In case anyone thought that I was exaggerating about my Baptist upbringing....I just received the following guide to "voting biblically" in my inbox. My mother sent it to my sister, brother, and me.

This is a choice excerpt

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ELECT GOD-HONORING MEN OR WOMEN.  “capable men—who fear God, trustworthy—who hate dishonest gain…” Exodus 18:21.  In America, the only way there will be God-honoring public officials is if God-honoring citizens elect them. The proper time, research and prayerful consideration must take place for a voter to select the candidate that best reflects Godly principals—those who will uphold and advance polices that encourage what the Bible defines as righteous behavior, along with discouraging what the Bible defines as sinful behavior.
RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION:  The Bible has many examples of righteous leaders, to name a few: Daniel, Nehemiah, David, Moses and Josiah (even though still fallible men at times, had a heart for & fear or the Lord). (See Dan. 1:8, Neh. 5:15, 1 Kings 14:8, Heb. 11:23-30, 2 Kings 22:1-2).  These men affirm that a nation’s righteousness is determined by a leader’s example and how well the public policies, under their direction conformed to God’s standards.  Only God-honoring policies that lead to God-honoring actions can exalt a nation.
BUT SIN IS A DISGRACE TO ANY PEOPLE:  Contrarily, Biblical examples of wicked leaders, to name a few: Ahab, Jezebel, Manasseh and Jeroboam are a disgrace, and lead their people astray, causing them to “groan”
(1 Kings 21:25-26, 2 Kings 21:1-31, 1 Kings 13:33-34, 14:9).  
Seeking God-fearing candidates should take precedence over economic, environmental, health care, energy and other issues.  These issues ARE important, but just as Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 6, that if they would make the pursuit of righteousness their main emphasis, then everything else would follow (v 33).  But if economic, environmental etc. issues become the MAIN focus for voters, the nation usually ends up receiving neither economic prosperity nor national righteousness.  

DUTY IS OURS;

RESULTS ARE GOD’S.

Author/Historian, David Barton, suggests 4 BIBLICAL MANDATES for voters to seriously consider when selecting a candidate:

ï‚ŒJUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS.  “Appoint judges who know the laws of God.” Ezra 7:25.
The Scriptures speak extensively about judges and their direct impact on the righteousness of a nation.  It has been judges, not legislatures who have imposed most of the clearly un-biblical policies now in place across our land, such as: abortion-on-demand, homosexual marriage, prohibitions against public acknowledgments of God etc.  Keep in mind that a president will be gone in 4-8 years, but his judges may remain on the bench for decades afterwards—their influence being far greater.

ABORTION & INALIENABLE RIGHTS.  “So God created man in His own image” Genesis 1:27.   “All men are created equal...endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (The Declaration of Independence). Where a candidate stands on the issue of abortion is of utmost importance and is also the most accurate indicator of how likely he/she is to protect other inalienable rights.  American government was established on the premise that certain rights come from God rather than men and that government is to protect those rights inviolable.  History attests that government leaders willing to violate the foremost of all inalienable rights (the right to life), will also disregard other inalienable rights—the protection of private property (5th amend.), the right to self defense/keep & bear arms (2nd amend.), etc.

ï‚ŽHOMOSEXUALITY & THE MORAL LAW.  “...law is not laid down for a righteous one, but for the lawless...unholy and profane...fornicators, homosexuals...any other thing that opposes sound doctrine according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:9-11, interlinear ver.).  God has made it clear how He stands on the sins of immorality, which include homosexuality (Lev. 20:13, 1 Kings 14:24, Rom. 1:26-27), adultery, pre-marital sex and other deviant sexual behaviors not found in the confines of the marriage union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:22-24, Matt. 19:5-6, Eph. 5:31).  The consequences and costs of immoral behavior are vast, affecting a nation physically (widespread diseases), economically (healthcare costs, child support/court costs), and lastly, most importantly, mentally and spiritually.  Today with the push to promote the acceptance of homosexual behavior, where a candidate stands on this issue is one of the best indicators of whether he/she embraces the moral absolutes established by God.

PUBLIC RELIGIOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.  “In all your ways acknowledge Him” Proverb 3:6.
In all our ways (in public as well as in private) we are to acknowledge Him. To determine where a candidate stands in regard to this, one just needs to see their support/or lack of support for public displays of: the Ten Commandments, holiday symbols, prayer at school events and gatherings, government funding of faith-based programs, etc.  We need candidates that aren’t afraid to publically acknowledge God and honor Him in the policies that they promote.  
IT’S YOUR TURN TO CAST YOUR VOTE

David Barton reminds us when casting a vote:  “If you determine that a candidate is acceptable on the 4 non-negotiables, only then should you extend your consideration to include other issues (e.g., economics, foreign policy, taxes, health care, etc.). 

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Anybody have any thoughts on what-- or if I even should-- say in response???