How Can I Vote to the Glory of God?
By Eric Czirr, Resonate Moscow
The following article is not meant to be a comprehensive or definitive take on what Resonate Church or Resonate Church leadership believes. Rather, we want to allow Resonate leaders and owners to respond to tough questions biblically and graciously. In a world plagued with division and deceit, it's important we return to the words and ways of Jesus. Jesus is, after all, "the way, the truth, and the life." (Jn. 14:6)
COVID, trade-war, and wildfires— there is a lot happening as the 2020 election is creeping upon us. With so many things happening in our country and the world, many of us are asking, who should Christian people vote for?
While there are many who would like to make a clear-cut voting block out of “evangelicals,” it is not that simple. Complexity and nuance make this an inherently frustrating conversation, and I am not going to tell you who you should or who I am going to vote for in November. Instead, here are some guiding principles.
Vote Prayerfully
Many Christian people in my life are “single issue voters.” Meaning, that there is one issue that is the trump card, no pun intended, as to how they vote. If racial justice is the ace of spades in their deck, then they play that card every chance they get. For others, it is the right to life for the unborn.
The problem is, we do not have an eternal perspective. We do not know what the 50-year, 100-year or 200-year implications of policy decisions today will be. Jesus’ ministry and Paul’s missionary efforts were made possible by Alexander the Great’s conquest, then subsequent Hellenization, of the ‘Western World.’ However, at the time, God’s people were being oppressed and prevented from worshiping, and given the chance, they likely would have voted for a different policy.
What if pursuing different economic policies and addressing issues of racial justice and economic equality would do more for the unborn in the long-run than taking on the issue of abortion head-on? While one choice may seem more or less obvious to you, it is not impossible to think that a second-order effect of caring for the poor better would bring more stability to families, which could lead more women to bring their children to term.
We do not know what the future holds. Better, then, to pray to the one who does. Pray for the election. Pray for the world. Pray for the future. Pray for our President, regardless of which party they come from.
Evangelize Carefully
If you are endorsing a political candidate in conversation more than you are endorsing Jesus in conversation, then politics is likely an idol in your life.
Political action gives us the illusion of control, puts us in the driver’s seat, and taps into deep emotions within us (anger, fear, hope, etc). Political action can give the sense that we are the sovereign over our own lives, but it is a myth. It is obvious that different political policies will give different political outcomes. But there is not a political leader or policy that can control every possible negative outcome. Heaven has been set in our hearts. We desire the fullness of the kingdom now, but the world is broken. Politicians will promise a better future and a more utopian vision of society. They will preach a “kingdom” but lack the actual power and authority to usher it in.
Peter refers to Christians living under Roman rule as exiles (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11). Paul says our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:19). The writer of Hebrews says that Abraham and Sarah desired a better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16). What many of us are looking for in politics cannot be found there. It can only be found at Calvary, nailed to the cross.
Some policies will have better outcomes, and we should seek to make the world a better place. But we must bear in mind that better policy outcomes mean nothing if people are simply living more comfortable lives on their way to an eternity separated from God. What, or who, is primary in your personal belief map? What, or who are you evangelizing for?
Don’t “Christianize” Your Political Party
I grew up in an environment where people close to me often confused Republican with Christian. There are many in the current political debate who still confuse those terms. The reality is that there are key issues which the Bible speaks to which fall on both sides of the American political spectrum.
Biblical views of sexuality (Gen. 1:27; Romans 1), and the sanctity of human life (Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5) currently align more with the political right. Whereas issues of racial equality (Col 3:11; Galatians 3:28), care for the environment (Gen. 1:28; Romans 1:20), and concern for the poor, sick, imprisoned and the foreigner in our society (Matt 25:31-46; James 1:27) are currently more identified with the political left. The Bible doesn’t give specific mandates to political issues significant to the life of the church, such as: freedom of religion and freedom of speech, or immigration policy and war which can affect access to Unreached People Groups (UPGs). Much is left to be decided in light of a Christian ethic, but there is not a clear Christian political mandate in terms of specific policies.
