by one of the listeners are also resonated with that first comment where many people think politics is replaced religion is religion has become seen more and more, even by people of faith is a more more privatized sort of you know my relationship with my God sort of you and not as a commitment to an entire view of reality, then something has to take the place of of God, something has to take the place of Providence in terms of governing and orchestrating history for many people that's become politics, so we remember Christ is risen Christ as Lord. That means we cannot be despairing because the future is secure, but it also means we know who is writing the story of history and it's not the one in the White House as Rick Warren said stop the one in the right White House is the one on the cross and we can keep that straight. That's I think really great yeah anything John.

It's so interesting how you know we look at you. You talk about that and where our allegiance lies election night people treat it and I've been guilty of this in the past we treat it like it's the Super Bowl people make snacks. They had people over there rooting for quote their team, and it becomes so. There were so wrapped up in it emotionally that we been talking about this at boundless. We've got it take the passion out of politics and by that I mean this idea that working to be working at.

Give our allegiance to a certain candidate or to a certain platform or two. And it's good to be RB.

All and all, and are you we know from Scripture.

Our allegiance belongs to one team and that is Christ's, and that is where we have to sit in this and you know I love that that passage about you know Jesus saying render to Caesar what is Caesar's because what he saying is who's images on this coin it Caesar's who's images on you, that's God you belong to God to figure out what side you're on, and play the game. Accordingly, the difficulty in that Lisa is that some things resonate more with no biblical worldview than other things. And again all use life as an example. You know, we have a wonderful program here through Ray Vander Long call that the world may know, I've had the privilege of traveling to Israel with the I would say the number one thing that he saying is an affront to God is the taking of innocent human life and you learn that walking through Israel with right that is like at the forefront of God's anger toward human beings when we take the life of innocent people and you know that for us as Christians that is abortion and you can argue about that, but we believe life starts at conception and when a politician steps up and says okay I'm going to defend that position I'm in. The defendant pro-life position, it becomes very hard for us to look the other way and you know again I'm not getting into the party issues. The point I'm trying to make is given what you just said Lisa. How do we as Christians line up biblical values with party platforms and then say okay this best represents what I believe you not can have a perfect situation, but we've got to be critical about those things that were supporting right and let's have both – no, I think that's true and that's why I think I'm not saying we don't care about the issues I'm just saying we have to be dispassionate about the candidates in the emotion that is fair I line out all the issues and we would put them up against Scripture.

And that's where you have because again you know someone will argue, Jim.

Of course you know Jesus cares about the pre-born and we've got a B after that we got it and not just again will probably get into this at the federal level, but right where we are with that the women that dads in our own communities who are making these decisions, but you know God also cares about the refugee, the immigrant, and that we gotta make the arguments there of, like, what are the issues what's at stake. How are we gonna look at Scripture and vote accordingly and take that the personalities and the crazy out of and yeah, let's jump back to that panel discussion they are addressing another issue let's listen in. We have a responsibility not to stay silent, especially when we come across those close minded people who like a lambskin candidate, Emily the country that I think on the other side of that as well. We can't. I've seen a number of Christians also say well then okay go like if you don't like it then just get out and I don't think we can do that either silent but we also just can't write these people often refuse to engage like we have to like you are saying we have a responsibility to engage and try to educate them if we would sit at the table communicate downer got let's put down our boxing gloves and work together, communicate, communicate, communicate for lice to change and therefore policies to change to, despite what you may think we chose we typically have some type of common ground with with other people know the human element usually provide something there and so finding a common ground and probably in the first conversation not even talking about politics at all, because people will listen to you when they know that you actually care about them as an individual and so it starts with with the relationship. Let's just have both you respond to those comments. Don't know what I thought. I think that there are some election cycles where the issues are more important than others.

I mean you know if you have an election cycle were the most important thing you're wrestling with this you know whether we can have an interstate highway system, knowing that were outward and attacks people it feels like more so pass what that that's what I'm saying right now what's what's at stake for this. In this particular election a really really important issues and one of the things that I think is quite important that was said earlier and even reflected in this panel is that we put so much attention on what's happening at the very top of the ticket where when it comes to life when it comes to freedom of religion when it comes to how were going to handle the education of our children what happens in local races. What happens with local ballot initiatives is far more important than what's happening at the White House and still what's happening at the White House really matters because were talking about Supreme Court nominations and that sort of thing. And so that's why we have to remember when we look at these and try to engage the political process. First of all, it is a it's something we have to do because it's an act of stewardship right it's it's it's good that God has given us the opportunity to participate in.

