Doug Wilson on Sarah Palin
September 5, 2008
Doug is thinking out loud and asking and answering some important questions. Here’s a sample.
All right. As far as I can make out, our debate over Sarah Palin revolves around three distinct issues, all three of which have merged in a highly entertaining and jumbled fashion — a sort of epistemological pile-up.
The first is the propriety of voting for a Republican. A large number of us (myself included) have been let down so many times by these people that anything, no matter how good it looks, feels to us like Lucy setting up the football for Charlie Brown one more time. Just one more time.Please?
The second issue is the propriety of voting for a woman to hold civil office, exercising authority over men in that realm. Some argue from the clear biblical teaching on male headship in the family and the equally clear biblical teaching on the requirement for male leadership in the Church, and say that we can extend this restriction into the civil realm. And I believe that we could do this, were it not for the clear scriptural counterexample.
And last, we have the concerns that revolve around the age of Sarah Palin’s children. The idea is that there is no way for her to fulfill her obligations to her family, which are fixed by God, and also fulfill the obligations she would have as vice-president.
Read the rest here.
September 6, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Wasn’t quite sure where to put this one, but I do have another concern about Mrs. Palin. While I am thankful she recognizes herself as a born-again Christian, her views of Israel are a little disturbing to me. (Huckabee was another one that had me worried.)
I read the following article which has a photo of Mrs. Palin’s office with an Israeli flag in it.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/04/palins-evangelical-faith-drives-pro-israel-view/
Comments like the following concern me:
“In June, Mrs. Palin told ministry students at her former church that in going to war with Iraq, the United States is ‘on a task that is from God,’ the Associated Press reported.”
Now, I know that I would be hung out to dry were I to make this comment to most evangelical Christians today, but what about you Reformed brethren? Should Israel be supported and protected at any cost (even American lives perhaps) just because they are Israel?
September 6, 2008 at 5:41 pm
“we should have an obligation to support and ally ourselves with Israel, and step to their aid if necessary”
We received excellent advice concerning foreign policy from our founding fathers. It is too bad we have failed to heed it.
George Washington: “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as LITTLE POLITICAL CONNECTION AS POSSIBLE…Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?”
Thomas Jefferson: In his first inaugural address called for, “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, ENTANGLING ALLIANCES with none.”
John Quincy’s description of the foreign policy our American Republic once held:
“Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and prayers be. BUT SHE GOES NOT ABROAD IN SEARCH OF MONSTERS TO DESTROY. She is the well-wisher of freedom and independence of all. SHE IS THE CHAMPION AND VINDICATOR ONLY OF HER OWN. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would INSENSIBLY CHANGE FROM LIBERTY TO FORCE….SHE MIGHT BECOME THE DICTATRESS OF THE WORLD. SHE WOULD BE NO LONGER THE RULER OF HER OWN SPIRIT…
Just some thoughts to consider…