Why This Election Is No Ordinary Election

Many of you are already motivated to vote in the upcoming November election. But what if I were to tell you that this election also virtually amounts to a binding directive to the United States Supreme Court on the issues of partial birth abortion, internet pornography, keeping God in the Pledge of Allegiance, and homosexual marriage in all 50 states? Suddenly what seemed like “just another election” takes on earth-shattering dimensions destined to impact generations to come and our nation’s existence as we know it.

Though unbeknownst to many, that is exactly what this election encompasses. Here’s why. All but one of the above issues have already begun litigation in the federal courts. And the one that has yet to be filed, the Pledge of Allegiance issue, is expected to begin litigation in the very near future after having been disposed of earlier this year on a technicality by the Supreme Court. Virtually every single one of these pivotal cases is expected to make its way to the United States Supreme Court over the next few years. There, the Court will decide once and for all the final outcome on all of these issues. (And in case you may be wondering, we at Pacific Justice Institute plan to be weighing in on all of these cases.)

But what do these future Supreme Court cases have to do with the November election? Presently, there are as many as four vacancies expected on the Court over the next four years. (Justices Rehnquist and O’Connor have already made known their desire to step down, and two other justices may not even live to see the next Presidential election for health and age reasons. Since whoever is serving as President nominates candidates for a seat on the Court, we who select our next President will ultimately be the ones directly affecting that outcome. And you can be certain that the types of justices (whether activist or original intent-minded) chosen by our next President will have a pivotal impact on the outcomes of an already evenly divided Court.

This is why those who care about these issues should be highly motivated to be actively involved in influencing the outcome of this election. But what can be done? Thanks to recent clarifications from the IRS, churches have an extensive amount of freedom to speak boldly on issues affecting Godly principles. In fact, there are so many possibilities for church involvement that we at PJI have developed a booklet entitled The Church and Politics, which informs churches how they can have voter registration tables, conduct candidate forums, disseminate non-partisan voter guides, and educate their members on important social issues and legislation. In fact, we will be happy to send this information to you for your own use or so that you can give it to whatever church you wish. In addition, our legal team will personally answer any questions your church may have on what they can do, completely without charge!

There are rare times when so much of our future is decided so definitively. We at PJI have initiated this church equipping campaign because we firmly believe that this November is one of those times.

In times like these, it is more important than ever for churches to boldly exercise the love of Christ, and demonstrate that they truly care about all members of their community. If you truly care about those around you, then you will be compelled to vote. The stakes are high. The costs of failing to act are great. Let’s all work together and pray that the love and initiative of America’s believers are even greater.

If you wish to have the booklet The Church and Politics sent you or your church, please write or call our office.

Brad Dacus regularly speaks at churches and organization meetings. If your church is interested in having him guest preach, please call our office at (888) 305-9129.