How to Vote in an Election
Yet again in this election cycle, I've seen several Pastors endorsing candidates and vote-shaming church members over their election choices. I wish this practice would end. The 'endorsement' mentality arises from self-importance—"My members NEED my view of the candidates and the best choice!"—or an abuse of power, the Pastor acting like the church is like a Union that needs her Pastor to temporarily become a shop steward and tell everyone what to do. This isn’t acceptable.
At SRC this Sunday, we will pray for the nation as election day approaches, but I'm not preaching about the election. We will open Scripture to proclaim God's faithfulness, the trustworthiness of his word, and the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. Come and pray. Come and grow in grace.
So voting doesn't matter?
On the contrary, voting matters very much.
After all, as Sydney Harris observed, "Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.” Thomas Jefferson was undoubtedly correct when he wrote, "We do not have government by the majority. We have a government by the majority that participates." Sitting things out is not advisable when entrusted with such a great responsibility.
So here’s my best available counsel regarding voting.
First, our Christian faith informs our voting. How could it be otherwise? I have already voted, and I count it a great privilege. That said, voting as a Christian means many factors inform our decisions, and the Church teaches people “how to vote” every day through discipleship, but never for whom to vote through coercion and manipulation.
One doesn’t see voting front and center in the New Testament for the obvious reason that voting was not something the ancient world practiced widely, and Roman Empire believers weren't heading to the polls to select the next Emperor. They did have a form of voting within the Christian community, choosing and confirming wise leaders to assist them in caring for needy members (Acts 6), but that's a very different matter from a civic election. How, then, might we today best apply Biblical wisdom as we vote?
Because we are not party-first people but kingdom-first people, and since no party or candidate perfectly embodies the virtues of the Kingdom (they can't in a fallen world), we look to vote -
A) In the fear of the Lord - seeking to please him, acting in accordance with his wisdom as he gives us understanding to see it. We should look for candidates with character, competence, and courage, men and women who will depend on God’s mercy and who we’d be proud our children to emulate and our enemies fear.
B In obedience to the Great Commandments - seeking the good of our neighbors above our gain and the glory of God above the power of politics
C) In obedience to the Great Commission - seeking to understand how what we do furthers the Gospel. We pray for our leaders so that the Church may be at peace and freely proclaim the good news.
D) In honor of the Creator and his creation - people are made in God's image and, as such, express his communicable attributes when they think, speak, choose, and create - all factors in voting. We vote in a pluralist society, not seeking to dominate others, isolate ourselves from others, or conform to others, but to honor others as fellow image bearers of the Almighty.
Psalm 146 is crucial to recall regarding elections and our propensity to be angry or fearful or to trust in a political leader or process rather than in God. The Psalmist says,
“Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!”
Saying “No” to Mere “Self-Interest”
Modern political campaign appeals are frequently rooted in fear (they're coming for you and your stuff!) or greed (you'll get more for you and more stuff!). We can take a very different approach. We can freely reject two very bad ideas:
This election is apocalyptic. I hear this every election cycle: “It’s the most important election of our lifetime, and if ‘we’ don’t win, the Republic will collapse, and the Church will crumble.” Look, the Church has survived much more ferocious opposition than a US election outcome, and nothing can thwart God's purpose. Beyond this, even in my lifetime, I’ve seen the country more divided and even greater levels of political violence in our streets (see 1968).
Christians must agree on every political issue to be authentic Christians. That has simply never been true, isn’t true now, and won’t be true tomorrow. We can extend grace to one another as we all work through our views about how to do God’s will in the society we call home.
Christians of various persuasions will vote across various parties as they seek to give voice to what they understand best expresses their hopes for a civil order that agrees with those broad principles of selfless, God-honoring, Kingdom-seeking living.
Therefore, Pastor, tell the congregation how to vote and the principles of wisdom and decision-making, but not for whom to vote. Taught well, Christians can and must make such decisions in their own Scripture-shaped consciences. Preach Christ the King.
Therefore, members, honor and accept one another as image-bearers in your voting, loving one another as you each personally wrestle with and decide for whom to vote. Do not make this temporal decision the basis of eternal communion; don't split up your friendships, family, or fellowship over a political election. Life is so much bigger than this moment. Don’t yield to a partisan spirit that can’t imagine other believers might prioritize issues differently than you and condemn them when they do so.
So...
* Pastors must not bind the conscience of members on these political choices.
* Members must not judge the authenticity of one another's faith based on political choices
* Christians should sometimes be very uncomfortable with the party of their choice since no party is a perfect example of the Kingdom. If you think your party is that, you have an idol.
* Whatever you idolize on one side of the political aisle, you will likely demonize on the other. Both activities should be forsaken.
* You can find a Bible verse for just about every political position. Be wary of such an approach. Refrain from ascribing to the Almighty the defense of your party's position.
* Honor your neighbors in this process and seek their good. Loving our neighbors should inform our choices and undergird our attitudes toward those who disagree with our own choices.
* Winning an election is not a zero-sum game. Do not celebrate or mourn too much! Our only lasting 'wins' are about the expansion of Jesus' reign in all the world, not who wins on Tuesday.
* For every prayer you offer about the election, say one for a missionary in another land and for persecuted Christians everywhere.
* Be a peacemaker, not a quarrel starter.
Democracy in a Constitutional Republic is messy and seldom easy. It was not gained without sacrifice and can’t be kept without vigilance. Sir Winston Churchill was right when he observed, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all of the others.” Despite imperfections in our democracy, it is worthy of our prayerful, thoughtful participation.
Beloved Christian friend, the most important thing is not who you will vote for in the election but that you are the elect child of the Father. Your most important emblem is not a donkey or an elephant but a lamb. What defines you isn't a yard sign but the covenant sign of baptismal waters upon you. Rejoice! No matter the outcome, gather with God’s people the following Sunday to hear his word, pray, and give God the glory. He is faithful and we can rest in his providence and grace.
Bless you, my friends. I am praying for you as you vote. Let us all pray for our country at this time of decision and entrust the outcome to our good and sovereign Lord.