My Library – New Feature

On the left hand side of the page, above the calendar, I have two links for “My Library.”
Here, I have begun listing books that I own, and I am tagging them to divide them into categories, etc. If you do click on it, it will be easier to sort by tags – since I have everything from history, to science fiction, to religious books. I hope you enjoy!

Obligation… Response to Election Article

Earlier this week, I posted an article, written by Father Bob Roethel of Thomaston, GA, concerning the upcoming election. Though I really like the article, I had trouble with one sentence.

You have an obligation, both as a citizen and as a
Christian to take part in civil government, especially the election process.

Now, I agree, that as a citizen of the United States, as with any other country that has voting rights, it is important to vote, however, I do not believe one is obligated. In most elections in this country, one’s vote matters – counts completely. When you vote for the legislature, both state and federal, your vote counts, majority rules. Yet, when you vote for President, majority does not rule, just as former Vice-President Al Gore.

The Electoral College, put in place by our founding fathers, continiues to mislead the citizens of the United States into thinking that their voice is heard when they cast the vote for the Commander in Chief. Granted, there must be votes within this system for it to work, but it is possible for a candidate to win a majority of votes nationally, and still not win the presidency. Due to this system, all one has to due is win a majority of delegates, not votes. All one must do is win the large states, and essentially he or she will win the presidency. Yes, our constitution, and its amendments, guarantee enfranchisement for all males and females over the age of 18 who are citizens of the United States and who register to vote, however, citizens who vote in the states who do not have a lot of delegates, in many ways, truly do not have a voice.Yes, they can vote, and yes, their states do have delegates – and maybe, if the race is close, North Dakota’s 3 electoral votes may truly make the difference… but what are the odds?

Electoral College Map – 2008

If you look at the link posted above, you will see that the only “large” state listed in red (republican) is Texas, with 34 electoral votes, with the second largest is Georgia with 15. In blue, you have California (55), New York (31), Pennsylvania & Illinois with 21, Michigan (17). Swing states, Florida (27) and Ohio (20). Ironically, the map shows the majority of the southern United States in the red, the northern states in the blue, etc. Now, you can argue that if you win the big states, who are the big states because they have more voters, you should be the President of the United States, and that may be, but what happens when you win your “small” states by winning a huge majority of votes, but barely lose the big states. What happens when you win the popular vote – and its not even close, yet because you lost California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, etc by less then 5% of the votes? The answer is simple, you do not become the President of the United States – in other words, in this scenario, the person, who the majority of the voters in the United States voted for, goes home, and the one who was able to campaign better in the larger states goes to the White House.

Now, I know this does not answer the article, but I wanted to talk for a moment about the electoral system of the United States. Is it important to vote? Yes, of course. Should you vote? It is your right to do so, gained and preserved by those who have preceded us for the past 200+ years. Yet, ironically, the country we broke from, Great Britian, has an electoral system which not only allows for the party who gains the most votes to win the most seats, but also allows for more then two parties, giving the opportunity for lesser parties to gain seats in their legislature. This country, who is “for the people, by the people,” who, as Fr. Roethel pointed out, has our Declaration of Independence begin, “We the People…,” does not completely allow the people to decide… and why was this? Why was the Electoral College put in place? Thats a good question. If we are truly created equal, then our votes should matter just as much as everyone elses does. We no longer have slavery, so the 3/5’s compromise is obsolete, also, education concerns – saying that ultimately the states would know best because of the lack of extensive education in the young country – are also obsolete. Were the founding fathers scared? Quite possibly, yet, it should not matter anymore. Yet, we still have the Electoral College, which, to me, reduces my vote to nothing more then a state wide contest, and once that contest is over, the vote no longer means anything, only the states won and lost. Is this truly a “We the People” process? Its not to me.

Now, going back to the “obligations” we have concerning the government. As Christ said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesae’s,” well, what is “Caesar’s?” Taxes are the first obvious answer, especially since that was the context in which Jesus says this, however, St. Paul in his epistles elaborates even further. We are to pray for and bless those in authority over us – i.e., in this case, the government. We are to support them and obey they law – at least in the case in were it does not disagree with Scripture – as Fr. Mike pointed out to me, even though the Apostles were banned from teaching about Jesus, they still did it – and even in this case, they still ultimately submitted, both Sts. Paul and Peter were crucified in Rome for their disobedience to the Roman Empire, but they went willingly – remaining to give honor, just not their worship.

