What Do Evangelical Seek?
Evangelical Christians voted overwhelmingly for President Bush because we hoped for certain changes in the nation, changes consistent with the moral values that we see taught in the Bible.
(1) The most important change is appointing Supreme Court justices who will restrict themselves to interpreting laws rather than imposing their opinions on us by inventing rights not found in the Constitution or intended by its framers (such as a "right" to murder unborn children). If the Court is changed, then issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and restrictions on pornography can be decided by the people and their elected representatives, not by judges. We will support laws that protect the lives of unborn children (except where the mother's own life is at stake), consistent with teachings of the Bible in places such as Psalm 139:13, Luke 1:44, and Exodus 21:22-23.
Several other policies would receive strong (but not unanimous) evangelical support:
(2) A Constitutional amendment restricting marriage to one man and one woman. This is to keep unelected judges from overriding the will of the people and imposing same-sex marriage on our society, which would give governmental encouragement to sexual conduct that the Bible views as morally wrong (Romans 1:26-28).
(3) The removal of court-imposed restrictions on the "free exercise" of religion that increasingly banish prayer, the moral laws of the Bible, and the name of God from public places. These restrictions are also the inventions of judges and are not found in the words of the Constitution or the intent of its authors.
(4) Strong national defense, for God authorizes government to "bear the sword" (Romans 13:4) and thus to use force to oppose violent evil.
(2) A Constitutional amendment restricting marriage to one man and one woman. This is to keep unelected judges from overriding the will of the people and imposing same-sex marriage on our society, which would give governmental encouragement to sexual conduct that the Bible views as morally wrong (Romans 1:26-28).
(3) The removal of court-imposed restrictions on the "free exercise" of religion that increasingly banish prayer, the moral laws of the Bible, and the name of God from public places. These restrictions are also the inventions of judges and are not found in the words of the Constitution or the intent of its authors.
(4) Strong national defense, for God authorizes government to "bear the sword" (Romans 13:4) and thus to use force to oppose violent evil.
(5) Government policies that actually work in helping the poor (Galatians 2:10) and overcoming racial alienation and injustice, especially through effective education, job growth, and job training by both secular and faith-based organizations (particularly in inner cities).
(6) Wisdom and common sense to the use of natural resources, because we believe that human beings are not evolved from animals but are directly created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), and are therefore much more valuable than other living things.
(7) More freedom for parents to choose schools based on the moral values they teach and the educational success they demonstrate.
(8) Restrictions on human embryonic stem-cell research and cloning (both of which are making the beginnings of little babies for the purpose of harvesting their parts), and simultaneous promotion of adult stem-cell research, which does not destroy human lives.
(6) Wisdom and common sense to the use of natural resources, because we believe that human beings are not evolved from animals but are directly created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), and are therefore much more valuable than other living things.
(7) More freedom for parents to choose schools based on the moral values they teach and the educational success they demonstrate.
(8) Restrictions on human embryonic stem-cell research and cloning (both of which are making the beginnings of little babies for the purpose of harvesting their parts), and simultaneous promotion of adult stem-cell research, which does not destroy human lives.
Evangelicals strongly support freedom of religion, and we will always defend the right of others to differ with us on these matters. But we are thankful that the United States still allows people who take moral guidance from the Bible to have a voice in the political process. We seek the good of the nation, because we believe that this is one important way to obey Jesus' command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:19).
