None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines; there is more at stake than politics

It’s absolutely astonishing — and not in a good way — how easily we get distracted by the superficial while ignoring what truly matters. There’s an old saying: “Tell me to what you pay attention, and I will tell you who you are.” So, who are we as a people?

We are a country that will spend an entire Saturday watching college football. We pack stadiums for NFL games on Sundays and tailgate for hours. We sit in front of our phones or computers, scrolling endlessly on social media, getting worked up over likes and comments. We’ll binge-watch shows on Netflix and Hulu because they make it incredibly easy to start a series and get sucked in for hours.

While there’s nothing wrong with entertainment, the problem arises when it comes to something as crucial as voting in our elections, which will determine our country’s future and our very way of life. Suddenly, the attention span begins to wane, and the excuses of “not having enough time” start trotting out. You’ve heard it before: “There’s just so many hours in the day.”

Speaking of voting, just this month, a study came out that should make all of us sit up and take notice. Millions of Christians — only about 50 percent of all faith voters —are likely to vote in November. That means almost 104 million faith voters are unlikely to vote in this election.

Millions of people who say they believe in the values of faith, freedom and family are not planning to vote. Think about that for a moment. We’re talking about the very people who hold the moral compass of this nation in their hands, saying, “No thanks, I’ll sit this one out.”

This is not just disappointing; it’s downright dangerous. If we don’t wake up and get involved, we will lose everything we claim to stand for. Religious freedom, personal liberty and the right to speak our minds without fear of government reprisal could all go up in smoke sooner rather than later if people continue to stay on the sidelines.

And every single vote matters. Every voice matters. You can’t sit there and say, “Well, I’m just one person, what difference will it make?” A big difference. As the old saying goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It couldn’t be more true than it is today.

The stakes have never been higher, and the differences between the presidential candidates could not be more stark. We are living in a time when our freedoms — especially religious freedoms — are under attack. If you’re a Christian and you’re thinking about sitting this election out, either because you are too busy, don’t have time or don’t like the candidates, let me tell you right now — you cannot afford to do that. This isn’t just about politics; this is about the future of your faith, your family and your freedom. An old proverb says, “He who sits in silence, consents.” If you don’t speak up with your vote, you are consenting to whatever comes next, even if it’s policies that restrict your right to practice your religion, educate your children or speak freely.

And if we don’t get this right, we might not get another chance. We’re standing at a crossroads.

Jim Rohn once said, “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” The discipline is showing up on Election Day, doing your research and casting a vote that aligns with your values the most. The regret is waking up the day after and realizing that you didn’t do your part—and now, it’s too late.

The Reverend Billy Graham reminded us, “When a nation is right with God, its people will be right with one another.” If Christians stay home on Election Day, we’re effectively handing over the keys to the kingdom to those who don’t share our values, our beliefs or our love for freedom.

Don’t think for a second that they won’t use that power to reshape this country in ways you won’t recognize — because in too many ways and for far too long, haven’t they already started?

Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman, attorney and author of “Bright Spots, Big Country, What Makes America Great.” He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and editor of The Caddo Republican. His columns have appeared regularly in 318 Forum since 2007. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by e-mail at louisavallone@mac.com, and on American Ground Radio at 101.7 FM and 710 AM, weeknights from 6 - 7 p.m., and streaming live on keelnews.com.