That's not the case that most of human history and you. Scripture defines sin anomalies. What you do the good that you failed to do and I think voting is one of those things it's good you have an opportunity to do so. So do it. The other thing that I think is probably helpful is because the 24 hours new cycle in the twitter and the conspiracy theories and fake news that gets thrown around.

We get so fixated on the personality of the candidate and how it's pretrade.

Now don't get me wrong character of the candidate always matters right says policy. What are they going to do. Not only that, but so does the whole team they bring to the that's of the table.

No candidate is just them, especially when you talk about who's the president you talking about about 3000 other people that again a staff different department heads. There gonna develop policies or unit carry out executive orders and try to move things through Congress and deal with law beers and all that other stuff and then of course you've got the whole level of appointments right numbing who the other people that the Side of the place we get so narrow in our view of how were going to vote and that we need to look at that big picture is much as possible. This is Focus on the Family with Jim Daly and our guest today are John Stonestreet and Lisa Anderson as we explore some of the thorny issues regarding the upcoming elections.

We do have resources for you stop by our website. We've got the link in the show notes and you'll find those and then follow us along on the daily citizen of feed. Check John's blog and newsletters out with a lot here for you to stay informed Jon I want to move and you touch on it to religious liberty because man that is in the news every day thinking of Pastor John MacArthur in California who's been under the boot of the governor. There for holding church services.

The pandemic is because this divide. We had the spring court case. The quick ruling on the Nevada church wanting to basically follow the same guidelines given to casinos in Nevada, which meant that you know approximately half the capacity of a casino you can have right in there, but only 50 people in the church, so why not just apply the casino guideline to the church guideline right to have half capacity be available for the church so I you know talk about were right with religious freedom and input particular how the pandemic is playing in this debate. Why I think there are a lot of pre-existing conditions to the pandemic that were seeing you. Note rise to the surface and then be unit exaggerated during this time, and religious liberty is really one of them, but it's even more fundamental than that is how religion itself is perceived in society we seen elected officials you just name two states, I can name a couple more talking about marriage. We seen the same thing there but elected officials that really think religion is kind of an irritant, almost like he gets in the way like you guys if you can really see the language coming from from certain elected officials at the state and local level that, see religion as you know, being a fan of the Cubs versus the unit of the Cardinals suit to demand any sort of of accommodation to worship which we see and gather and to assemble, and to speak, which we actually see. I think it's in the very first amendment is that it's seen as an irregularly it's it's right it's seen as an irritant. It's seen as something else is that this is a pre-existing condition to the challenges we see in religious liberty, and we've also seen as we know that there is an ongoing conflict between religious freedom and sexual freedom in our society and that has hit the level of state-level propositions ballot initiatives legislative policy advances in the we can just come and Supreme Court decisions obviously swing go down the line and see that elections matter when it comes to religious liberty elections are all that matter. Again we get pre-existing conditions on how Christians understand their own faith as well as how the rest of the world sees Christians for many people, religious freedom is a synonym for license to discriminate or a synonym for to advance my own special cause in a religious freedom for me but not for the and so we've got to get clear on what religious liberty is that they pre-political cultural levels or conversation, but wow between here and there elections really do matter. Lisa let me ask you this question because I think it's important for the Christian that despises the political environment because it's the art of compromise and you can't be a purist in that environment and no one person represents no straight down the line biblical values. There's going to be these wiggles you might say you could become apathetic and say you know I am a citizen of heaven, not of this world, therefore, are not to participate in it because I don't want to have to you know kind of compromise. My position would you say that person in terms of being in a democracy, were not in the Roman Empire. We don't have decrees from Caesar coming down, which is what Jesus was an enemy they had to live with what they received. Right on this earth. And Jesus kinda said that given to Caesar what citizen on the God what is his and so how do you work that out in terms of the apathy so doesn't drive you toward nothing right right and that's where you know wouldn't leave you in that previous clip where the commentor was talking about, you know, I might've to move to Canada. That was actually a conversation we are having, where I had thrown that out there because I have friends that I've seen on social media on both sides of the aisle who have said, if the other candidate wins my words To move such as throwing up the hands and the fact is we all have to learn the art of communication in the art of compromise. It's can happen on stuff like this that is not a faith issue. It's not a biblical note core to our faith. And so what is that look like because we can't just throw up our hands and disengage entirely. We have to realize and and you know my young adults. I talked to do not like it when I say this a vote to your point, Jim. No one is going to perfectly represent the heart of God. No one has the corner on the truth on everyone in these issues so you are going to have to pit you you have to figure out like what is this look like. But what we need to do is be able to do this in a way that is not in I see this going. So hand-in-hand with what we talk about a lot of boundless right now in second it's blowing up this week. This whole concept of cancel culture that if if someone disagrees with you. You just cannot have a conversation with them. You need to just write them off everything about them is evil because you disagree with one thing that they say we can't do that we have to be in the arena. Having the conversation, staying engaged because if we disengage and become apathetic to your point then that just shows that you know we feel powerless, in that we know that as Christians we are not powerless and that's true but participating in democracy is a responsibility that I think that we are all called to and if we just step back and that apathy we select. We were talking about.

