One of the things that is true everywhere in ministry is that there are, from time to time, issues that hijack everyone's attention. Sometimes it's a local tragedy. Sometimes it's something exciting or fun, like a championship run by the local team. Right now, it's the election. So please indulge me for this post as we address what is dominating the news, as well as the conversations of our people.
For most Southern white Evangelicals, the question in this election is not really one or the other; it's one or neither. Other church leaders may have reason to address why Hillary Clinton is not fit for our vote, but that's not what we're struggling with here. It's all about Donald Trump, and it goes like this: Christians have the civic duty to vote, we can't vote for Hillary, a write-in or third-party vote is as just like not voting at all, so we must vote for Trump, regardless of his perceived flaws. You've heard this line of reasoning rolled out in various forms for months now, and it's been effective. Many Christians who initially found Trump to be repugnant are now fervently on his side. Trump/Pence yard signs are popping up everywhere around town.
I accept only one premise in that argument: for her radically pro-abortion stance, her general hostility toward biblically conservative Christians, and a host of other reasons, I cannot recommend that anyone vote for Hillary Clinton. But I want to examine the question of what a Christian's civic duty really is in regard to voting, and I'd like us to center our thoughts on five guidelines for our political engagement:
1 - Pay attention
