That’s right: voting is an act of love for our neighbor because it expresses our care about what happens in our community. When we vote, we are saying, “I think this person or this decision will best help my neighbors, especially those most vulnerable, to be healthy in body, mind, and relationships. As a result, our society will be more healthy, that is, more peaceful and just, as God desires all societies to be.”
Some people say, “why bother voting?” either because they believe none of the candidates are worthy of their vote or because they don’t believe their vote really will make a difference. Both responses are avoiding God’s call to love neighbor by voting.
If someone says they don’t think their vote matters, they are saying what they care about doesn’t matter. Christians know that what we care about matters ultimately to God; we have been commanded to pray to God our deepest desires (2nd commandment) because God cares. It is the devil, the world, and our sinful selves that seduces us into cynicism. Christ has triumphed over these powers so we would not surrender, but struggle against them, trusting Christ has won the victory in the end! Resist cynicism about elections or anything else to follow Jesus in the way of hope and life!
If someone says that none of the candidates are worthy of their vote, I say, “of course!” Every candidate falls short—that’s Sin in every human heart. Jesus is not on the ballot. But this does not mean that there aren’t better and worse candidates. Some candidates will serve God’s purposes of a healthy, peaceful, and just society more than others. Some will express more than others the values of sober and careful judgment and the concern for vulnerable neighbors. None will meet the standard, but that is no surprise; our task is to discern which is better.
There are some that would have us believe that one party represents Christian values. This is an attempt to manipulate us by setting some values against others and ignoring the history and temperament of a particular candidate. Christians follow Christ, not a party. We are free to zig-zag across party lines to follow the way our Spirit-formed conscience leads us to love our neighbor.
We also can begin to encourage people to run for office. If we are unsatisfied with the candidates presented to us, another way we can love our communities is to encourage people with the values and temperament to run for office. If we give into cynicism and apathy and do nothing, we can expect only the same.
However the Spirit leads you, please vote and love your neighbor!
Your partner on the journey,
Pastor Peter
