My thoughts on the election

I've gotten a lot of questions lately about the upcoming presidential election. So, I thought it was about time that I just set the record straight.

I'm not yet sure whether I will be voting for Gary Johnson or Barack Obama.

Now you're probably wondering why I am choosing between the two of them and not considering Mitt Romney. Frankly, he has not given a clear plan to actually fix or change anything as president (I know people will disagree, but prove me wrong). And he changes his mind so often I just can't manage to keep up with him.

As to why I favor President Obama, I think given the situation in to which he came he has done well. Also, he favors education spending, and I like education. As for my feelings on Obamacare, I really don't think it is so terrible. It requires physicians to be properly licensed and insured to practice, and as someone whose father was the victim of medical malpractice at the hands of a hospital-employed doctor who was not properly licensed or insured to practice that issue is VERY important to me.

As for Gov. Johnson he advocate a non-intrusive governing of the country, and has a great track record of economic success under his leadership. Also, I like that he wants to try to fix the U.S.'s problem, not go out and attack other countries until they turn into us (warring habits and all). We're not the greatest nation or the model/hope for the rest of the world.

But what about moral/social issues? I do not vote according to who will try to legislate against behavior to get people to adhere to the moral code I like, it doesn't work. You can't legislate someone's sexual orientation, or whether they will carry a baby to term. Even if you do it still happens. Hear me here I am pro-life, but I care about more than only whether a child is born or not. I want them to be cared for and educated after they are born. That's why I support free lunch programs, education funding, head start and after-school programs. To only want them born, but not to support their care afterward is foolishness. For conduct of others I am not given a commission to legislate, but to evangelize. To share the good news of Jesus. To effect the world in which I live for the better. To pray for Gospel transformation and new life, not behavioral modification and that people wouldn't sin. I say this mournfully for my fellow Christians that we focus so much on people's behavior, but not on their soul (I know this is true, it used to be me), and mournful for my fellow citizens of the U.S. and the world that we have come to be defined more by what we are against than what we are for. I am still hopeful though. I pray for a day that we will care for one another in spite of our differences and that the Gospel will be heard in spite of Christians like me, that people may be captivated by the love of Christ even though Christians like me don't exhibit it like we should.

-Prayerfully optimistic and painfully truthful,

Wesley Lawrence

P.S.: Please feel free to comment with your thoughts, questions, and comments (or attacks, I'm not that naïve). I'd love to continue the dialogue. Much love to you all.