Volume 2, Issue 5

October 29, 2024

Hi First name / friend!
 

With election season upon us, we’re seeing a lot of measures on the ballot—and if you're like me, you may wonder, “Wait, what's the difference between an amendment and a proposition?”

 

Here’s the scoop:

 

Amendments are like the "foundation" of the state—they become part of our Constitution if passed. So, an amendment isn’t just a regular law; it’s a change to our state’s core framework. Because of this, amendments are best suited for issues that are foundational, enduring, or involve key rights and governance structure—think civil rights protections, voting rights, or rules around government power.

 

The idea is that we want our Constitution to stay stable over time. So, before voting on an amendment, ask yourself, “Is this important enough to be enshrined in our state’s core structure?” For example, something like law enforcement funding is essential, but it’s a flexible area that should adapt over time. That’s why measures like this are better as propositions, not amendments.

 

Propositions, on the other hand, deal with state laws and regulations. These are adaptable—meaning, if passed, they can be updated later by our elected officials rather than needing another vote from us. Propositions work well for issues that might need tweaking as society changes, such as regulations on things like taxes, business, or environmental policies.

To recap:

It’s always helpful to think about how “permanent” an issue should be before voting “yes” on an amendment. If it seems like something that should remain flexible to adapt to the times, it might be better suited as a proposition!

If this is your first Faith FULL Echoes newsletter, you can access previous issues by clicking the button below. Feel free to reach out to me to let me know what topics you would like discussed in the future.

Last week, I finished reading Allie Stuckey’s new book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion, and it was so helpful! While much of what is included in the book is not new to me since I have been listening to Allie’s podcast, Relatable, for several years, it is so nice to have all of the pertinent information categorized and in one place for reference. 

 

The five main topics she discusses are abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, illegal immigration, and social justice. In each topic, she presents a story that pulls at our heartstrings and helps us see the way we are manipulated by empathy. She goes on to show how we must have empathy for the party on the opposite side of the argument, as well, and therefore, empathy cannot be what drives policy.

 

If you have been struggling through any of these topics this election season or have friends and family who don’t understand these topics from a biblical perspective, I highly recommend you get this book and read it quickly (it is a quick read, but listening to it might be more your style). It will equip you with the facts so you can have productive conversations around these topics.

If you would like to peruse the content on my blog, including lessons on studying the Bible, instructions for Christian living, book reviews, and more, click the button below. It will take you to my blog library.

If you would like to watch some video teachings, Bible mark-up videos, or just some family fun, head over to my YouTube channel. There is a little bit of everything, including meeting a celebrity in Alaska.

P.S. I LOVE receiving email responses to my newsletters! If you have questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions for future topics, please hit that “reply” button and let me know.

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