A Defining Moment

October 2000

Dear Friends,

Only a few weeks remain before the next general election here in the United States. November 7 will certainly mark a defining moment in our nation’s history. On that day, we will select the men and women who will lead us into the new millennium. We will also vote on many statewide initiatives and referenda. The decisions we make in the voting booths, for good or for ill, will have repercussions for years, even decades, to come.

"From any angle, this is a big election," writes the Associated Press. "From the White House to the statehouses, from Congress to the Supreme Court, the votes cast on November 7 could shake up U.S. politics more than anything in decades. The impact will reverberate for years in decisions affecting everything from abortion, race and religion to arms control, the environment and taxes."1

This is an especially momentous election for Christians. The values we cherish are under unprecedented assault. Babies are legally killed during the final moments of delivery . . . gay marriage has gained legal sanction . . . schools are plagued by unprecedented violence and immorality . . . religious freedoms are being stripped away.

Even with all this and more at stake, fewer than half of American adults are likely to show up at the polls next month. It was even worse in 1998 when 119 million people stayed at home on Election Day.2 Only a little more than a third of those old enough to vote actually cast ballots on that day!3 What a disgraceful abdication of civic and moral responsibility! Undoubtedly, many millions of those non-participants were Christians who were either "too busy" or too unconcerned to give 15 minutes to their country. In fact, in the last two presidential elections, evangelical turnout has been even lower than within the general population.4

This year may mark a new low for voter apathy in a presidential election. I have come across a series of disturbing articles in recent months that indicate that as long as the economy is booming, Americans simply tune a deaf ear to the political process and public policy. One well-known survey researcher observed, "This slate of candidates, combined with the times, have put (voters) into a pleasant sleep."5 A Democratic consultant noted, "The stakes are pretty big and yet the public is snoozing through it."6 The Associated Press reported on a recent voter survey: "Many American voters are not convinced it makes a big difference who is elected president, are not paying close attention to the campaigns, and are not that worried about the nation’s condition."7

Not only do many Americans apparently no longer care about the issues, they don’t even care about the character of the men and women running for office. Elections are fast becoming trivialized into a contest of who can exude the most winsome personality. According to a prominent pollster, Americans "are not particularly interested in personal scandal."8 We have seen the shamefully embarrassing results of that disregard for character played out in the Oval Office over the last eight years.

In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected president by only 43 percent of those who voted9 — which was less than 24 percent of all Americans of legal voting age.10 His subsequent appointment of two Supreme Court Justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, accounted for two of the five votes that, in June, struck down the ban on partial birth abortion in the state of Nebraska.11 We have no right to complain about the kind of government we’ve had if we haven’t cared enough to use our constitutionally guaranteed freedom to help select our leaders.

Political commentators note that a number of important races this fall will likely be decided by very narrow margins. University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said, "Anyone who is inclined to say ‘my vote doesn’t count’ is especially wrong this year because this will come down to a handful of votes."12 Polls indicate that the presidential race appears to be in a statistical dead heat, while control of both houses of Congress and many state legislatures is also up for grabs. Your vote matters! At least six congressional races in our nation’s history have been decided by a single vote.13

What will it take to awaken Christians to make their voice heard on November 7? Perhaps the apathy we continue to see stems from the incessant media criticism of what they continue to refer to figuratively as the "religious right." Those who oppose our values deliberately distort the meaning of the "separation of church and state" in an attempt to intimidate Christians from involvement in the political arena. Sadly, many have bought the outrageous lie that people of faith have no place in the electoral process. How ridiculous to imply that the Constitution excludes anyone because of their faith.

In truth, we as Christians have an even greater obligation to be involved. Our responsibility goes beyond mere patriotism and civic pride. My great friend Chuck Colson explains it this way: "The state is ordained by God; it is not a necessary evil but a good part of God’s creation. Therefore, participation in political life is a moral obligation. Christians must always seek justice and civil order, striving to be ‘the best of citizens,’ as Augustine put it, because we do for love of God what others do only because they are coerced by law."14

Christians also should vote as a tangible demonstration of our love and concern for our neighbor. Many of the policies instituted by those in elected office will affect our loved ones and those around us in very real ways. Christians are not simply another narrow special interest group, pushing only for those issues that directly impact us. Rather, just as God "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45, NIV), so should our concern be ensuring justice and liberty for all.

Further, Jesus called His followers to be "salt and light." As salt, we are to act as a preservative, penetrating the culture to help sustain what is good and right. As light, we are to counter the darkness and bring truth and righteousness to bear.

Christians in the United States often overlook another key factor. You will recall Jesus’ command to "render to Caesar what is Caesar’s" (Mark 12:17, NIV). In a representative democracy, we are, in essence, Caesar. We as citizens have been entrusted with the responsibility for choosing those who will represent us in elected office. Thus, we are obligated to exercise that authority in a manner that is honoring to God.

