When American voters participate in a presidential campaign — both in the primaries and the general election that follows — we cast a ballot as both a personal choice and a choice made in the context of its broad national importance.

These contests are pivotal events, and their outcome inevitably shapes the course of history and defines the very character of our country. Our next chief executive will face a range of major national and international issues such as the Iraq war, future Supreme Court nominees, healthcare reform, education vouchers and a host of other vital matters.

For many of our country’s citizens, religious beliefs are central to the process as they evaluate the various candidates. Certainly, the decisions made by America’s voters will have strong consequences — generally and spiritually — once a new administration is in place.

As such, I think it is critical for us to keep religious considerations in mind when we contemplate whom to vote for (indeed, it’s important for us to incorporate spirituality throughout our daily lives and not limit our faith to the time we spend inside a house of worship).

With that said, I feel that the voting public has an obligation to become well informed on the stances of all the presidential candidates and make their decision based on various criteria; we would be foolish to cast a ballot solely on the basis of a candidate’s professed faith.

I do not believe that it is the responsibility of clergy or faith-based organizations to get involved in this process, or to issue statements regarding the spiritual effects of one’s vote. A thoughtful citizen will factor their faith into the process as they see fit once the time comes to make the choice in the voting booth.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN
Chabad Jewish Center



All deliberate choices affect our salvation. The question is: To what extent?

Some choices have little or no bad effect, and some can have deadly effect. It doesn’t matter much if we choose Coca-Cola over Pepsi, but it matters very much if we choose hate over love. We are responsible for our choices.

The Nov. 14 statement by the United States bishops is some 45 pages and covers many topics. It is written to help people “form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.” That was a mandate given by Christ to the 12 apostles: “Go teach all nations . . .” The document presents “fundamental moral principles” but avoids telling people how to vote.

The document talks about some things being “intrinsically evil,” meaning that they can never be chosen under any circumstances.

“They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned.”

Some examples given were: abortion, human cloning, destructive research on human embryos, euthanasia, racism and targeting innocent civilians in war. However, it is not enough to simply oppose evil. “Both opposing evil and doing good are essential obligations.” We must try to ease the burden of those struggling to do what is right.

A candidate for elected office holds many positions and promises many things. Hopefully those who vote for him are expecting him to do more good than harm. Of course, to vote for a candidate precisely because he is pro-abortion would be seriously sinful. This “is not just one issue among many.”

THE REV. GENE FRILOT
Pastor Emeritus
Incarnation Catholic Church
Glendale

 

Every time a believer — or a non-believer, for that matter — steps into a voting booth, he or she is bringing his/her entire worldview with him/her.

I like to think that when I am voting, I am voting my faith and not necessarily my pocketbook. If I claim to be a follower of Jesus, I need to ask myself the question, “How would Jesus vote?” Which candidate would do more good for the world? If I must vote “yes” or “no” on a proposition, I must consider the consequences of what that measure, if passed, would do.

So the question is actually backward; in other words, it is my salvation, or my walk with God, that affects my political choices.

Now, I believe it is all well and good for the U.S. Catholic bishops to offer moral guidelines; those of us who consider ourselves moral should probably take the time to read those moral guidelines. But for some religious leader — any religious leader — to tell me that how I vote will affect my salvation is laughable. Besides, being a one-issue voter is dangerous.

One candidate may be pro-choice, but also anti-war, whereas another candidate may be pro-life but also pro-war. Who is the better candidate, speaking morally?

One would end the life of a fetus, but work to end the war in Iraq. The other would try to save the life of the unborn but continue the conflagration that kills many people daily. As the Apostle Paul said, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. As I understand the concept, I need to do that working out every day of my life.

THE REV. C. L. “SKIP” LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ La Canada Flintridge

 

The guidelines originally affirmed that voters’ choices could affect their “spiritual well-being.” I would concur, as everything that touches life has spiritual ramifications. However, declaring salvation’s jeopardy for poorly marking ballots violates the biblical principle which forbids going “beyond what is written” (1Corinthians 4:6 New International Version).

Extrapolating condemnation is certainly not a biblical conclusion but one of human consensus, and no conference has more authority than the Word of God.

