Where are the Christian Voices?

WHERE ARE THE CHRISTIAN VOICES?

I was not very surprised when the evangelical community gave their support for Mitt Romney. After all, their utter disdain for President Obama was hardly clandestine. I was surprised when Romney was invited to speak at evangelical universities and gatherings. I had long since concluded that the overwhelming majority of evangelicals were deeply invested in idolatry as it pertains to America, and they were listening to all sorts of voices shouting loudly that the destruction of the nation they loved was imminent unless President Obama was defeated. So in essence, Fred Phelps or Joseph Goebbels would be preferable to Barak Obama. The hysteria was and is breathtaking. And this time evangelicals couldn’t just hide behind the pro-life banner. This time it was money and freedom.

There were overt suggestions of the president’s patriotism or some secret agenda to set up a socialist state. People questioned his birthplace and his academic history. And some believers even called him an antichrist. Yes, it was nauseating to say the least. But sprinkled into all that mess were statements, attitudes, and pejoratives which not so subtly pointed to his race. Oh yes, racism still lives and breathes within this culture. And I am white so I really have no idea to what extent on the personal level.

One Romney supporter suggested the President was not too bright and was lazy and shiftless. Young people may not completely understand the implications and history of such words. Sarah Palin, a professing believer, said President Obama was “shucking and jiving”, another racially charged description. Some say Colin Powell’s endorsement was based upon race and not policies. Many still believe he is a secret Muslim. And on and on the demeaning and ignorant attacks continue.

But we should expect it coming from unbelievers and ignorant people. But where are the Christian leaders who even support Romney speaking loudly against such brute beast rhetoric and racially charged invectives? Those voices who have no problem excoriating President Obama about a myriad of things remain oddly silent when they hear unchristian verbiage leveled at the president. Hopefully his two daughters are shielded from some of it, but I am sure the first lady hears most of it.

Thousands of so called “Christian leaders” across the nation are a disgrace to Christ and His teachings. The same crowd that rightfully condemned the Rev. Wright’s caustic rhetoric take a far different tone when others use such language against the President. And why is this the case?

Hatred. Pure, distilled, and ready for human consumption, hatred. Honestly, if I was not a believer, and if I had heard the collection of Christian voices in this election year, I would never have come to Christ. But even when people who support Romney use unkind and vicious invectives against President Obama, those professing believers on the same political side are embarrassingly silent. That not only says something about their political agenda, is speaks volumes about their commitment to Christ.

I know many who clicked on this post and because of the title anticipated something far different. You may have thought I would ask for Christian voices to help save a nation. Or maybe Christian voices that would speak against immorality. Or Christian voices that would speak in support of freedom. Or Christian voices that would speak against socialism. But instead you got a request for Christian voices to speak up for Jesus and His teachings and to rebuke brothers and sisters who openly disobey and ignore them. I wish I could say I am sorry you did not get what you were looking for, but I am not sorry. But I am glad you read this.

This election has said much more about the church than it has about any candidate.