FAMiLY Leader Pledge: Suicidal Pact With the Devil.
I wish I were overstating the case. I have already established the wrongness of adding to our “yea and nay”. It is actually an admission that you can’t take us at our word. I have also stated I am not against certain vows in formal cases, but political gain is not one of those cases. I should also say here that I would likely lean towards Bachmann or Santorum for the GOP nomination (and possibly Pawlenty), regardless of whether they signed “The Pledge”. This is not about protecting my candidate as some people are already claiming. I don’t have one, yet.
It is necessary now to establish one more nearly undeniable fact, and issue a challenge. It is that neither Bachmann nor Santorum can or will actually keep the pledge. It is simple. The vow requires a promise, before God, that they will not support any candidate who refuses to sign the pledge. A betting man would be safe to risk a million bucks that both of these candidates will blatantly violate the pledge long before November, 2012.
Keep in mind that the pledge not only requires that you keep the pledge yourself, but that you will not in any way support a candidate who refuses to sign the pledge. Here is the critical part: The Vow Itself:
The Vow of Civic, Religious, Lay, Business, and Social Leaders:
We the undersigned do hereby solemnly vow* that no U.S. Presidential primary candidate – nor any primary candidate for the U. S. House, Senate, Governor, state or municipal office – will, in his or her public capacity, benefit from any substantial form of aid, support, endorsement, contribution, independent expenditure, or affirmation from any of us without first affirming this Marriage Vow. Furthermore, to uphold and advance the natural Institution of Marriage, we ourselves also hereby vow* our own fidelity to this Declaration and especially, to our spouses.
Here is the two-fold challenge.
Ask Congressman Bachmann or Senator Santorum “Will you support Romney or Pawlenty if they win the GOP nomination?” Keeping the vow means the answer is “no”.
Ask them this follow-up question:
“If you are picked to be the GOP nominee for president are you promising that you will not endorse or campaign for any candidate who refuses to sign the pledge?
(For Rick Santorum add this, ask him if he will promise never to vote or endorse someone like Arlen Specter again. If Rick Perry gets in and signs the pledge, ask about his endorsement of Rudy Giuliani.)
I warned readers that the vow would make vow-breakers out of decent, God-fearing people. Upon further reflection, it is much, much worse than I thought. It is also tearing up a segment of the body of Christ. I don’t think Bob Vander Plaats sees what is going on in the trenches.
This has been one of the most divisive political acts I can ever remember. It could end up splitting, not just the Republican Party (that is the least of our worries), but dividing Christians.
I have been shocked to see Huckabee supporters[1] run not just to defend taking the pledge, which is fine (to each his own, if he or she can keep it); but some are using it as a hammer to bludgeon other Christians, calling into question their faith, and using it to condemn candidates and their supporters. This is pharisaical legalism at its worst. And it is exactly these evils Jesus warned about that accompany unwarranted vows.
[1] Huckabee has not commented, as far as I can tell, on the pledge. Many of his supporters are saying that they wouldn’t support him if he didn’t take the pledge. This is foolishness. Regardless of what you think of Huckabee’s other positions, there is not a political leader among us who has been more solid on life and family issues. This shows the wickedness of the whole pledge thing. Its proponents have raised their own opinions and schemes above the character and record of Godly men, as well as the word of God.