Stacey Hardin

The 2004 Presidential election is becoming very personal for many people.

While different views and perceptions of both candidates race through the public’s mind, what are farright Christians saying about the two candidates?

What factors determine their decision on which candidate is the best for the job?

Some controversial issues that these Christians tend to hold over others are abortion and same sex marriages. Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry is pro-choice on abortion.

This is a free country. No one has the right to force someone to do something just because he or she believes it’s wrong. President Bush opposes abortion.

Senator John Kerry and President Bush oppose same sex marriages.

However, Senator Kerry will not pass a law against it.

This is America. In this country, there is not one religion that has been forced on any race of people.

There are several and everyone is able to pick and choose.

One last issue that far-right Christians sometimes overlook is one of the 10 Commandments: “Thou shall not kill.”

President Bush oversaw more than 150 executions and declared war on Iraq where more than 1,000 soldiers have lost their lives.

Iraq seemed to be a personal war which had nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden, nor was the country hiding weapons of mass destruction.

In contrast, Senator Kerry opposes the death penalty and would declare war only as a last resort.

Which candidate is in line with a Christian’s spiritual beliefs? “In the beginning God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve,” said Pastor John E. Jones of United Baptist Church, Kannapolis, N.C.

But one of the 10 Command-ments, which every Christian should live by, says, “Thou shall not kill.” In the eyes of God, aren’t they both sins?

Is one sin held higher than another?

Are Christians more concerned about the world being too secular than people dying over frivolous family quarrels? Far-right Christians seem more concerned about homosexuality and females being free to do what they want with their bodies than politicians passing judgement over people’s lives.

So how does a Christian decide which candidate is the better one?

There are many other issues that Christians can analyze and decide on.

For example, homeland security, employment, education, and budget cuts.

A question Christians can ask themselves to help their decision is this: Has the country been run effectively over the past four years or do I see a need for change?

Presidential and vice-presidential elections are also ways to secure a Christian’s decision.

Because of the Christian’s spiritual beliefs it is very hard to choose a candidate. However, it can be done.

But relying on one person's views on the presidential elections can be vital to a Christian's future because his or her views may encourage the Christian to vote his or her education, job, or life away.

We need to vote. I’m not telling you who to vote for but we need to get out of the bushes. But even if we stay in the bushes we can always find a ram in the bush.

Reference Gen. 22:13

Apostle James L. Spence

Word Harvest International