I am an Alabamian.
Usually by the time the Alabama Primary rolls around the races have been decided and the vote is simply an academic exercise. Not this time. All polls indicate that the primary election here in Alabama will be a tight one. This time it may be a deciding factor in an election that may very well be a tipping point for our country. It has been said many times that this presidential election could be the most important election in our history and all indications seem to support that claim. You may very well agree that this is a critical election, but you may not understand why I am mentioning this in a blog for a Catholic men’s organization. It’s a good question. To answer I really don’t have to look much further than the motto of the Men of St. Joseph (MOSJ), “Put the family in the hands of the Father.” This mission calls us all to be the spiritual leaders of our families and communities….in all areas of life, not just our “church life”.
How can we legitimately be leaders if we are determined to compartmentalize our faith? How can we put God in one box and our business life in another? How can we put faith in one spot and friends and family in another? Obviously God wants more than just a small portion of us. He wants 100% of you. The whole enchilada. Christ want you to break down the containers where we attempt to neatly store our faith and spread it over our entire our lives. The call to “de-compartmentalize” includes our political decisions. We cannot check our faith at the ballot box any more than we can do so in the pew, office, or in our homes.
Scripture is very clear that there cannot be any delineation between our “church life” and our “everyday life”. In Matthew, Christ explicitly tells us not to compartmentalize when he says, “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.” Elsewhere Jesus warn us against building a foundation on anything but him. He is telling us that to do otherwise could have serious consequences not only for us, but everyone in our household. He is quite clear, “And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.” What exclusions to you think he had in mind when he gave us that parable? Personally, I don’t think he had any. He wants to be a part of everything we do. That would include how we exercise our right to vote.
Christ wants us to have a relationship with him 100% of the time. There are no exclusions. He doesn’t say, “All I ask for is an hour on Sunday, and after that you can forget about me.” Nor does he say, “Yes, ask for my guidance on where to send your child to college, or whether to take a new job opportunity. But when it comes to voting for the leader of the free world, don’t ask me to get involved. That’s none of my business. You’re on your own on that on. That is the one place where I am not your Lord.”
So, please vote. And prayerfully consider your decision. Be guided by practicality, principal, and prayer. We must seek God’s guidance during this tipping point in American history. Take action. Take a stand. Vote.
I cannot speak for the Men of St. Joseph in any official capacity, but after much thought and prayer I have decided to vote for Rick Santorum. Certainly God may guide you in another direction. I only ask that you ask for His help in your decision making process. Do not take on this burden lightly or alone. Ask for His guidance. I don’t think there is much doubt that He is willing to give it.
Please vote this Tuesday.
www.CatholicVote.org
Chris Teague serves on the board of directors of Men of St. Joseph, and is a member of St. Ignatius parish in Mobile.
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