Two issues arise as one considers the question: the place of spiritual direction and the nature of salvation. Shepherds must guide their flocks, and they do best by teaching faithfully what is revealed in Scripture. We have specific instructions in some matters, and they direct our behaviors regarding matters of more contemporary consideration. For example, murder is evil. It remains evil forever, whether done by ancient pirates or contemporary abortionists. In either case, innocent human beings are killed for the financial aggrandizement of others.

Elections are coming. We’ll likely be caught voting for lesser evils. Some candidates identify with religious faith but shun its practical influence.

Others promote morality, but not by virtue of truth. Choose nobody, and greater evil wins by default, correct? So we boldly vote, striving to limit evil, and our salvation remains secure. Why? God doesn’t save on account of voting records or other deeds, but only through faith in Christ.

The New International Version reads; “by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Neither working politically nor punching perfect chads garner any points with Heaven, but whenever you do vote, do it to glorify the Savior.

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM
Senior Pastor
MontroseCommunity Church.org

 

In Islam, political choices could affect one’s salvation where extremism is involved.

Some examples include embracing any ideology of hate and discrimination toward any group of people. Another example would be supporting groups or nation states that sponsor terrorism, such as suicide bombings against civilian targets, in order to achieve a political end, even if the end advances a legitimate social justice cause.

Islam unequivocally condemns these horrendous acts of misguided political activism. American Muslim leaders and organizations are on record repeatedly condemning terrorism. The website of theamerican muslim.org lists an exhaustive anthology of “Muslims denounce terrorism” statements.

Regarding the concept of salvation in Islam, it is always a matter of God’s boundless mercy alone to render judgment.

Believers are obligated to understand and convey God’s message to humanity but cannot ascertain with certainty who deserves God’s salvation and who does not.

Extremism aside, Islam is not subordinated to any ideology of the day, liberal or conservative. Islam’s sacred principles and spiritual teachings are above the political choices that people of faith can make with the best of intentions and due diligence.

American Muslims as well as members of other faith groups should represent a spectrum of political philosophies and be a voice of conscience for the various political parties and causes.

Political choices by nature are temporal and circumstantial, and the process of active political engagement, guided by one’s faith, is more important than the resultant political choice.

LEVENT AKBARUT
Islamic Congregation
of La Cañada Flintridge

 

Our political choices have absolutely no effect on whether we are, to use the biblical word, “saved.”

The Philippian jailer, doubtless concerned with his immediate physical well-being, but evidently concerned about his soul as well, asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?”

Their response? “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31, New American Standard Bible)

No works, no rituals and no voters guides, just faith in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected on the third day.

From what are we saved? Paul answers clearly: “having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:9)

Because God is righteous, He must judge sin with its due wages: death, or eternal separation from His holiness. But because God is also loving, and because we were spiritually incapacitated being “dead in our trespasses and sins,”

He provided the perfect sacrifice, which was the life of His Son yielded up on the cross. If you have faith in Jesus’ work, and through faith commit your life to follow Him, He will save your soul.

Of course, being saved produces wonderful changes both personally in our hearts and publicly in our behavior. We would fully expect saved people to vote in ways consistent with God’s righteousness.

PASTOR JON BARTA
Valley Baptist Church
Burbank

 

How refreshing to hear that the bishops, these men of faith, are standing up for what they believe. Whether you agree with the policies they are supporting, you have to appreciate that these bishops are taking their faith seriously enough to attach permanent consequences to the decision-making process. Basically, they are saying, what we believe is not something that comes alive only on Sundays and in sanctuaries, but has applications and ramifications in all of life.

By taking a very extreme and absurd example, this can be better understood. Imagine a candidate who supports a program of systematic annihilation of a group of people, such as in the case of genocide.

Everyone who votes for this candidate knowing of his or her agenda for extermination is responsible and accountable for those actions.

Therefore, wouldn’t we all agree that those voters would be guilty of the same crime? This may seem severe, but that is the seriousness of our vote. Sometimes in discussing a person’s “right to vote” we fail to speak of the “responsibility of the vote.”

Every right carries a responsibility. The bishops are merely saying that if a person adheres to a set of principles and standards, there is a responsibility to live according to those tenets of faith.

In my particular belief system, the standard to love, as expressed through Jesus Christ, is so high that my voting decisions must reflect that standard.

The way I see it, expressing love in everything we do is the responsibility of those who have the right to be called Christian.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church Youth Ministries
In His Shoes Mission