For Christians in a free society, electing government leaders is part of our stewardship. Having embraced certain revealed truths about God, sin, and humanity, elections give us the opportunity act through the political process to advance a “Christian worldview” that promotes justice, virtue, and freedom.
But which person or party is more apt to advance those things that we think are pleasing to God and best for society?
To help you reflect on that question, this is the first of two posts comparing the United Methodist “platform” on several major issues with the official 2008 platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
In the U.S., the two main political parties tend to disagree more about means than ends, although on some issues there is significant disagreement about ends as well (most notably on tax policy, the need for military engagement, marriage policy, and issues related to the sanctity of human life).
This post focuses on three issues: abortion, the environment, and health care. The side-by-side comparisons below are without commentary, except for two clarifying notes. (Part two of this post, with additional issues, is here.)
The United Methodist Church positions quoted below have been approved by various sessions of the UM General Conference and will be included in The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2008 (forthcoming, Abingdon Press, 2009).
Democratic Party positions are from The 2008 Democratic National Platform: Renewing America’s Promise (full text here). Republican Party positions are quoted from 2008 Republican Platform (full text here).
Issues and parties are listed in alphabetical order.
| ISSUE: Abortion |
The UMC |
| …Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child. We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures….
We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection.* We oppose the use of late-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life…. The Church shall offer ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies. We commit our Church to continue to provide nurturing ministries to those who terminate a pregnancy, to those in the midst of a crisis pregnancy, and to those who give birth. We particularly encourage the Church, the government, and social service agencies to support and facilitate the option of adoption. We affirm and encourage the Church to assist the ministry of crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers that compassionately help women find feasible alternatives to abortion…. [*MethodistThinker note: A 2005 study found that 74 percent of women having abortions chose to abort their pregnancies because having a child "would dramatically change my life." This suggests, at a minimum, that nearly three-fourths of abortions are for reasons of birth control. A 2002 study found that 54 percent of women having abortions had used contraception during the month they became pregnant, suggesting that abortion is widely seen as a birth control "back-up plan."] |
The Democratic Party
The Republican Party
|
| ISSUE: Environment |
The UMC |
| We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation….
We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind…. We believe in the right…to property as a trust from God…. ——— All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect. Economic, political, social, and technological developments have increased our human numbers, and lengthened and enriched our lives. However, these developments have led to regional defoliation, dramatic extinction of species, massive human suffering, overpopulation, and misuse and overconsumption of natural and nonrenewable resources, particularly by industrialized societies. This continued course of action jeopardizes the natural heritage that God has entrusted to all generations. Therefore, let us recognize the responsibility of the church and its members to place a high priority on changes in economic, political, social, and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologically equitable and sustainable world leading to a higher quality of life for all of God’s creation. |
The Democratic Party
The Republican Party
|
| ISSUE: Health care / Medical research |
The UMC |
| Health is a condition of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, and we view it as a responsibility — public and private. Health care is a basic human right.
Psalm 146 speaks of the God The right to health care includes care for persons with brain diseases, neurological conditions or physical disabilities, who must be afforded the same access to health care as all other persons in our communities. It is unjust to construct or perpetuate barriers to physical or mental wholeness or full participation in community. We encourage individuals to pursue a healthy lifestyle and affirm the importance of preventive health care, health education, environmental and occupational safety, good nutrition, and secure affordable-housing in achieving health. We also recognize the role of governments in ensuring that each individual has access to those elements necessary to good health…. ——— The responsibility of humankind to God’s creation challenges us to deal carefully with the possibilities of genetic research and technology. We welcome the use of genetic technology for meeting fundamental human needs for health, a safe environment, and an adequate food supply. We oppose the cloning of humans and the genetic manipulation of the gender of an unborn child…. |
The Democratic Party
The Republican Party
|
