Who Should Christians Vote for? Look to Biblical Teachings, Pastor Urges
Dr. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Redmond, Wash., advises Christians in America to look to the word of God before they consider presidential candidates this coming election year. One thing is clear, he says – Christians should not support those who go against Biblical teachings.
"The most important thing is that there is no way in the world that I would vote for, regardless who it is, regardless how white they are, regardless how black they are, there is just no way I am ever going to vote for someone who believes in same-sex marriage and abortion," Hutcherson said in an interview with The Christian Post on Thursday.
Many Christians across America have found themselves confused about who to vote for in this year's upcoming presidential elections; a Mormon in Mitt Romney or a professed Christian in Obama who is for abortion and gay marriage.
Many Christians have expressed reservations toward Romney because of his Mormon beliefs, which some describe as a "cult" falling outside mainstream Christianity. Yet the former Massachusetts governor has affirmed that he is pro-life and supports the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman only.
On the other hand, President Obama has persistently described himself as a Christian. His recent endorsement of gay marriage, however, and his attempts to force religious institutions to offer insurance coverage for contraceptives, have put him at odds with many conservatives.
This has left many Christians around the country unclear about where they should place their vote later this year. Pastor Hutcherson shared with CP his advice for those on the fence about what to do, saying that people should not see it as a choice between Obama and Romney, but a choice of who will best represent biblical values and what the Bible has to say.
"What they need to fight for is for Christianity to run politics, not politics to run Christianity," he expressed.
The Antioch Baptist Church pastor said that on issues such as gay marriage, the Bible is absolutely clear and cannot be denied.
"God hates the killing of innocent life, and God hates divorce, and God hates the whole effeminate aspect of man going after man or woman going after woman. You can't get around that – it's in the Bible. And what we need to understand as Christians, is that this is America. We stand on our biblical views regardless," he noted.
When it comes down to a choice, however, he suggested that Christians are faced with an even bigger vote than the upcoming presidential elections:
"We got President Obama, and we got the candidate Romney, and the question is – who am I as a Christian going to vote for if I am stuck in a quandary? Guess what – we have the choice not to vote for either one."
"What I actually regard as the most important elections coming up isn't the presidential elections; it is the Congress, and the Senate. As Christians we have to take back the Senate and Congress, because they will keep whoever the president is in line. Let's make sure we are doing what God wants us to do, and that is to take things back the way He wants them to be taken back," Hutcherson said, referring to the Congressional elections that are coming up on Nov. 6, 2012.
In a previous interview with CP, Hutcherson stated that he is "the gayest guy he knows," explaining that he is not a homosexual, but that he is on a mission to take back words, phrases and symbols he believes groups, such as homosexual activists, have taken from American speech.
"We have given up so much territory; we are confused about how to take things back. Just like the word 'gay.' I am not homosexual, but I am gay – I am happy. And we've lost that word – we've given it up. We need to take back the rainbow, and we need to take back the word of God," the pastor concluded.