Many Christians, including some prominent leaders, claim that our sole concern is to evangelize. Involvement in social issues and the political process, they say, hinders our ability to spread the Gospel. This is a myopic view that undercuts the scope and credibility of our faith. It says that God is solely concerned with "spiritual" matters, and that He is irrelevant to everything else. Yet even a cursory reading of Scripture indicates that nothing in creation — including the governments which are established by God (Romans 13:1, NIV) — is outside of His dominion or care. Jesus’ own ministry and teachings reflect a concern not only for the spiritual well-being of people, but for their social, physical and material needs as well.

British theologian John Stott writes: "[God’s] concerns are all-embracing — not only the ‘sacred’ but the ‘secular,’ not only religion but nature, not only His covenant people but all people, not only justification but social justice in every community, not only His gospel but His law. So we must not attempt to narrow down His interests. Moreover, ours must be as broad as His."15

The late Francis Schaeffer echoed those thoughts: "True [biblical] spirituality touches all of life, including things of government and law, not just ‘religious things.’"16

Christian reformers throughout history have understood this fact. That is why they have been at the forefront in great social movements, ranging from tremendous advances in education and medical care to struggles for equality and civil rights. Evangelical Christians took on the great evil of slavery in our country because they saw it for what it was — sin. They shook complacency to its foundation to win freedom for slaves. In so doing they upended the nation’s politics and formed the core of a new party, the Republican Party, in 1854. In light of such examples of courage and dedication, how can Christians even contemplate not giving a mere 15 minutes to seek justice and righteousness for our nation’s future?

We must make our voices heard at every level of government — local, state and national. The men and women we elect to represent us in our state legislatures, Congress and the White House for the next several years will exert monumental influence over the direction of our nation. Those in federal office will likely appoint and confirm several new Supreme Court Justices. They will help set the moral tenor of the culture — especially for our youth. They might spare some unborn babies the horrors of abortion — or condemn even more to a horrific death. They may decide whether homosexuals are granted special legal rights on the basis of their immoral behavior. They could very well choose whether religious freedoms are restored, or even further restricted.

They will undoubtedly also make decisions that affect our economy, national security and foreign relations. Those are important matters. But I want to address with you the most pressing moral issues that I believe have the greatest relevance to Christians. These issues should be on the mind of every follower of Christ as you think about our nation and its future.

I believe nine of the most relevant moral concerns confronting our nation are: abortion, physician-assisted suicide, homosexuality, family taxation, education, pornography, religious freedom, sex education and the Supreme Court (which has appointed itself moral arbiter of our nation).

For those who would like additional information about the election, I encourage you to visit Focus on the Family's CitizenLink Election 2000 coverage.

Let me reiterate, as I have said so many times before, that I have no stake in any political party. It matters not one whit to me whether candidates represent the Democratic, Republican, Reform, Libertarian or any other party. What does matter greatly to me — and I hope to you — is where those parties will stand on the critical moral issues of our day. I vote according to their position on those policies.

As I reflect on the moral crisis facing our nation, I am sobered, and at times, disheartened. We have lost much ground in the last several years. But I remain hopeful. I continue to see signs and hear reports of a spiritual awakening around our nation. I am convinced that November 7 marks a watershed in this emerging revival. Will it be a time that we as a nation seek God’s face and endeavor to uphold His timeless principles, or will we further jettison the remnants of decency and morality that have sustained us to this point?

The Lord has placed His hand of blessing on this nation since its inception. I believe He has done this because we have, especially in earlier days, honored Him as a culture. My earnest desire is that we would do so once again. I hope you will join Shirley and me in praying that the Lord will use this election to draw this people back to Himself. And, by all means, please vote November 7!

Finally, the National Day of Prayer Task Force is calling upon Americans to observe November 5 as a day of prayer and fasting. I urge you to dedicate some time the Sunday before the election to ask God to pour out His wisdom and mercy on this nation.

Blessings to each of you.

Sincerely,

James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
President

P.S. Several weeks ago, we aired a broadcast during which I expressed great concern about three bills being considered by the California State Legislature. The first, AB1785, specified that California public school children in grades K-12 be exposed to homosexual "diversity" education, which would teach them that homosexual behavior is comparable to the color of one’s skin or one’s cultural background!17 The second, AB1931, mandates that $2 million dollars in state funding be set aside to take public school students on "tolerance" field trips, including visits to events promoting the acceptance of homosexuality.18 The third, AB1326, would have made "homophobia" a form of bigotry that had to be eliminated through school curriculum in grades K-12. In addition, children who held the view that homosexuality is morally wrong would have been charged with "hate" and their names would appear on the annual school crime reporting form.19 We asked Californians to call their legislators to oppose these measures, and the rest of the nation to be in prayer about them. I regret to report that the first and second of the bills passed on the last day of the California legislature, and are on the governor’s desk. He is expected to sign them, as I write. Thankfully, the third bill did fail on the assembly floor. What a tragedy for today’s children, in California and around the country.

These losses illustrate how much power our leaders have over our children and our families, and how important it is for citizens to select our representatives with care. In this environment, how can we sit at home and let those who do not share our values and beliefs set the agenda for the future? I beg you, again, to go to the polls on November 7 and to be in prayer on November 5.

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