Voting Like Horatio Bunce
Year after year our Senators and Congressmen in Washington solemnly swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” and then proceed to ignore their Constitutional limits. Our leaders regularly violate their oath of office, and we do nothing about it. We actually expect politicians to ignore their oath, and we vote for them the next time around. We may grunt and grumble about having no other choice, but in the end we pull the lever for a known liar, thinking we have done our civic duty.
Not only do candidates for Congress break their oath to uphold the Constitution, they actually make campaign promises to violate their oath of office! It is hard to find a candidate that is not promising in his campaign to champion a cause that makes him an enemy of the Constitution. For example, almost every candidate in a federal election promises to improve public education. A power nowhere delegated to Congress in the Constitution. Congress has no authority over the education of America’s children.
One might object, "What can be done? If we don't vote for an oath breaking Republican, the oath breaking Democrat will win. We have to vote for the lesser of two liars. Besides, we are not electing a minister, we are electing a congressman."
Let’s consider the case. First, they concede that the men they support are oath breakers; second they insist that voting for an oath breaker will somehow help our country more than not voting; and third they portray their opponents as idealists who think they are voting for ministers.
The argument fails on all counts. First, when we vote for a civil ruler, we are voting for a minister—God’s minister of Justice (see Rom.13:4,6). Second, it is not idealistic to require honesty in a minister of justice. It is quite unrealistic, however, to believe that voting for oath breakers will put honest men in office. Third, God has spoken to this issue and we should obey Him. He has called believers to “select…able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers…” (Ex.18:21)
If no candidate fears God, and if no man of truth is running for office, then Christians have no man in the race. They should write in or abstain. God does not require us to vote, but He forbids voting for liars. Some think refusing to vote for the lesser evil is unreasonable or idealistic, but it is unrealistic to think voting for lesser evils will make the country good. This unpleasant situation, however, proves that our problems cannot be fixed at the ballot box alone. This is where Horatio Bunce can help us.
Edward Ellis’ Life of David Crockett tells of a meeting between Davy Crockett and a Christian farmer named Horatio Bunce during Crockett’s campaign for his second term in Congress. According to the account, Bunce told Crockett he voted for him before, but would not vote for him again, since Crockett had voted to give federal tax dollars to help victims of a fire—money that was not his to give.
The Tennessee farmer said, “The people have delegated to Congress, by the Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution.” Crockett allegedly repented of this usurpation and promised to honor his oath to defend the Constitution. So he was re-elected with the help of Farmer Bunce. Whether this encounter is fact or fable, the legendary Horatio Bunce shows us a better way. Christians must call their representatives to account for their oath breaking, and they must refuse to vote for liars.
Our representatives must be taught that evangelicals will no longer vote for men who break their oath to uphold the Constitution. We must constantly remind our rulers of their Constitutional limits and refuse to support them if they act contrary to the law. Furthermore, we must seek out God-fearing men who will keep their oath, even if the 'party elites' tell them oath breaking is necessary. Finally, when election day comes, we must not vote for the lesser of two liars, but vote only for men of truth. If the lesser liar (the conservative) loses, we must not be dismayed but continue to vote as God commands. (Ex.18:21) Principled voting brings political progress, while pragmatism at best slows decline.
Political change will not come immediately, for we have taught political leaders by years of unprincipled voting that honesty does not matter. The Republicans know they can count on evangelical support for oath breakers. If, however, Christians only support honest men who fear God and know their Constitutional limits, the Lord may eventually give us rulers who are God-fearing men of truth. One thing is sure, if we continue to vote for oath breakers, we will not put honest men in office!