“For the sake of the Lord submit to every human
institution. Do this whether it means submitting to the emperor as supreme
ruler, or to governors as those sent by the emperor. They are
sent to punish those doing evil and to praise those doing good” (1 Peter 2:13-17)
In
a few weeks, America will face another Presidential election. While these seasons are always stressful and contentious,
it seems that the heated rhetoric on both sides have led to this year’s
campaigns being especially divisive and challenging. With that in mind, let me share three
excellent pieces of advice that I believe are God-honoring and provide a helpful
counterbalance to what we hear in our political ads.
--I--
The
first is from the founder of Methodist Christianity John Wesley, who once
shared this advice with his Methodists about the 1774 British Parliamentary
elections:
“I met those of our [Methodist] Society who had votes in the ensuing
election, and advised them,…
1) To vote, without fee or reward, for the
person they judged most worthy;
2) To speak no evil of the person they voted
against; And…
3) To take care their spirits were not
sharpened against those that voted on the other side” (From John Wesley’s Journal, October 6,
1774).
2. Come to political conversations with
humility and love. Be willing to talk openly with others about the important
political issues of the day even if you will not agree. Cultivate the skill of
loving disagreement.
3. As Christians, we must be willing to
think, ask lots of questions and listen for more than oversimplified sound
bites. Issues are complex, and it can be difficult to know the faithful
response in a fallen world. Find ways to encourage elected officials to discuss
the systems and structures contributing to economic injustice, poverty,
environmental concerns and other large issues, rather than temporary, band-aid
approaches.
4. As Christians, we have our own
language, our own framework of thought that will strike both "sides"
on any given issue as odd. Do not let candidates manipulate your passion for a
single issue at the expense of other things you care about.
5. Favor candidates who call for
responsibility for the common good. Remember that as Christians we talk less
about individual rights and more about God's gift of life to all people. It's
less about "me" and "my rights" and more about
"us."
6. Jesus reminds us in his Sermon on the
Mount that in the kingdom of God, the poor are blessed. Make compassion for the
disadvantaged a priority in your voting.
7. The Church resembles a family of
people all around the world that transcends nationality and ethnicity. As the
hymn says, "In Christ there is no east or west." Remember that we
live in a global village, that God has children in all countries.
8. Look for leaders who are wise,
exemplary in character and possess compassion and vision in addition to being
effective.
9. Be wary of misleading advertising or
campaign rhetoric that feeds on prejudice and divisiveness. Focus on the issues
and candidates who can be catalysts for understanding, for bringing people
together, candidates who can inspire us to get connected in the pursuit of
community and justice.
10. Look for
ways to embody your political ideals personally. Engage in the life of our
congregation and community. Christians understand that words must be matched by
actions. In his last sermon, Jesus said we would be judged, not by "Did I
take the right stand on moral dilemmas" and not by "Did I think
correct thoughts about the poor and their plight," but "Did I
actually do something? Did I feed, clothe, visit, get involved?"
--III--
Finally, I recently filmed a light-hearted one-minute video to
remind us of what we as Christians truly need to consider as we engage in our
political voting this coming election. I
invite you to
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Never forget that God loves you and I do, too!