Reform or Run?

Obviously, the Republican party is lacking. Should we work and strive for change within the party, or give up hope and start an entirely new party/join the Constitution party?

Very good question... i'm hosting an event where everyone I know is going to meet together and debate the issue. I think you easties should do the same. One side says "Voting the 'lesser of two evils' is highly unchristian, while the other side says voting for a third party is "wasting" your vote. Its all debatable. Reverend Joe Morecraft III of Georgia was questioning whether a conservative who votes liberal is worse than a liberal voting liberal. At least the liberal is telling the truth about it. I think our nation is in need of trials, personally. We have not been obedient and bad times seem to draw us together anyway. Chuck Baldwin is a godly man and very strong on issues. I might consider voting for him, but we'll see. I think we need unity (not like Lincoln's unity), for divided we will accomplish little.

Well, voting for a third party isn't really wasting your vote. If a third party comes out strong in the general election, one or both of the mainstream parties will realize that by adopting the issues of the third party, they can get more votes in the next one.

If your main concern is to get the lesser of two evils elected, then voting for a third party is a waste of your vote. However, if you are voting before God according to His standard (namely Exodus 18 and Deut. 17), then voting for a third party candidate who measures up, is an act of obedience. Christians are apt to think that somehow God will bring about His ends by our means. If we want His blessing, it would be wise to obey Him.

I think what we should do is, vote according to our conscience held captive by the Word of God, and at the same time reform the Republican party (it is my opinion that there are not many Republicans worth voting for). It has been changed for the better before, with organization and commitment, and by God's grace, we can do it again. Did you know that pro-life was not always on the platform? It is my opinion that a third party will never gain much prominence in our current condition (at least not until the church repents). The best thing to do is change it with what we have.

In regards to pragmatic voting, consider this quote, "Evangelical Christians, who ought to know better, have contented themselves for some years now in voting for the lesser of two evils. One faction wants to drive toward the cliff of God's judgment at sixty miles an hour, while the loyal opposition wants to slow down to forty. Hard-working and soft-thinking Christians bust a gut to get the latter group into power. And then, when they do assume control, they compromise with the ousted group and settle on a moderate and well-respected speed of fifty-eight. Instead of [following Exodus 18:21], we appoint fools and imbeciles, men who do not fear God, men who love, deceit, kickbacks, and bribes, and then we wonder why our traditional values campaign always seems to bog down. 'Why, O Lord, dost thou not deliver us from the secularists?' Of course the answer is that we haven't stopped voting for them. We are like those who want to be delivered from drowning so long as they get to stay down at the bottom of the pool." (p. 55-56 Joy at the End of the Tether by Doug Wilson)

Please note that I do not recommend reading his books.