The Exodus 20 Candidate Selection Tool

The polls say that many of the likely voters in the presidential race are even today still not firmly settled on a candidate, and there are probably many more undecideds in the congressional and senatorial races.

The Bible has provided us with a simple 10-step Exodus 20 checklist to determine which candidate would really be best for us over the long haul.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Which candidates are more likely to help us as a nation adhere to the idea that there is only one God and He is the God of the Bible?

“You shall not make for yourself an idol.” Which candidates will help us remember that God is a vastly superior provider, protector, and great physician than any bank, battalion, or health care plan could possibly be?

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” Our national motto is “In God We Trust”. All global political atlases and directories identify the United States as a predominantly Christian nation. Which candidates will conduct our national policies (and their own personal life) so that they are not an insult to God’s name?

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” In the Bible at Malachi 3:13-15, God said, “You have said harsh things against Me. You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?’ ”

Which candidates will encourage us to remember that the death of our honoring the things of God is the death of our honoring God?

“Honor your father and mother.” It is so much easier to keep this commandment if we actually have a father and mother rather than two mommies or two daddies, and if we keep the same father/mother set all through our life. Which candidates will help us to remain faithful to God’s models for marriage and family?

“You shall not murder.” Every day of the year, 3,287 babies are aborted. Sixty-seven percent are black, Hispanic, and other minority babies.

Yet for those innocent 3,287 babies, the laws on our books permit them to be killed at any time during the 9-month pregnancy.

Which candidates would affirm that we are all created in His image and that “We are all endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”? Which candidates recognize the simple truth that if a baby doesn’t have the right to life, the other two rights don’t matter?

“You shall not commit adultery.” Passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment and preservation of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) are important, but they actually only touch on the extremes. Which candidates will take an integrated family-oriented approach to all the legislation which comes their way?

“You shall not steal.” Which candidate recognizes that it is as equally wrong to steal from the middle class to bail out rich corporations as it is to steal from the rich to give to the middle class and poor?

Which ones know that we all should pay our proportionate share so that we all share in our equal rights and responsibilities?

“You shall not give false testimony.” Which candidates have most often told the truth about him or her self and have also told the truth about their opponent, while avoiding lies and exaggerations?

“You shall not covet.” Which of the candidates actually believe “with contentment comes great gain” and will not try to drum up dissatisfactions in order to garner support?

When you’ve honestly looked at the candidates with this Exodus 20 candidate selection checklist in mind, previously difficult decisions become easy.