It's No Sin to Talk About Sin James A. Davids J.D. Duke University School of Law President-Elect, Christian Legal Society Assistant Dean, Robertson School of Government, Regent University Tallahassee Democrat--September 6, 2006

Politically incorrect speech apparently does not repulse Florida Republican primary voters.  In contrast with the drop in polls experienced by Virginia Senator George Allen because of “monkey business,” Kathrine Harris yesterday handily won the Florida Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.  This victory occurred in spite of (or perhaps because of) her use of a word many (if not most) Americans understand, but one that is particularly offensive to some -- the “s- -“ word.

In an interview with the Florida Baptist Witness published on August 24, Congressman Harris described herself as a Christian, and a supporter of mainstream Republican issues like protecting marriage (she supports both the Federal Marriage Amendment and the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment), and protecting the unborn (since “life begins at conception”).  Neither of these positions drew comments from either her primary opponents or the press. 

What drew attention were Harris’ comments to the Witness that “if you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public scrutiny and pressure, if you’re not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin.”  In reaction to this statement, one of Harris’ now defeated primary opponents urged Harris to drop out of the race and Congress because her comments were “warped, twisted and disgraceful.”  The press cited Jews, Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and other Christians who claimed that Harris’ statement sought to exclude holders of other faiths from office, since Harris’ statement implied that non-Christians were less suited to govern than Christians. 

Harris’ comments were, of course, directed to a Christian audience (the Florida State Baptist Convention), and she used culturally sensitive language during the interview (few apart from evangelical Christians would understand the importance of Harris studying in L’Abri under Francis Schaeffer).  Moreover, the overriding purpose in the interview was to encourage Christians in Florida to participate in the electoral process and vote for the candidate who shared their worldview.

The worldview of a politician is vital for a voter to understand.  Worldview consists of the principles upon which the aspiring public official guides his or her actions and reactions.  Worldview, in other words, is the philosophy which underlies an office seeker’s thought and guides his or her opinions, and therefore decisions, on public policy issues.  It is the essence, the bedrock layer, of a person’s views on the major issues of life, and therefore of the world.  It is an honest predictor of future decisions, assuming that the politician holds firmly to his or her worldview.

The strength or weakness of a voter’s support for the candidate will depend in large part on the candidate’s worldview.  In my home state of Illinois, the Republican gubernatorial candidate does not follow Congressman Harris’ position on when life begins, and the candidate advocates the expansion of gambling into Chicago.  These positions signal to me that the Republican candidate disagrees with my view that God made humans in God’s image, and that money is best made by work or return on invested capital rather than by chance.  Because my worldview differs from the Republican candidate’s, my enthusiasm for the candidate is soft (I would not campaign door-to-door for her as I have for most Illinois Republican candidates).  In fact, I might have failed to vote for any Illinois gubernatorial candidate on November 7. 

Kathrine Harris’ call for Florida Baptists to elect “tried and true” Christians is a plea for Baptists to discern the worldview of the candidates, and then vote accordingly.  Her urging of Baptists to refrain from voting for candidates who will “legislate sin” is a call for orthodox Christians to elect a person with a biblical worldview who will adhere to the biblical precepts of dignity for all humans, ordered liberty, individual responsibility, and limited government with dispersed powers.  Not being part of the evangelical Christian culture, Harris’ opponents (both in the primary and the media) missed these meanings.  The evangelical Christian voters yesterday apparently did not.  As for me, maybe I will be going door-to-door in a warmer climate this November.

757.226.4783; jdavids@regent.edu