The November elections are now less than 100 days away. While this isn’t a presidential election year, these races are incredibly important nonetheless. All 435 members of the House of Representatives are on the ballot, along with 35 of the 100 senators, 36 governors, and more than 6,000 state legislators.
Whoever prevails at the polls will have a huge impact on faith, family, and freedom—the things Dr. James Dobson and I fought side by side to defend. The James Dobson Family Institute is committed to these values, including the sanctity of life, religious liberty, parental rights, educational reform, and protecting children from LGBTQ ideology.
Sadly, right now, enthusiasm and political momentum seem to be on the secular Left. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), running on a radical platform, have been winning primaries. Some candidates are even embracing godless Marxism. The pro-abortion movement is planning to spend millions to elect pro-abortion congressmen and senators.
As Christians blessed to live in this country, we have a moral obligation to be involved Christian citizens. This includes voting this November. As we decide who to vote for, it is essential to judge the candidates based on our understanding of our biblically based faith.
Christian voting matters.
We had a major victory in 2022 when the Supreme Court decided there was no right in our Constitution to abort a baby. This overturned Roe v. Wade—a horrible decision made in 1973. Now, the life issue has been returned to the elected representatives of the American people.
This victory was largely possible because President Trump appointed, as promised, three Supreme Court justices who voted pro-life. Those justices were confirmed by narrow margins after heated debates in the US Senate. This victory is itself a reminder of how important it is for us to vote for pro-life candidates at all levels of government, from the House and Senate to governors and state legislatures.
Incredibly, some candidates are claiming that the Bible is silent on the sanctity of life. They even say it promotes abortion. Those are lies intended to confuse and deceive Christians. For example, while discussing the subject of abortion, Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico said, “I get suspicious when anybody, whether it’s a televangelist or a politician, tells me that something [the sanctity of life] is central to my faith when Jesus never talks about it… There is no historical, theological, biblical basis for saying that Christians must oppose abortion.”1
Talarico is simply wrong! Candidates who do not affirm the sanctity of life not only reject the clear teaching of Scripture but also deny the fundamental truth that God creates life in His image and values all innocent life.
This truth is reflected in the second paragraph of our Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (emphasis added).
These verses speak directly to the sanctity of life:
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:27
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. —Psalm 139:13–14
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. —Psalm 127:3
“You shall not murder.” —Exodus 20:13
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. —Deuteronomy 30:19
There is a stark difference between the two political parties on the sanctity of life. Here are relevant excerpts from the Democrat and Republican Party platform statements regarding abortion.
Democrat Party: “With a Democratic Congress, we will pass national legislation to make Roe [v. Wade] the law of the land again. We will strengthen access to contraception so every woman who needs it is able to get and afford it. We will protect a woman’s right to access IVF. We will repeal the Hyde Amendment.”2 [The Hyde Amendment prevents the federal government from using your tax dollars to subsidize abortions.]
Republican Party: “We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”3
In the days ahead, we will analyze other issues that are central to how Christians should vote this November. We will help you do your “homework.” Then, by the millions, we must pray and vote.
- James Talarico, interview by Joe Rogan, The Joe Rogan Experience, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jOGPvMftb8.
- Democratic National Convention, 2024 Democratic Party Platform (August 19, 2024), The American Presidency Project, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-democratic-party-platfor.
- Republican National Convention, 2024 Republican Party Platform, July 8, 2024, The American Presidency Project, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-republican-party-platform.
All Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
