Issue:  If the Lord is convicting someone not to vote for Romney because of his Mormon faith, should another Christian try to goad that individual into voting for Romney?

          Both sides believe that they are morally correct.  And I am of the opinion that BOTH can be morally correct at the same time.  Let me explain.

          There are some things that are not necessarily wrong or right, but can be wrong for specific individuals.  For example, the Apostle Paul had no problem eating meat that had been offered to idols.  However, he refrained from doing so in front of brothers who thought it was a sin to eat such food.

          “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one …. But not everyone knows this.  Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.  But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.  Be careful, however, that the exercise of you freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?  So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.  When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if what I eat caused my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”  1 Corinthians 8: 4-13.

          Similarly, drinking alcohol may be wrong for one Christian, but not wrong for another.  I have a girlfriend who was convicted not to listen to secular music because it gave her sinful thoughts.  I have no such conviction.  But, because the Lord gave her that particular conviction, it would be wrong for her to listen to secular music.

          I see voting in the same vein.  I personally do not see how voting or not voting for someone in a secular election can amount to a sin.  However, I do understand how Christians can be convicted either way on this issue.

          Who are we to judge another on something that they feel morally convicted about?  Why should they compromise their convictions in order to please us?

          I saw the following advice that was given to Moses in Exodus 18:19-21 cited on another forum:

“Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.  You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.  Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.  But select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” 

          It was argued on that forum that this passage prohibits us from voting for heretics – which includes Mormons because they worship a different God.  It was also argued that God’s standard has not changed.

          Good arguments can be made on both sides of the voting issue; but I do not see the point of squabbling over something that ultimately will not lead to a “sin unto death.”  (See 1 John 5:16.)  If God is convicting you to vote for a candidate, then vote for him.  And if God is convicting you not to vote for a candidate, then do not vote for him.

          God bless.

                   – Lisa Taylor