According to BallotReady, there are 95,000 political positions that will be voted for in 2020, not including the President. So if I care about an issue, what is the best way to move forward? Should I vote for the candidate who wants to care for the poor by creating social programs (political left), or should I focus on the candidate who says they want to create a better economy and ignore social programs so the poor are theoretically better off than they would be otherwise (political right)? Oh yeah, and what is the role of the individual, the role of the church, and the role of the state in all of this? We live in a highly individualized culture. However, the biblical authors did not. How does that factor into how I ought to think about this? Should I take a hardline approach or a harm reduction approach to issues? There is nuance and complexity within much of these issues.
David was arguably the best King that Israel ever had. He was a man after God’s own heart who was anointed by Samuel. David was also an adulterer, a murderer, briefly usurped by his son who was then killed in battle by David’s own official, and David was ultimately prohibited from building the Temple because of his sin. Biden and Trump both try to invoke faith to curry favor with voters. There have been— and will undoubtedly be more— prominent pastors and “evangelical” leaders endorsing each political candidate claiming that their candidate is the Messiah. Whether they really are Christian—or if that qualifies or disqualifies them for political office— is not a point I care to debate. Neither of them are heroes of the faith. They are flawed mortals, and God alone can measure their hearts.
So it may be time to consider putting the “Jesus was a Socialist” T-shirt back on the shelf. If I were you, I’d consider getting a “Jesus was fundamentally apolitical and is commonly misunderstood as a political figure, but that was by no means his aim or purpose” T-shirt to replace it with. It’s wordier, I know.
Don’t Christianize your political party. Let scripture be your guide.
“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). We live in an era of ever-increasing polarization when it comes to political rhetoric. Conspiracy theories, misinformation, and legitimate news get mixed together, and many of us disregard opposing views or news sources with a political bias different from our own. Learn about multiple parties, learn about multiple candidates, learn how the election process works. Don’t let social media or website algorithms push you into a filter bubble.
Be humble enough to learn how other people think, even if what they think is contrary to Scripture. To isolate your circle to people who think just like you is to choose ignorance and could be depriving others of exposure to a biblical worldview. Unless you are a new believer, if your faith and beliefs have not been held to scrutiny then perhaps they are not actually your faith and beliefs. Jesus hung out with prostitutes, drop-outs, and oppressors while maintaining a community of fellowship and God at the center of all he did.
Be a student of the worldview of others. It should better inform your policy choices. If nothing else, it can help you think like a missionary.
Cast a Ballot With Your Life
In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46) the righteous people who were visiting people in prison, feeding the hungry, and welcoming the stranger were just out there getting stuff done. They didn’t really think about it, they just did it. Seeking a more just world was the default, normal, unconscious fruit of their lives. Jesus tells them they clothed him, fed him, and visited him when he was sick, and their first response was to clarify. They were too busy getting stuff done to stop and post about it on Snapchat.
This raises some questions for the rest of us. Do you actually care about the physically and spiritually needy, or did you just go on a service project for awesome Instagram photos? Are you pro-life in the sense that you would actually care for orphans or consider adoption, or are you just anti-abortion? Do you value “justice” then ignore the prisoner? Are you simply against racism, or are you being constructive in seeking healing and restoration? These differences are profound.
Cultural transformation will not come from legislative efforts. Cultural transformation comes by the power of the Holy Spirit when the gospel is preached and demonstrated. Jesus declared the kingdom with teaching and then backed it up with miracles and the content of his life. We must not neglect one for the other.
Do you have questions? Submit them here and our staff will answer them in a webinar panel!
Voting Resources listed in this Blog
Read Across The Aisle— Provides news articles from both sides of the political spectrum on the same issues.
Ballot Ready— Provides information on every political candidate and referendum on the ballot.
usa.gov— Explains the voting process, where to get more information on candidates, and how and where to register and vote.
