Political Football

Since the 2000 election, my wife and I have been engaged with another couple in a weekly prayer meeting. Over this time, we’ve found that prayer, and the ministry of intercession for individuals, for the church, for our communities, for the nation and the world, is a bit like being part of God’s “Special Forces” – as God trains in the nature of effective prayer, and in using His weapons, we’ve come to realize that we don’t need tens of thousands to punch through to victory, but hundreds, scores, maybe even just a handful. I pulled a quote from the 2004 book A Table in the Presence by Lt. Carey Cash, a chaplain with the first Marine battalion which crossed into Iraq in 2003: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world ever knows of. — Alfred Lord Tennyson.” The spiritual significance of this is something we’re learning. And then there’s this:

I’ve probably watched the movie “Patton” about a dozen times. There’s a scene in the movie where Patton orders up a “weather prayer” to clear the snow storm so the troops can receive air cover during the Battle of the Bulge. The event actually happened, and was related in an article in an Army publication in 1951 by Patton’s Third Army chaplain, James O’Neill. In the 1951 article, then-General O’Neill wrote,

“Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because there are more battles than prayers. ‘Hands lifted up,’ said Bosuet, ’smash more battalions than hands that strike.’ Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father’s house. He came from Israel’s smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in his recognition of God’s proper claims upon his life. He reduced his Army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men lest the people of Israel would think that their valor had saved them. We have no intention to reduce our vast striking force. But we must urge, instruct, and indoctrinate every fighting man to pray as well as fight. In Gideon’s day, and in our own, [the] spiritually alert…carry the burdens and bring the victories.”

How does this relate to the 2008 election? There are many voters who vote their consciences and their values – in fact, putting those values above every other consideration. There is a sentiment that such voters will not vote for a Republican nominee (Rudy Giuliani) who is personally pro-choice on abortion, even if he does stand for things that are of importance to these voters: conservative judges, parental choice in the education of their children, reducing the scope and reach of the federal government in the personal lives of Americans, protecting the security of America, and the like.

Most of these voters are identified as conservative Christians. And yet I can’t help but wonder whether all the reported consternation over electing as President someone who is personally pro-choice is putting too much emphasis upon the wrong thing. How many conservative Christians have come to realize that the abortion policy in this country isn’t so much a political issue, or even a legal issue, but is more of a moral issue – really, a spiritual issue, which needs to be addressed spiritually, using weapons and resources found in the spiritual realm, rather than the weapons and resources of the political realm? As Christians, they should have this perspective.

Do I consider having a President that is personally pro-life important? Yes, important… but not vital. How many social conservatives – conservative Christians – have wrestled with this issue of abortion where they live? – with friends and family, in their communities, through their churches, and especially on their knees? Many, I’m sure, but for those who wish to hold the 2008 election hostage over the single issue of abortion, I wonder how many of these truly believe in a power higher than the federal government, and believe in a means more effective than politics, to bring about change in the nation, and especially in the hearts of its citizens?