Religion and Culture Expert Dr. Alex McFarland Gives Voters
8 Considerations Before Heading to the Polls on November 8

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Last week, Americans were reminded with images, sounds, documentaries and media reports of the day that the world changed forever. Few will ever forget where they were 15 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, and how their views of safety, the nation and life in general were altered from that moment on.

Now, with an historic presidential election on the horizon, many voters are asking: “What will our next president do to prevent another 9/11?”

Nationally known religion and culture expert Dr. Alex McFarland (www.AlexMcFarland.com) says that Americans must ask themselves several critical questions before they head to the polls on Nov. 8—and national security is at the top of the list as one of these important matters.

“Unfortunately, 15 years after 9/11, there seems to be even more hatred toward America—still many who want to harm and kill Americans and destroy our society and our ideals, replacing freedom with fear,” McFarland said. “Terrorism still exists, and for a leader of our country not to acknowledge this fact or pretend that these threats are a thing of the past puts the American people at risk. Any leader who denies that danger, including from radical Islamist terrorists, is not making the people’s safety a priority and should not have a place in office—nor does that leader deserve our votes.”

McFarland, also a radio and television host, and author of 17 books, including his newest, “Stand Strong America,” has created a list of eight considerations voters should take into account when they head to the polls on Nov. 8. These considerations include national security as an important topic for both campaigning and voting:

1. Remember that “the perfect is the enemy of the good.”
   God can use any presidential candidate for His purpose; all candidates are flawed. Will we allow these flaws, which we all have, to make us cast a protest vote or not vote at all?
2. Will my life be better or worse under this president?McFarland has been gathering responses for his own “2016 Malaise Index,” an online survey that gauges Americans’ outlook on society. Hundreds of responses have been submitted at www.AlexMcFarland.com/survey. For example, when asked, “My outlook on the culture as a whole compared to 10 years ago is…,” about 97 percent reported they felt “WORSE” about the culture, with the remaining reporting they felt “BETTER” or “THE SAME.”
3. Will this president protect my religious freedom? What are the candidates’ plans for preserving the religious liberties on which the country was founded, especially as more and more freedoms are being taken away?
4. How will this candidate protect life? Abortion, euthanasia and other life matters have historically been important issues for voters—and 2016 is no different. While the Republican platform is one of the most pro-life in the party’s history, the Democratic platform asserts that a woman has the right to abort her unborn child—a black mark on the nation since Roe v. Wade in 1973.
5. Will this candidate protect our country? The safety and defense of the country is of paramount importance. National security and recognition of those who seek to harm America must be a priority for the next president.
6. Who will this president appoint to the Supreme Court? Appointments to the Court have longstanding impact and is perhaps one of the most important considerations of the election. Justices appointed under the next president—whether liberal or conservative—will make long-lasting decisions for several decades.
7. Will this president protect the financial resources with which God has entrusted us? Many people are struggling in today’s economy, and many policies could be enacted to ease the financial burden on Americans. All human beings long to have the dignity that comes with providing for their family.
8. Will I feel good about the decisions this president will make? Overall, will I still be proud that I voted the way I did in four or eight years? And more importantly, did I carefully consider my vote in prayer?

This Thursday, Sept. 16, McFarland will lead a prayer rally at the “Heart & Soul: A Night of Prayer and Worship” event from 5 to 9 p.m. at Festival Park in Fayetteville, N.C. The rally and time of worship is a partnership between McFarland, Covenant Love Church and the American Family Association and is an opportunity to pray over our nation, cities, the Church and for the military and law enforcement officers. The event is free and no registration is required (unless volunteering; click here). For more information, visit www.heartandsoul.org, the event Facebook page or the promotional video. Those in the Fayetteville area who want to promote the event can download a social media image, poster, postcards or the promotional video.

McFarland recently released his latest book, “Stand Strong America.” Co-authored with evangelist and apologist Jason Jimenez, “Stand Strong America” addresses the idea that Americans are weary of the poor character and decisions of their leaders, who make laws that may not coincide with many Americans’ faith. The book is available at AlexMcFarland.com.

He is also the author of “The God You Thought You Knew: Exposing the 10 Biggest Myths About Christianity,” in which he dispels the myths and untruths about Christianity and replaces that with the truth of who God really is, as well as “10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer,” “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” “10 Answers for Skeptics” and the “Stand” series of devotions for teens. McFarland is an expert in the field of apologetics—the practice of defending the Christian faith in a world where faith in Christ is plummeting at alarming rates.

McFarland has spent years working with young people and takes their questions to heart. He has preached in more than 1,300 churches and has been featured at conferences such as the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Focus on the Family’s “Big Dig” and California’s “Spirit West Coast,” sharing the platform with Chuck Colson, Eric Metaxas, Josh McDowell and others. He also serves as Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at the Christian Worldview Center of North Greenville University (www.ngu.edu) in Greenville, S.C.

Part evangelist, part apologist, part educator and part broadcaster, McFarland focuses on communicating the message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He co-hosts the daily, live radio program “Exploring the Word” on American Family Radio’s Talk Network, heard on approximately 140 stations across the country, and the weekly television show “Viral Truth,” airing on the National Religious Broadcasters Network, which he co-hosts with Jason Jimenez.

For more information on Dr. Alex McFarland, visit www.AlexMcFarland.com or follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @AlexMcFarland.