The coming elections and the manner in which the candidates and constituents interact have raised some observations and thoughts regarding how people view life and it’s issues. As it pertains to the major candidates, one side views the election of the other as the most unwise decision that could ever be made. Words like dangerous, stupid and evil are used to describe both candidates by their opponents and their opponents supporters. So the question is who is right? I know I have my idea of who is right and it all has to do with, of course, my perspective on life and the issue at hand. Most people don’t want to admit that they have one let alone discuss the bias involved in their perspective. Most of us believe that our view is the smart and well thought out view. I know that’s what I think.

The issue is the deeper seated personal world view that shapes our perspective on, in this case, who we choose as a candidate and more broadly every decision we make and the bias we have in life. I know and I freely admit my world view and I freely admit that it is going to effect every decision I make in life. At least, I want it to. I try to present myself as a born again believer who is striving to be more Christlike every day and I know that my world view directly effects my perspective on many issues and ideals. I also know that because of my world view I am viewed by others in a certain way. Some of my brothers and sisters in Christ will laud me for standing up in a world that is not Christlike at least the brothers and sisters that do not see me as a hypocrite or too conservative. And then there are those that see me as intolerant and exclusive because my world view clashes with their world view.

It appears that the lines between perspectives in life are becoming more distinct. I believe that this is what the Bible says is going to happen as it speaks of the difference between sheep and goats becoming more defined and I think we are seeing it, specifically in this election, right before our eyes. I think we are also seeing clearer lines being drawn between major issues in our world and our society also. I know that the most deep lines that the Bible speaks of has to do with allegiance to Christ or allegiance to a world governed by the enemy and it is getting to the place where people have to pick a side. I know that the voters do not see the election as I have just described, but I actually think that this election clearly represents two very distinct world views. I am not by any means stating that either one of the candidates are Godly at all, but it appears that there is more passion in this election than I have seen in along time and I think that it is because chords are being struck and people are reacting.

I think that there is a large group of people that feel that they have not had a voice for a long time and a glimmer of someone caring about and sharing some beliefs that they have and that they feel have been pushed aside has stirred up a passion that they have not had in a while. On the other side, I think there is a group that is appalled at the ideas that have been pushed forward. Not that they are that egregious, even though they are portrayed that way, but that the ideas are even being considered. I think that in this election the perspective of how politics is done is the real issue. At times, it doesn’t appear that there are any rules in the political game, but there are and the fact that the way that things are done is being challenged is the real issue at hand. I do not believe this to be a political issue. This election has transcended that in my opinion because the issues are not the issue. I think that the issue is the voices that are represented.

My perspective has been for a long time that the political process doesn’t matter anymore. I have become numb to it and I think that there are others that feel the same way. I think that the message is presented differently to make it appear there are options, but I have given up on that idea for a while that change is possible. Maybe I’m cynical. I think that the passion in this election comes not from issues, but from a basic attack on the way things are done. I actually like it because as a Christian I feel that my voice in society has been squelched and anything that attacks the way that things are done these days I am all for. I believe that I am not alone. I think that there are others that have felt the same way and  this election has stirred up hope. I don’t know that it is hope in the country because I realize that my only hope is in Him. But hope that there are still a lot of people that share my perspective and that we can have a voice.