The talker of the day is this story by the American-Statesman’s Claire Osborn about a woman named Kay Hill who was asked by poll workers in Williamson County to cover her T-shirt because it said “Vote the Bible.” Election workers at Taylor City Hall, where Hill went to vote early, thought her T-shirt violated the Texas Election Code, which prohibits some political and electioneering speech within 100 feet of a polling place.
I don’t know where Hill (pictured right) bought her T-shirt, but John Hagee, the senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio whose views of history and the divine plan are interesting to say the least, produced a three-part DVD series titled “Vote the Bible.” To promote the DVD, Hagee wrote, “We have rejected the Word of God as the moral compass for our country and we are racing toward a totalitarian government called Socialism.
“Our current president refused to attend the National Day of Prayer, has attended church twice since being elected president, says he worships over his Blackberry and covered a plaque reflecting the name of God
“America has lost its way!
“BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! In this forthcoming election in November, you, the all powerful voter can go to the voting booth and “VOTE THE BIBLE!” Vote for candidates at every level of government whose lives and voting records reflect the moral and spiritual principles found in the Word of God.”
So, what do you think? Given Hagee’s remarks, did Hill’s shirt violate the Texas Election Code?
What does it mean to “vote the Bible”? That we should elect candidates who support laws calling for the stoning of women who commit adultery? Of women who lie about their virginity? Of rebellious sons? That we should support politicians who call for the exile, maybe even the death, of uncircumcised men? The amputation of offending limbs? The prohibition of shrimp and pork?
Or does it mean we should favor policies that reinforce Jesus’ call to treat others as each of us would like to be treated? To vote for those who would pass policies that care for the least among us? Who would remind us to see a homeless person not as an annoyance or a threat but as a representation of Jesus, who stands before us naked and hungry and judges us by whether we clothe and feed him or spurn him?
And what should Bible voters make of 1 Peter 2:13-14? It says, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
That seems a pretty powerful call to vote for incumbents. They are in office by God’s will.
So obey. And follow. The Bible tells us so.