I’m too cynical to believe that my vote actually matters. I realize that my .0001% of the state-wide vote isn’t going to swing the election one way or the other (even if I lived in Florida). Plus, it’s exceedingly hard to pick a candidate these days. The “lesser of two evils” option doesn’t really motivate me anymore. Either I pick the candidate of abortion-on-demand and higher taxes. . . or I pick the candidate of the right to buy assault rifles and who took millions in campaign contributions from CEO’s who got $100 million golden parachutes while defaulting on his employees’ pension plans.
And on top of that, I keep reading books and articles about how evangelical Christians shouldn’t be in lockstep with the GOP (and how mainline churches shouldn’t be with the Dems). And I agree. Jesus didn’t come to earth and inaugurate the Kingdom of God so that conservatives could have a 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court or to save us from socialized medicine. So, who would Jesus vote for? Or, would Jesus vote at all? Maybe the most important question is: what in the world is the church doing here anyway?
Paul tells us to respect the government and pay our taxes. Peter tells us to honor the king. I guess, at the very least, that means that wherever the Church is – the Church actually has to be there, doing all the things one does when he/she is in one place, including paying taxes, serving on juries, and voting. If Peter and Paul called the Church to be good residents in a tyrannical empire, do you think they would ask less of those who live in a representative democracy? So, while the Church should do more about the evil of abortion than go to the polls and vote (like actually care for teenage mothers-to-be), it shouldn’t do less than go to the polls and vote. Even if it’s difficult to choose who/what to vote for.
So I’ll be going to my polling place tomorrow. I’ll probably leave some votes blank because I don’t know the issue/candidates well enough, and may even cast a third-party “protest vote” or two. But I’ll go, because Christ compels His Church to make His Voice heard any way we can – even a mark on a slip of paper.
But God help us if that’s all we do.
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4 comments:
Thanks Doug. Well, you got me thinking, and I may just pose some questions. I am not one of those guys who immediatly after waking up is sure to go to the polls, but I am also not against voting.
How could you clarify my thinking?
Is the following a non sequitur?
"Paul tells Christians they should pay taxes (a required duty to the state). Therefore, Christians should also vote (a non required duty to the state."
Does respect for earthly governments necessarily mean participation in earthly governments?
Here is something else I struggle with:
I would be perfectly fine with voting for someone who is against abortion, or against ammendment 2. But unfortunately, that issue is not all all you are supporting when you vote for an individual. I am all about not killing unborn babies, but I am also not about other kind of evil killing that may be as equally evil. I am all about voting for someone who may lower my taxes, but I wonder if while I support that I am also supporting oppression elsewhere.
I JUST DONT KNOW!!!! AHHHHH!!
- While writing this I am overhearing three OCC adults (one non traditional student, 2 staff members) argue over who they votetd for. "Why would you ever vote for him" one fellow asked. I wonder if we waste more time trying to convert a democrat to a rebublican than we do trying to convert a lost person to fulfillment in Christ.
But the same critique could be made on the issue of whether or not to vote. I think some Christians would rather persuade Christians not to vote or to vote rather than persuade sinners that Jesus is the Messiah.
There is no question that in this election time we should be praying fervantly for our rulers and those in authority.
Father, may your kingdom be on earth as it is in heaven.
Well Doug, I appreciate your article, as well as ARod's articulate response. These are important questions to ask, and I am glad that both of you are against equating Christianity with the Religous Right. However, apart from that I respectfully disagree with you. I believe that Christians should not vote. First, I will quote ARod's well-put point:
Is the following a non sequitur?
"Paul tells Christians they should pay taxes (a required duty to the state). Therefore, Christians should also vote (a non required duty to the state."
Does respect for earthly governments necessarily mean participation in earthly governments?
I believe that the State's job is to use evil means to keep evil at bay in order to maintain order in a fallen and chaotic world. This is what God has appointed them for (Romans 13) and Christians should submit to these goverments (as long as our higher allegiance is not in conflict with what the state is asking of us). However, Goverments are a direct result of the fall (read 1 Samuel 8) and they are allowed to do things (like be "agents of wrath") that Christians are called not do to (not to repay evil for evil). One could argue that Christians are not permitted to be agents of wrath on a personal level, and govermental wrath is different. However, I think that goes blatantly against Paul's flow of thought. Christians are not allowed to seek earthly justice through violent means (Romans 12), but violent justice is still administered, by goverments (Romans 13). There is a pretty clear dicotomy in Paul's mind, it seems.
since this is only supposed to be a short response, I will only have one more note. Look at Jesus. Jesus' followers clearly saw that he could be king. Jesus says, I am a king, but my kingdom works differently. The politics of the kingdom of Yahweh are not at all like politics of this world, the politics of power and manipulation. The politics of the Kingdom of Yahweh are self-abnigation and humility. These kingdoms cannot coexist in the same person. They are in fundamental opposition to one another.
I long to have an answer on this issue. If christian rights and priveledges are just the denial of abortion and homosexual marriage, I think we have missed the boat. Or if the christian stance on social reform is all that matters we missed the kingdom boat as well. On either side of the democracy we have some good hidden underneath the bad. There is something redeemable in man (unless your a Calvinist), otherwise I doubt we would be redeemed. Can the church share this kind of redemptive news through voting that is not united?Is our voice in elections a voice that says this is what Jesus likes about this (say social reform), but Jesus really doesnt like that(abortion)? I think we have the potential to share kingdom values through voting. I also see the converse, that we are able to scare people away from the kingdom through voting. I doubt it is sin for christians to vote, afterall votes are just opinions anyway and God is not afraid of opinions(read the Psalms or the end of Job); because God puts in power whom he will(Acts 17). So my current anwser or proposal is weak spined and lily livered but here it is; voting is great if you can advance the kingdom in your sphere of influence. The absence of voting is great if you can adavance the kingdom in your sphere of influence. All I really want to see is God's kingdom moving through whatever his people do, whether in complete agreement or with some differing views.
I was hoping for a response, Mr. Welch.
If you get a chance, I would like to hear your thoughts...
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