Sitting This One Out? Some Black Pastors Saying Stay Home on Election Day
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 1:00PM 
EEW Magazine Political News
Phrases like “vote or die,” “rock the vote,” and “get out the vote” permeate our consciences around election season. But this year, “don’t vote” is a new admonition being introduced into the equation by some black pastors who are telling their congregants that neither presidential candidate is fit for them to cast their ballot in his favor.
In 2008, President Barack Obama won 95 percent of the black vote. But, according to New York Daily News, that might not happen again, especially because some black pastors see no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, so they are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day.
Though many less conservative political pundits and citizens don’t understand this logic, there is a group of devoted Christians who believe siding with men who defy God is to defy God Himself—something they are unwilling to do.
When it comes to matters of same-sex marriage, many black Christians will readily tell you the Bible speaks clearly against homosexuality.
Thus, those who fall into this ultra conservative category, find it very difficult to throw their support behind a president who endorses what they believe God says is abominable, as President Barack Obama did in May.
The Rev. A.R. Bernard, pastor of the mostly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York, earlier this year. Bernard said President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage "put a question in our minds as to what direction he's taking the nation." (Photo Credit: Hayden Roger Celestin via New York Daily News)
"When President Obama made the public statement on gay marriage, I think it put a question in our minds as to what direction he's taking the nation," the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the predominantly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York, told the NY Daily News.
Though he voted for Obama in 2008, he now says he is unsure how he will vote in this election.
As for Republican Mitt Romney, some congregants are questioning the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its former ban on men of African descent in the priesthood. Plus, a Romney's controversial comments about "the 47 percent" added to the knocks already against him among many black voters.
This week, a video surfaced of Romney describing 47 percent of Americans as Obama supporters who rely on the government and see themselves as victims. He made his remarks during a private event in May that was secretly taped.
Whoever does or does not vote, the fact still remains that either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney will lead this country for the next four years. The question is, will you be a part of the process that determines which or do you believe that, at this point, neither candidate deserves your support?
Tell EEW Magazine your thoughts on this issue.
Reader Comments (25)
Who's side are you on? I am on the Lord's side! I don't put my confidence in any man. I place it in God alone.
The REVEREND DR. Martin Luther King Jr. and every civil rights worker/freedom fighter, for that matter, are turning over in their graves yet again....
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana
I don't 100% agree with either candidate but I will definitely not be staying home. I will be voting for Barack Obama because he is the best option. Mitt Romney clearly doesn't care about black people (or the middle class period!) so Obama has my vote.
I am still praying about this whole thing. This election season has been all over the place and it really brke my heart when Obama endorsed same-sex marriage.
I was listening to this debate on the radio yesterday. It has been a very hot topic and it seems like some people are not voting and others can't imagine not voting because of the history of black people. I never thought I would see the day when black people would volunatirly give up the right to vote after being disenfranchised for so many years.
BARACK THE VOTE!!! OBAMA 2012!!!!! PRO-OBAMA TIL I DIE!!!!!!!!!
Black ppl choosing not vote is just stupid
I rocks with Obama. What's the alternative, like really?
Well call me stupid bc im not voting for barack and i refuse to vote for mitt
Not voting
So many put their focus on those who died for our right to vote, yet they put no emphasis on the greatest Man in the world who died for our salvation, to give us the ultimate freedom. (???) As I have stated previously, neither has my vote. I base my political views on biblical principles, and neither are in line with the Word.
And others emphasize how their political views are based on their biblical views but will sacrifice programs to help the poor, which is what Jesus emphasized far above who's sleeping with whom.... That's unbiblical....
God wants us, the Christians, His followers, to help the poor. I don't care how you all vote, I know I won't be. No where in the Bible says to compromise. I feel sorry for some in the last days, 'cause they will not be able to discern Godliness from pretend Godliness. However, to each their own views, only God can weigh your heart, as well as mine. #JESUS1st
@ Lady: please do not misunderstand or misinterpret my remarks as compromise. I support the biblical definition of marriage: ONE man and ONE woman. I can vote for President Obama with a CLEAR CONSCIENCE because Obama is not my moral compass, the Lord Jesus Christ is. Obama can personally support whatever he wants...well, not everything...because if he denounced Christ, then we would certainly have to part ways.
I believe that Christians are not supposed to be passive citizens in this country, and refusing to vote would be doing that. Take the spiritual part out of it and consider that as a TAXPAYER, one should participate in the voting process for that reason alone. To pay taxes and not participate in how money is being spent is FOOLISHNESS.... But then we see that in the church: we tithe to churches who demonstrate NO ACCOUNTABILITY.... Foolishness....
@ Lady: please do not misunderstand or misinterpret my remarks as compromise. I support the biblical definition of marriage: ONE man and ONE woman. I can vote for President Obama with a CLEAR CONSCIENCE because Obama is not my moral compass, the Lord Jesus Christ is. Obama can personally support whatever he wants...well, not everything...because if he denounced Christ, then we would certainly have to part ways.
I believe that Christians are not supposed to be passive citizens in this country, and refusing to vote would be doing that. Take the spiritual part out of it and consider that as a TAXPAYER, one should participate in the voting process for that reason alone. To pay taxes and not participate in how money is being spent is FOOLISHNESS.... But then we see that in the church: we tithe to churches who demonstrate NO ACCOUNTABILITY.... Foolishness....
