My Big Fat 'Single Issue' Vote

If you so happen to be one of those "single issue" voters on pro-life issues, like me, and perhaps a few million other thoughtful and concerned Christians in this country, then

has a word for you: unwise. In the interest of wising up, read their

("For Whom Would Jesus Vote? Single-issue politics is neither necessary or wise"). You will learn that CT agrees with the wisdom of a document from the National Association of Evangelicals called "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility." CT says that it

encourages evangelicals of all political stripes to work together not just for the sanctity of human life, but also for religious freedom, family life, the poor, peacemaking, and creation care. While sanctity-of-life issue will always be of vital interest to Christians, today's context demands that believers engage a broad spectrum of issues.

(It's not clear whether the last sentence is CT or the NAE speaking. It doesn't matter.)

Elsewhere, I've

that such a list of issues gives no biblical guidance as to the priority of some issues over others. Thus it does not help voters make truly biblical decisions, and worse, misleads them into treating secondary and prudential questions as if they were as important as the primary and certain.

The Bible is crystal clear that the sanctity of human life and marriage are the pillars of human society. Destroy them and you ruin everything on that "broad spectrum of issues." It is not crystal clear on other matters, like what the government should do about poverty. Well, where

CT stand on the matter of abortion and related pro-life issues? We read in various paragraphs of the editorial that:

1) they are "of vital interest to Christians."

2) "abortion is the wrongful taking of innocent human life and a grave sin."

3) "the sanctity of human life is a given."

4) "abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research, and like issues should be prime concerns for us all."

5) "Abortion is a monstrous tragedy for the nation."

But number 4 is followed by: "But we can't stop there. Jesus is Lord of all." And then comes another appeal, from the NAE, that "while individual persons and organizations may rightly concentrate on one or two issues, faithful evangelical civic engagement must champion a biblically balanced agenda." Number 5 is followed by another But: "but our Christian commitment to a culture of life does not permit us the luxury of abandoning other important issues."

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