At eighteen politics was the last
thing on my mind. I was at the time already dedicated to a life of
preaching the Gospel. I was excited about high school graduation, and
all that comes with it. Although sketchy I had a plan in mind, and
was only concerned about how those in my life fit in the plan. I
certainly couldn't have cared less about the government. At the time
it had little effect on my life, or at least I thought. I did well in
history class only to spite a teacher I absolutely despised. I had no
real interest in it. Civics was just useless information to me. I
mention it simply because later it becomes part of the evolution of
my thoughts and opinions.
Somewhere around March 1983 a
black preacher came by the house, He was running for city commission
and registering people to vote. Delighted to meet up with another
preacher in the community, I gave Him my full attention. He didn't
awaken any sleeping giants. There was no real passion, but He did
convince me that it was my obligation as a citizen to take part in
the election of our leaders. I registered as a Democrat, and I think
it actually broke my fathers heart. He was a Republican of the most
die hard kind. He said many times that he would have voted for Nixon
again even after Watergate. I had been sold that bill of goods that a
lot of you had been told. Most of the local races were decided in the
primaries, and unless I was a Democrat there were many elections I
really wouldn't have a say in. The election for sheriff was decided
in the primary, so there would only be one name come the November
election. I suppose that in practicality that was true, and still is
in many counties, but looking back was not a good reason. The fact is
I didn't know what I believed. Due to Godly influences of my pastor
and some others I did automatically lean conservative. The first
presidential election I was old enough to vote in was Ronald Reagan's
second term, and I voted for Him. A very liberal member of my family
used to take great delight is saying, “Your the poorest damn
republican I've ever met.” He didn't care how many babies were
aborted or what evil was perpetrated. The democrats were the party of
the people, and they were going to put more money in his pocket.
In 1984 I met a great History
professor named Jerry Hopkins. Dr. Hopkins loved the Lord, but He
also just loved learning. He instilled a thirst for knowledge in His
students. He didn't lecture and spout off facts and dates simply to
get you past a test. He pulled you into the narrative. He didn't just
want you to know what happened and when in history, He wanted you to
understand the impact and implications of the events. I was wide eyed
and bewildered when I heard Him say, “When FDR signed the new deal
He created an uncontrollable monster.” I must admit I had to chew
on that one a while. On the surface it flew in the face of where I
came from. My dad turned sixty years old just two months after I was
born and retired when I was very young. Along with his pension I was
literally raised on Social Security.
It was around this time that I
began to understand some fundamental principles. The first of which
was simple. Some of the most horrible things in life come to us in
the form of really good ideas. In these eighty-six years we have come
from Social Security to Socialism. The welfare program is now the
welfare state. Obama care was a really good idea in theory. No matter
what your political persuasion it sounds like a great thing to have
full access for everyone to health care. A good idea but, sinister on
the part of many leaders and naive for anyone else who believes that
it will work. The first problem that nobody wanted to admit was that
We can't afford it. The second principle is one which is somewhat
crude but true none the less. My father said so many times, “If you
want it screwed it up, let the government run it.” The fact is
that the less government does the better our lives are. On so many
levels I am ultra-conservative, but admittedly I have a lot of
libertarian leanings. If it were actually possible to maintain the
technological advancements we have achieved and still have the
government we began this nation with, it would be great. I do realize
that this would be unrealistic, and there in is the premise of my
conservatism. If the government must be involved then we must do it
as wisely and UN-intrusively as possible. The third and most
important principle is that for believers, everything must be viewed
from a Christian perspective. Abortionists come to us using the
wonderful phrase, “freedom of choice.” Man, that sounds so good.
Jesus when offering us salvation even gave us freedom of choice. Who
could possibly be against choice. The Christian perspective though
looks so much deeper. God himself is the creator of life, and He is
the only master of life and death. Taking another human life for any
reason other than defense, of self, family, property, and country is
inherently wrong.
While the evolution of faith and
belief continued I still continued to carry that democrat label. I'm
not sure at this point why other than apathy and procrastination in
decision making. I have never voted for any democrat of consequence.
I would have happily done so if there had ever been any with any
moral value. In the early part of the new millennium I had moved to a
new county within the state. I was standing in the county clerks
office changing all the necessities and she asked me if I needed to
register to vote. There on the spur of the moment I decided to change
parties. I had never made a good democrat and Bill Clinton had
actually made me embarrassed to identify with them. So I just became
what I already was.
At this point I still was somewhat
apathetic. I wasn't actively involved. After all politics and
religion don't mix. At least that was the deceptive bill of goods we
were sold. I voted as I felt the Spirit of God would lead, and offer
opinions in friendly conversations. I was issue driven, but oddly
enough still not political. The marriage between Politics and
religion for me began, when I watched for eight years as Barack Obama
tried to completely destroy this nation. I was raised most of my life
in predominately black neighborhoods so I understand racism better
than many. I can say definitively that We had almost eradicated it as
much as humans could ever do. When Barack Obama came along He
destroyed all the work that had been accomplished and driven us
farther apart than when I was a child. He tried His best to destroy
Christianity, in favor of Islam. With the rise of Donald Trump we
were allowed to truly see how absolutely evil, and corrupt the
democratic party really is. I am no longer a Republican simply
because it's not Democrat. Now I am a Republican from a perspective
of pride in a nation that afforded me the freedom to say these very
things. I am not a Republican, for lack of a better choice, but from
a perspective of shear survival. Today's Democrats all have one thing
in common. They would all, if given the chance, take away our first,
second, and fourth amendment rights. The time to choose whom we will
serve, has come. You can support, abortion, gay rights, infanticide,
guilt by accusation, and government corruption, or you can follow
God. You can continue to believe the lies or you can pray, think for
yourself, and allow God to show you the truth. Make no mistake, we
are no longer in a battle of Republican and Democrat. We are in a
spiritual war of good versus evil. Grandma used to say, “your known
by the company you keep.” So the question is, what do you want to
be known as?
