A Christian duty to vote
A recent statistic shows 49 percent of evangelical Christians are planning not to vote in the upcoming election. Concerns about the morality of those seeking the presidency, apathy, or being worn out by the vicious banter by commentators might be reasons.
Brothers and sisters, to fail to participate in this civic duty is a major mistake. We are to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). If we fail to be the salt and light of the gospel through our civic participation, we are not being faithful stewards of what has been entrusted to us.
We must understand we are not electing a spiritual leader or pastor. We are electing a civic leader. The president’s job is to execute the laws of our land faithfully according to the U.S. Constitution.
The president is to represent us to foreign nations and carry out a cohesive foreign policy to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens, determine fiscal policy to bring prosperity to U.S. citizens, and be the commander in chief of our military.
The question U.S. citizens should seek to answer is: “Who will execute the role of the presidency for the betterment of U.S. citizens?”
No leader is perfect, and many have serious character flaws, but we have a choice to make. Our choice is not between “the lesser of two evils,” but who among the choices we have will do the best job based on the constitutional job description.
Do your civic duty and vote. Do not sit this one out. Appeal to the discernment of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. We have an amazing privilege to choose our elected representatives. Do not squander this opportunity. Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. May God grant you wisdom and prudence.
Benjamin Karner
Vidor, Texas
Responding to other letters to the editor
Texas was my home of record from the time of my birth in Donna, until I retired from the Army at age 45 after 27 years of service. Then, I was offered employment as a contract flight instructor at the Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Ala., where I served 23 years. After that, I was “employed” by my wife until her death two months ago after 60-plus years of marriage.
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Yes, I suffer short-term memory loss, but my long-term memory is still good. I can still recite the honor code for West Point Academy cadets since 1962: “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.”
No, I didn’t attend the academy, but as a warrant officer candidate in Army Flight School, I was under the exact same code for eight months of flight training and am astounded by some of the letters to the Baptist Standard trying to defend their support of Donald Trump.
Seems to me, the honor code for cadets would be the minimum moral code every Christian should subscribe to maintain. For sure, every Christian pastor should meet that goal.
Devout Christian Russell Moore relates he has asked some pastors why they have contempt for the teachings of Jesus. They respond, in effect, “That stuff no longer works.”
I have been amazed by some of the recent letters trying to defend the supposed “morality” of Trump. I can almost visualize the smirking face of Fox News figure Sean Hannity as the letters are being written.
If you wonder why church attendance has been dropping, here is the answer: A lack of credibility. Why would you take one of your little children to a church where the pastor has contempt for the moral teachings of Jesus?
Carl Hess
Ozark, Ala.
RE: Editorial: Baptists shouldn’t lose sight of who we are
Your quote, “To be Baptist is to have Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection at the center of who we are,” is off center.
Bill Pinson started out our [Baptist] beliefs with “the Lordship of Jesus Christ” as primary. Agreed!
The passion of Jesus would be meaningless if not for the teachings lived and the life walked by Jesus. He focused on loving God with our whole being, loving our neighbor no matter who, loving and forgiving our self as sinner, loving and forgiving our enemy regardless of what he/she has done, and facing his own death without violence or retaliation.
In our polarized black or white, either/or society, living the Jesus Way of my last sentence is what is missing in the shallow claim many people make as so-called “Christians.”
Herman Green
Rockport, Texas
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