Who would Jesus vote for? That's been the question on so many Christians' minds lately. The reason people are jumping on the morality bandwagon so quickly is because 22 percent of Americans considered morality to be their most important factor in deciding whom to cast their vote for in this last election. But the problem is this: Jesus wouldn't cast his vote for any candidate. Jesus was a person who didn't take political sides, but rather taught lessons in terms of right or wrong, not Republican or Democrat.
Let me first start off by saying I have been a practicing Catholic my entire life. The morality issue is one that is very dear to my heart, but morality differs from person to person, as you have probably noticed lately unless you've been living under a rock. The evangelical religious right, which had such a strong showing in the last election, focuses their morality on two main issues: same-sex marriage and abortion.
Narrowly defining morality to just two issues has always bothered me, as there is so much more to morality than that. Helping the poor, the sick and the lonely have always ranked high in moral issues for me. In addition, lifting up the less fortunate among us and treating others as you would want to be treated are just as highly regarded on my moral compass. Finally, not judging others for their differences and trying to bring about unity in such a diverse world are moral issues I try to embrace. Making sure everyone's health is taken care of, sharing with others and spreading wealth in order for everyone to have a little to eat are lessons I heard so many times in Sunday school.
In order to discuss this issue of morality, however, I do need to make it political since so many debates are currently revolving around partisan lines. The far-right religious wing of this country, such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Fred Phelps focus their morality narrowly on outlawing abortion in America and making it illegal for same-sex couples to get married.
The left-leaning religious wing of this country, such as Al Sharpton, John Kerry and Robert Kennedy Jr., broadly focus their morality on things such as reducing poverty, helping out the least fortunate, taking care of the sick, preserving the environment, making sure everyone has health care and ensuring others have jobs in order that they might feed their families.
There is one major difference between the two major political parties in terms of religion. The religious left wants to focus on spreading values to others in hopes of making everyone feel included. The far-right fundamentalist Republicans want to impose those values on everyone and make those who don't share the same beliefs feel excluded.
In other words, the left-leaning Christians believe that there is a heaven and hell and that individuals should have choices in America in terms of what they choose to believe or not believe. They do not believe government should have the role of mandating values and forcing others to follow those who don't believe as they do.
The far-right wing religious Republicans want everyone to be forced to follow their idea of a moral code no matter what. It's always been ironic and funny to me to think about how the Jerry Falwells of the world want government out of their lives until it comes to imposing their own moral values on others.
The Democrats didn't lose the last election because they are any less moral than the Republicans. John Kerry lost the election in large part because he didn't define strongly enough what his morals were. He spent too much time trying to defend his views on gay marriage and abortion instead of going on the offensive and focusing on morality in a much broader sense in line with the great moral leaders of our country, such as Robert F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Here is something religious Republicans often misunderstand: No one is pro-abortion. Pro-choice Christians simply believe their role is not to impose their views on others, much like Jesus Christ didn't impose his views on others. He simply taught what he thought was morally right. There were those who believed in him and those who scorned him.
Also, pro-civil rights Christians aren't any less moral for believing that civil rights for all people includes homosexual and bisexual people. We just believe that everyone should be treated equally, as Jesus believed.
It is time left-leaning Christians start defining their views on morality more concretely. Helping out the sick, the poor, the lonely, the less fortunate, and spreading love and care to those who need it the most is so vitally important in today's world. Left-leaning Christians are fundamentally moral people, and they are following in the footsteps of Jesus' teachings.
