Civic Duty

Today I performed my civic duty. I voted.

I'm starting to look at this duty a little differently now that I'm older and wiser. I'm also looking at it from a more Biblical perspective as well.

Voting, as some might think, is not a God-given right. In this country though, it is a God-given privilege. A privilege that so many people take for granted. I get so tired of the whining I hear from various people over certain issues and certain politicians, yet those same people rarely take the time to keep abreast of the issues or more importantly, take the time to actually vote. How can this be?

I do believe as Christians, we have an obligation to vote. If God has put us in a position that allows us to do so then by all means, we should take advantage of any situation that would allow us to have our beliefs and moral positions heard. That doesn't mean that in the end I will always choose between the final two candidates. That has been a hard realization for me this election year. I will no longer vote for the lesser of two evils. I simply cannot, nor will not, cast my vote based on this premise any more.

I will cast my ballot based on my Biblical beliefs and moral conscience. This election year, that pretty much means that my candidate doesn't have a chance. I didn't used to feel this way. Once upon a time I was determined that my Republican vote was going to be cast no matter what and for whoever the Republican on the ballot happened to be. Well, since the Republican party has left me (literally LEFT), then by all means I have a moral obligation to leave them. I no longer have a party affiliation. I'm simply ...Conservative. Very, very Conservative.

Some of you may feel as if I'm wasting my vote. And that's okay. It took me a long time to realize that voting for the lesser of two evils was morally and Biblically wrong, so I'm okay with any flack I might receive because of it. Simply put, I changed my way of thinking for two reasons:

1. In the long run it doesn't help our country

and

2. It certainly doesn't advance the Kingdom of Christ.

So, as I voted today I had to stop and pause. I thanked God that I live in a free country (for now, at least) and I thanked God for the privilege to still have my say-so.

But most importantly, I left the ballot box with a clear conscience.