I think we really we fumble what so many people have given their lives for us to express so be engaged be informed get out and vote November 3.

That's the point, and I hope today's discussions motivated you and perhaps you can send this to a friend or family member that needs a little kick in the backside to get them out of the rut and get them engaged with what's happening that we can do what we can do but we got it do it and I hope you will do that on November 3 John when we've address the election voter responsibilities in the past you've pointed out an important verse which is acts 17 that refers to how God placed us in this certain time and place for reason and for purpose. Explain that position yet truth of Scripture that some days I don't like is the dad of three kids right him and I don't like everything I believe.

But Paul when he was talking to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens and then you can find this Luke records this and in acts chapter 17 he EE introduces God to these pagans and he he he says a number of things that it's really fascinating and you can actually see how is directly engaging the philosophy of Epicureanism in the philosophy of stoicism and it's really interesting. One way she does that, but with the truth claim is God determines the exact times that we live in the boundaries of our dwelling place. In other words, it's not an accident that were in this time and in this place.

That's why of unity, laughing, people like I'm moving to Canada or am moving to New Zealand by the way the grass isn't great with the grass is definitely greener in New Zealand political grass is not right a minute. It is that there's not a place where there's not a fall but there is a place where God a time and a place where God has called us to. And it's also about a legitimate way to love our neighbor policy matters because people matter policies don't matter because our side matters. Unfortunately, we hear that way too often, but as we say run the call-center ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims and policies or ideas put into place to order society and if there bad ones.

Then, people are actually going to pay the price and look you can just see the dramatic difference between different administrations and their policies on education their policies on healthcare their policies on abortion their policies on the place and role of religion in the public square. These things have victims and so to miss an opportunity to speak into that process is to miss an opportunity to love our neighbor yet. I think John to both your points. You know what I would say is not only has God ordained. What what the times and seasons are for his people, but for all authorities for everyone you know I think of John 19, where Jesus says to Pilate like you would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you by God. And so it's like yeah okay we can be okay with that because it's not like you know again if if whatever our candidate is wins then were okay and if he doesn't win then were not okay because Jesus wins and so and then regarding the local statement.

I think it's so important to say that you know we as Christians need to not rely on a vote or a platform or a government policy to solve the ills in our community were called to do that is the church and so if were not enough, we think, well, okay, I'm voting and so check it off the box I'm done, you better be going back in your community, and loving your neighbor and helping you know figuring out solutions for the poor and figuring out what that looks like because that is the hands and feet of Jesus that were to do the rest of the four years when were not casting a ballot that's well said.

The point is get out and vote. That's what were trying to communicate take on that responsibility.

November 3 that's your chance. In a democracy to shape the policies that John was referencing for the good of the people or for the ill will of the people and I think to some degree were responsible for that and we need to take it seriously. So again, get out and vote on November 3 and will point our listeners and viewers to the boundless website Lisa, were you conducted that panel discussion. There's a lot more that we didn't cover that. Obviously I think people would find it really intriguing.

We've also got a helpful resource for families. It's free, it's called the daily citizen. I read it every morning and provide you with timely and relevant analysis of current events and cultural trends from a biblical worldview like we talked about today and as we've indicated the news and issues can be overwhelming at times. So we just take those things that have happened that we think are consequential from our Christian worldview and put them in an easy to find location and of course I'd encourage you to check out the great resources. The Colson Center, led by my good friend John Stonestreet and will have a link to their website as well. Indeed, we will Jim and will link over to your blog as well where you have a lot of comments on the culture and what's going on out there.

So all of these links and resources can be found in the episode notes or call 800 K and the word family. If you have any questions. We said John, thanks for being with us is been really good. Thanks, Jim. Thanks. Well let me speak to those who help us each and every month, perhaps, or at least with the gift here and there. Thank you so much for taking care of the fuel that drives the engine here Focus on the Family and we appreciate it if you haven't given the focus or it's been a while.

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