God cares very much who's sleeping with whom lol, thing is all presidents had a problem with gay marriage and abortion mitt bush bill all of them obama is no different when i voted before i was NOT a Christian and Bush didnt completely abolish abortion its just that Obama makes NO means to not pass it. if they pass gay marriage over the land...well just say i can smell the rain coming..and i want NO blood on my hands so if i dont vote for Barack it would be mitt, but he lies and i believe some of the mormon beliefs are doctrines of demons so i SURELY aint going with that but he espouses some concern with isreal, lessing abortions but generally he is actually not the lesser of two evils . BUT GOD IS not evil and i can't go against my conscience..obama is closer to the Christian ideals but two men get married is really over the top for me..And establishing that law in the US, even tho he's never do it...so im staying home.
it says blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD and it says when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice.
as per being forced to vote. Christians are dual citzens if the law violates GOD's law what do you think we should do. Now we only know what Obama SAYS he will do..we dont know what he does behind closed doors thats why you must pray and ask GOD what HE thinks..
as for an unsaved government our land has been based 'generally' on the judeo-christian model we should support isreal so we should be blessed.. and when DANIEL in the bible was under an ungodly kiing who asked him to compromise and NOT pray and serve and idol he was cast in the fire and a lions den...
BUT never ONCE did he compromise..why you think we keep having all this bad weather.
THE BOOK of DANIEL tells us how to respond when the law violates GOD's law. You are held accountable...Furthermore...Obama's background may or may not influence his view of christianity as an ex muslim and biracial i understand why he has issues and it is because the christians were very harsh to his relatives in kenya, their family has muslim roots and while i believe he is a CHristian, OBAMA sent back a bust of WINSTON CHURHILL when he got in office and if you read the history of KENYA you will understand WHY he still has loyalities..
Our only loyalty NOW is to Christ..not a color or a culture..so dont be confused.. if GOD wants him there he will be. But we should be fair the white candidates should be held to the same if not HIGHER standard. Pray and ask GOD to show you how to vote. Peace.
@ anonymous, please find any post where I said or implied that God does not care about who's sleeping with whom. What I did say was that the Lord certainly cares about helping the poor and He talks about helping the poor much more than He does about sexual relations. The Lord clearly outlines which sexual relations are proper and improper and I agree with the Word of God.
It's hypocritical to reward Bush with a vote for something he did not do and punish Obama for something he did not do, re. overturning abortion rights. Bush said he would do it and he didn't. Has Obama promised to overturn abortion rights?
The Daniel example is misused here. It's not against the law to vote. It WAS against the law for Blacks to vote (do you think the Lord was pleased with that?)
Revelation 3:15 I know what you are doing. You are not cold or hot. I wish you were one or the other. 16 But because you are warm, and not hot or cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Not voting at all = lukewarm.
Sorry Treasure, that scripture, Revelation, is certainly out of context. That would be used more toward my stance of standing on God's side. I'd be lukewarm, like Obama, if I compromised God's Word for what people think is right. God is against what is going on in this world, and so am I. I stand firm in my refusal to vote. God will continue to take care of His people, just like always. I will always honor God by helping the poor, but I won't vote for someone who disagrees with Him to do it. Show me in the Bible where God ever said to go against His Word when necessary, and I will decide to vote this year. However, I know that you won't find that. Just like God told the Israelites not to mingle with idolators because they'd pull them into their corruption, the same principle applies today. Obama should have stood firm, agreeing with GOD.
@lady clap clap
@treasure then my vote would b mitt. but Mitt does the right thing for the wrong reasons worships a false religion, a doctrine of demons, is a snob and has no tact and would probably get us in a war. He probably believes like the mormons that black people are cursed with dark skin..lol. but he sides with isreal and the freedom of religion has some Abortion restrictions and would be shunned by his church if he promoted same sex marriage..lol so even if everything else is bad, if theres no Jesus theirs no liberty, that comes before comfort. but i dont even know if he's saved..so like i said im not voting b/c i dont want to be under judgement.
Also i didnt give Bush credit for anything, BUT i will say this he called the nation to corporate prayer after 911 and was very vocal about his faith as with OBAMA. I am not calling one good or the other we ALL sin. HOWEVER some sins will hem you and your family up and i dont want to be aligned with that because GOD will hold me accountable i was not held accountable with BUSH was in office because i didnt know at that time.
God indeed cares about the poor but IS it POSSIBLE that he cares about the immorality of this nation, because it carries a harsh judgment and it DIRECTLY effects the family and God's purpose for man, it will bring GOD's judgement. the washington monument is cracked. As with the liberty bell( in regards to slavery) so God takes notice when stuff isnt right.
Marriage is the basis for the family if it is REDEFINED, do you honestly think GOD will turn a blind eye to that?????in Brazil they are legalizing three people getting married..AMERICA should be the beacon of LIGHT to the nations if that changes there is going to be a lot of problems everything is not simply about black folks..there is a whole world out it beyond simply OUR concerns.
not saying he's not concerned with the poor as Jesus says they will be here always and anyone who ignores their cry will themselves b ignored
but sodomy got a town/city destroyed and for Obama to be handling the word so lightly is what scares me, i dont think he is aware of the influence he has and his decisions have over world events. the middle east is burning and yes we as black people are suffering but their are POOR people all over the world one president is not going to change that we must all do something. SO if he changes his mind and repents i ll be the FIRST one in line, i WANTED to vote for Obama but i cant get with that..its not personal its about GOD first
so all i know is when the sword falls in regards to immorality i dont want to be under it. Just because GOD allowed a Tsumani in Japan for blantant immorality, idol worship and no concern for the poor dont think he will not allow that in this country.
The question is who do you want to be yoked with like i said, neither candidate is suitable at this time. thanks...