So how should an evangelical Christian, concerned about marriage and the family, vote between Barak Obama and Mitt Romney?  

I cannot speak for all evangelicals concerned about marriage and family, but I can tell you what this one evangelical marriage and family therapist is going to do and why?  Here are some of the main principles that influence my decision.

First, if we as voters wanted to apply a religious test, we do not have a good choice religiously.  We face a painful dilemma of voting for a liberal professing Christian (Obama) with Muslim leanings or a cultist Mormon who claims to be Christian.  Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world; we live in a real world.  Realistically, we have only two candidates who could win the election, and we can only vote for one.  To not vote is to throw away our vote. Furthermore, even on religious grounds, a liberal Christian denies as many, or more, essential truths of the Christian faith as does a Mormon.  So, in this election any religious test as to who is more in harmony with evangelical beliefs is basically a washout.

Second, we do not live in a completely black-and-white world.  There is much grey.  We do not have a purely good or evil choice in this election.  There is both good and evil and in each choice.  Dr. Norman Geisler writes:  "In such a world, even if one were faced with a dilemma between voting for a known Devil or for a suspected witch, he should not despair.  He should vote for the suspected witch! . . . a quarter of a loaf is better than almost no loaf at all."  When both options appear to have significant evil, we ought to vote for the one which has the greater good.  For me, Romney wins on this criterion.

Three, Martin Luther once said that he would rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian.  On the issue of life, it would be better to vote for a Pro-Life Mormon than a Pro-Abortion Liberal Christian.  The right to life is a basic constitutional right, and it is the only path to all the other rights.  The dead don't have any rights.  Abortion has already taken some 50 million American lives and Romney is certainly better to stop this holocaust from continuing than Obama who favors even partial birth abortions.

Fourth, there are other important issues--character.  In the character contest, from what I know of the two candidates, Romney wins on personal moral character.  His individual and political integrity appears to be much better than his rival who, contrary to expectations, has turned out to be an all-too-typical Chicago politician, evidenced by his leftist leaning appointees and questionable political tactics.

Fifth, the economy is another matter on which we may evaluate the candidates.  Which would be best for the economy, that is, to reduce the gigantic national debt and produce jobs.  Both candidates have considerable public records to review on these matters.  Most that have done that believe hands down that Romney would be the best fit for president.

Sixth, we have an important choice when it comes to the Supreme Court.  On economic, religious and moral matters, the Supreme Court is split.  Currently, there are four votes for most conservative issues and four votes for most liberal issues.  The next president can easily tip the scales by one appointment!  This may be the most crucial issues for the next president.  Applied to the Roe v. Wade abortion issue, it could turn the tide!  Obama's past reveals that he will appoint, namely, left-wing liberals.  Romney will almost certainly do better than this. I am voting for him to give our supreme court a conservative majority--this alone is worth me voting for him.

Seventh, there is the issue of Americanism.  Of all offices that require being a good American, the greatest I believe, is the presidency of the United States of America.  Though I am against blind patriotism, I want someone who makes me want to rise and sing, "I am proud to be an American!"  I personally just don't get this when Barak Obama speaks to us as Americans or to other countries when representing America.

For certain, there are other qualifications for presidency such as experience, knowledge of foreign policy, health-care, immigration policy, the environment, education, size of government, the military, the right to bear arms, private enterprise,etc.  Granted, a case can be made for Obama in some of these areas, but by my evaluation the decided advantage goes to Romney in most of these areas.  As far as I can see, Obama does not have a significant advantage in any of these areas.

As for the seven criteria listed above, the first one is a washout and Romney is the unanimous winner of the other six.  Despite my disappointment on the religious issues, and given the choice of only Romney or Obama, I have decided that a vote for Romney is the best thing I can do for the future of America.