Voting is not honoring those in authority over us – it is the process of selecting those who will be in authority over us. If we say that voting is an obligation – in the context of honoring those in authority over us, then we would be forced to vote for those who are in authority over us at this time, or in the case of this year, the party who is in authority – i.e. the Republican Party for President, and the Democratic Party – or the incumbents, in the other races. Also, if we believe, as St. Paul says, that all authority comes from God, and God places those men and women into positions of authority, then you could argue that, unless you know exactly who God wants in office, and you vote for that person, you could be playing a dangerous game – attempting to play God. Now, do I believe by voting you are playing God, no, but I also do not believe that we are obligated to vote – to we have that right, yes, is it an obligation, no. Is it a sin if you do not vote? I do not believe so. Are you a bad citizen if you do not vote? I do not believe so. Is voting important, again, yes, but to say it is an obligation I believe is incorrect.

The Faithfulness of God – Father Michael Birdsong

This is an article written by Father Michael Birdsong. It was posted on http://www.midsouthdiocese.org/ as well as sent out by email. This article is posted by request of the author who is a regular contributor on this blog. JZ Holloway

For sometime now I have wanted to just sit myself down and think of how faithful the Father is to perform his promises especially in the lives my biological father and myself. We would, as you could say, did not have the greatest relationship; nor did he with his own father. In my early youth I could not understand how someone could not attempt to see their child. Yet now I can understand that he was feeling guilty for his own failures in life.

In my youth I heard many times that “God is faithful” and had prophesies spoken over me that, one day, I would lead my biological father to the Lord. So, as I entered the ministry, I thought that I had “arrived” and the time had come to “win him to the Lord.” So, I set out for North Carolina to do just that – only to return home to Alabama with my tail between my legs wondering if, indeed, he would ever accept the Lord. I wondered if my dad would ever do what I wanted him to do– that is, just love me.

Then, sometime ago, the Father spoke to me, as well my step-father, to just be the love of Christ to him and to release him to the Father. During that time, I became more aware of what the Father had already blessed me with: a loving husband for my mother and a step-father for me that loved me like I was his own. In fact, I began to love him more and more each day but my step-dad never let me forget  that one day I would see the salvation of my biological father and would reconcile with him. I did not know how or when.

After my marriage and two children, I began to wonder again and say to myself, “My father has two grand children and has only seen them three times in fourteen years. Why?” But it was not for me to wonder why. “God is faithful,” I reminded myself.

Two years ago, my father became ill and was in and out of the hospital. For most of that time he basically became helpless. On Sunday March the 9, 2008 ,I received a call from my uncle that Dad was in grave condition and had been transported from Huntsville, AL to Birmingham. I knew by this that the situation was critical. The next morning my son and I set out for the trip. On the way I would think about the promise that the Father had given me and that the promise was not going to happen. I imagined that I would have to fight all the memories of what I called “wasted time.”. I was a mess. It was at that time my son put his hand on mine and said, “Daddy the Lord told me that your Dad will not make it through the night, but he also said it would be OK.” Needless to say, I had to repent.

I arrived at the ICU after visiting hours, but wearing clerics. The head nurse asked if I needed to see someone. “I need to see Michael Birdsong.” She asked who I was and I replied, “Michael Birdsong Jr.” Her face went pale and she began to say to me that I may not like what I was about to see. She shared that he had two heart attacks that morning and was on a respirator. When I arrived at the room, my son with me, it was just as I expected.

The Lord just said, “Be a son.” I took his hand and said, “Daddy I’m here.” As much as one can smile with a tube in their throat, his smile was there and he became conscious. The nurse asked, “What did you do?” I told her that I just said, “Daddy I’m here.” She began to explain how he had been unconscious all day. For the next three hours my son and I were with him, just being sons. After I was gently told it was time to go, I stood and was able to hear him whisper for the first time in many years, “I love you.” Afterwards he grasped my purple stole three times as I was trying to leave. Finally, I asked, “Are you trying to tell me that you repent of all your sins?” He nodded his head and tried to speak the word, “Yes.” I was able to pray for him, bless him, and give him the absolution of the Father. That night at 11:45 PM, Dad went to be with the Lord.

While it is always a sad time to lose someone, it was one of the best of my life as I got to see and learn many things:

1. My son was able to see me honor my father.
2. My own relationship with my son was strengthened during this time.
3. I learned to be, “a son.”

It became a revelation to me that sometimes we as priests and deacons try so hard to be “all to all” that we forget to be sons to our heavenly Father. The Father had ordained this time for me to be with my Dad. My father responded when I, with a loving and true heart, said, “Daddy I’m here.” Let us all learn to be a son.

Father Mike Birdsong is a Priest-in-Residence at The Cathedral of St. Michael and All Angels, Thomaston, GA