“Should Christians vote?”
Yes.
“Why?”
An even better question; brought to relevance with the upcoming presidential elections. I’d like to briefly highlight four points for why we should vote.
As believers we are called to select exemplary leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13 & Titus 1:5-9) who imitate Christ’s leadership and sacrifice. Quite frankly neither of the two primary presidential candidates exemplify Christ’s leadership, but in all honesty who does live up to this standard of perfection? Even if our leaders prove to be insufficient, we as believers can witness through our vote.
Politics are culturally relevant. Everyday people enter into political discussions; around water coolers, ballgames, shopping malls, and yes, in churches too. We ought to be engaged in these conversations. See Paul’s famous dialogue at the Areopogous in Acts 17:16-34 for further illustration on relevant cultural engagement.
We are given the privilege to live in a nation in which our voice can be heard (this is not the case in many nations around the world). The democratic process is one that allows each citizen a choice in their government, therefore the government that’s ultimately selected is based on our consensus. As we are entrusted with this task, we are to be held responsible.
Let’s look at Matthew 22:21, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” In this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees, we hear one of the most important principles for believers to live by. For individuals, life is not supposed to be compartmentalized into the political & religious realm; rather by fulfilling our obligations to earthly authorities we are honoring God (Romans 13:1-7).
We should be wary of falling into two extremes. First, by separating ourselves from our own world (as the Amish, might do). In a fair, just democracy by not voting we are essentially withdrawing from the political process. The second extreme is using politics as our primary method of change; this downplays the role of the Good News. Balance between these two extremes is needed.
Matthew 22:15-22 is powerful because it show us that Jesus’ kingdom is not one of military or political rule, rather it operates within the existing political order. The early church got this, and paid for it with their blood. Today believers living in countries that are politically hostile to the Christianity get this. In everything we do, we do it first and foremost as followers of Jesus Christ.
Yes.
“Why?”
An even better question; brought to relevance with the upcoming presidential elections. I’d like to briefly highlight four points for why we should vote.
As believers we are called to select exemplary leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13 & Titus 1:5-9) who imitate Christ’s leadership and sacrifice. Quite frankly neither of the two primary presidential candidates exemplify Christ’s leadership, but in all honesty who does live up to this standard of perfection? Even if our leaders prove to be insufficient, we as believers can witness through our vote.
Politics are culturally relevant. Everyday people enter into political discussions; around water coolers, ballgames, shopping malls, and yes, in churches too. We ought to be engaged in these conversations. See Paul’s famous dialogue at the Areopogous in Acts 17:16-34 for further illustration on relevant cultural engagement.
We are given the privilege to live in a nation in which our voice can be heard (this is not the case in many nations around the world). The democratic process is one that allows each citizen a choice in their government, therefore the government that’s ultimately selected is based on our consensus. As we are entrusted with this task, we are to be held responsible.
Let’s look at Matthew 22:21, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” In this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees, we hear one of the most important principles for believers to live by. For individuals, life is not supposed to be compartmentalized into the political & religious realm; rather by fulfilling our obligations to earthly authorities we are honoring God (Romans 13:1-7).
We should be wary of falling into two extremes. First, by separating ourselves from our own world (as the Amish, might do). In a fair, just democracy by not voting we are essentially withdrawing from the political process. The second extreme is using politics as our primary method of change; this downplays the role of the Good News. Balance between these two extremes is needed.
Matthew 22:15-22 is powerful because it show us that Jesus’ kingdom is not one of military or political rule, rather it operates within the existing political order. The early church got this, and paid for it with their blood. Today believers living in countries that are politically hostile to the Christianity get this. In everything we do, we do it first and foremost as followers of Jesus Christ.
Adam McClun is a second year Masters of Divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Dvinity School.
5 comments:
I'm struggling with the notion of voting this year. For years, I was a one-issue voter, and the simplicity of a candidate's stand on that issue made things very clear for me. But I feel as if the party that typically got my vote has used that issue as a piece of live bait on me, hooking me with a lot of moist words and emotional promises, but no meaninful follow-through. My reaction to the feeling of being co-opted, along with some serious moral questions about the policies of candidates from both major parties, has led me to want to sit this one out. I can't in good conscience vote for either major party, and going to the voting booth to vote for a minor party or do a write-in feels like a waste of time.
But there's still a month and a half until election day, so perhaps someone will yet give me a compelling reason to swallow hard and punch a ballot.
Thank Michelle for you deeply thoughtful comment. I think all Christians and probably people in general deal with the problem of not being able to fully support a particular candidate our party because of particular aspects of a parties platform, or the dilemma of judging whether or not that party/candidate is actually sincere about the positions they espouse.
Furthermore, given the nature of identity politics in America, whether it is religiously based, gender based, ethnically based or socio-economically based identity politics, it is often difficult to get to the detailed specifics of a candidates position on the issues that matter to us when it is couched in all sorts of political propaganda and gesturing.
But does anyone feel as though we should still make an informed decision on which candidate we may feel is the lesser of the two evils (lesser evil in the sense of which one will likely cause the greatest amount of good or least amount of bad given what a president can and cannot actually accomplish)? Perhaps given two bad scenario’s one is more preferably than the other. Should we make what some would call, an educated guess? It doesn’t have to be an endorsement, or even a statement of support, just a choice between to realities, one of which will occur.
I agree with you Adam. We should vote. If we believe that government must protect the most vulnerable among us, then I think I have to make the most informed decision that I can and vote for the administration that will care for others best. It almost seems that not voting is to forsake care for others. maybe that's an overstatement.
I hope that this is obviously different from Dr. Johnson's concern in chapel about "the Gospel of America."
Additionally, I sympathize with those who worry about morality in legislation. It's hard to endorse someone who advanced something we think is immoral. I guess I don't really think about voting as endorsing. hopefully, that's not the same as turning a blind eye.
Michelle, I also sympathize with your statements. And Jeff, I think you bring in helpful distinctions. I agree that voting is not necessarily endorsing all the candidate's policies...
what do you all think of the argument of ethical responsibilty to excercise the voting freedom which others fought (including wars and human rights movements) to give us?
Thank you, Adam, for this thoughtful, Biblical consideration about our participation in voting.
I simply would like to intone that I think that even our process of conversion hasn't called us to completely drop everything we are (culturally, socio-economically, giftedness, personality), but He rather calls us to turn everything we have Christ-ward. Therefore, it seems to me that refusing to vote is offering less avenues to turn policies, people, and practices towards Christ.
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