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| William Higgins is on the staff of LMC, a fellowship of Anabaptist churches formerly known as Lancaster Mennonite Conference. |
Some things to consider during an election season
1. We already have a Messiah. Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9). Because Jesus is the one, true Messiah, “the King of kings and the Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) there can be no other. This is why we must firmly reject political false messiahs who come and say they will save us and make our problems go away. Our King is more than able to take care of us.
2. We already have a political party. God’s kingdom has come, and we are submitted to God’s rule. As such we are a holy nation, citizens of heaven and God’s ambassadors (1 Peter 2:9; Philippians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20). God has chosen to use us to change the world (1 Corinthians 1:26-30); to bring about the new creation. It is true that God uses governments to keep order. But it is the church that is a light to the nations of God’s better way of being and living (Matthew 5:14).
3. We already have a political platform. This is found in the Scriptures, for instance, Jesus’s inaugural sermon (Luke 4:16-21), the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the two greatest commands (Mark 12:28-34), the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and Paul’s reflections on God’s purpose of joining together Jews and Gentiles in the Messiah (Ephesians 3:1-13). These and more guide us as we work for the spread of God’s kingdom on earth by inviting people to be a part of our alternative community ruled by Jesus.
4. We already have all the power we need. Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18). We have the power of the good news of Jesus (Romans 1:16) and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). It is this power that transforms people’s lives. It also creates new communities that embody the way of Jesus. And these communities are to be a force for good in the nations where we live as exiles (Hebrews 11:13). Remember, the early church did not have worldly political power, and Greco-Roman culture was in a worse condition than ours. But God used them to change the world.
5. We already have a firm basis of faith and hope as we live in this world. God is sovereign and oversees all. We do not need to heed the voices that call us to fear; that say, “if our candidate isn’t elected civilization will collapse.” Scripture tells us, “Do not put your trust in princes, in a son (or daughter) of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3). God is the one who raises up and brings down nations and rulers (Daniel 5:21b). And this regardless of how we might vote. And even if the worst happens, Jesus still reigns and watches over us.
As we engage with the world as representatives of God’s kingdom to address its problems and seek its well-being in love for our neighbors (Jeremiah 29:7), we should not be governed by fear. Rather we can have great faith and hope in God and the power God has given us, in our party and platform, and in our King, Jesus.
For those who choose to go beyond these Christian political commitments and actions to participate in the election, here are some further things to consider:
A. Are you factoring a candidate’s character into your political choices? Policies matter, but character also matters. The various parties may debate about whose candidates have been or are worse. Yet they have both put forward character-deficient contenders. And in all of these situations, Christians have voted for them. What does this communicate to the world when Christians give their support to people who lack basic decency? “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). The morals of society are eroded by such candidates. And they are eroded as well by the seeming lack of concern by voters who empower these candidates.
B. Are you working to make sure the church is not torn apart by your political choices? Political participation can bring division into the church. Yet we are called to “be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50; Ephesians 4:1-6). To oversimplify things, one party says we must support their candidate because they will lower the number of abortions. The other party says we must support their candidate because they will stand up for the weak and powerless. Both concerns are dear to God’s heart. When we are simply acting as Christians to engage the world in Jesus’s name, we can pursue these things together as fellow believers. When we are forced by the world to choose between our various convictions, it pulls us apart.
C. Are you considering those who feel deep pain because of your political choices? Political participation can wound fellow believers. When someone, out of deep conviction, votes for a candidate because of a concern for the widow, the orphan, the immigrant and the racial-ethnic minority, others will be distressed by this. “Where is the concern for the unborn child?” When someone, out of deep conviction, votes for a candidate because of a concern for unborn children, others will be distressed by this. “Where is the concern for the weak and vulnerable who are already born?” Both sides can say to each other, “How can you vote for . . .? That person is evil and offensive to me!”
D. Are you acting on behalf of the whole counsel of God? Paul says he declared “the whole counsel of God” to the Ephesian believers (Acts 20:27). If you are voting for one party, how are you addressing the other Christian concerns that are not addressed by your party? If we seek to represent Christian convictions through the American political process, how can we address the issues our candidate will not address or even opposes?
E. Are you thinking about how your political choices will affect your witness as a representative of Jesus? If you vote in ways that some communities see as clearly disadvantaging them, will they be able to hear you when you speak about your faith? If you have used worldly political power to force something on them, will they be alienated from Jesus?
F. Are your political statements consistent with your Christian faith and practice? If you spread gossip and slander about a candidate on social media, it is still gossip and slander. If you cheer on your candidate as they lie, you are approving of sin (James 3:6). Scripture calls us to “honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). This, even if the person is not honorable. We are to show respect to all people because they are loved by God and made in God’s image. We can disagree with them, dislike them and even be disgusted by their behavior. But this does not justify expressions of hatred, ridicule or scorn. If you count the person as an enemy, love them and pray for them (Luke 6:27-28).
G. Are you protecting yourself against idolatry? Political ideologies seek our complete allegiance. And sadly, for many, politics becomes their true religion, including some Christians. This is evidenced by how they believe that only their candidate and platform can make a difference in the world. They put their faith and hope in these and thus also their efforts, energy and finances. Yet we can’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). And we must beware of all worldly ideologies that seek to take us “captive” (Colossians 2:8). We need to keep political involvement in proper perspective. This is not how God is going to fix the world. Jesus is working through his people to bring true and lasting change.
Here's an election related piece I wrote in 2016
So thoughtful, Harvey. Worth careful reading.
ReplyDeleteAll voters should read this!
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