This coming Tuesday will be election day in the United States. It’s no secret that I have strong political opinions. Most days I read my Bible, a local newspaper, and some thoughtful magazine articles. Usually, those readings bring me to prayer. As I pray God reminds me that many times, I am to be the answer to my own prayer for community needs. This is the process Old Testament prophets went through as they saw their own frailty, God’s holiness and redemption, their community’s needs, and said, “Lord send me.” (Isaiah 6.) Every sermon I preach that concludes with a “We should ___” statement is a political message. When we preach the Gospel and disciple people, we ask for them to responsibly live in community. We are to be good citizens if the Lord lives in the hearts of ourselves and our community. After months of wrestling, I’ve decided I can’t in a clean conscience vote this Tuesday. I will be a Protestant in both denominational and partisan affiliation this coming Tuesday.
I make no judgement of others who choose to vote. My only hope is that they vote in humility with well researched opinions. Most elections do leave us with sin soiled hands. Whatever choice we make will be one that in the end leaves us like the Old Testament prophets calling out, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips.”
I suspect this Sunday many will hear prayers in their churches for the elections. I concur with those prayers. I also suspect that many will hear encouragements to get out to vote as good Kingdom citizens. I empathize with that encouragement. Yet, I do think the history of our faith and the current partisan options do not mandate voting to be a good disciple living in community. I suspect few are explaining valid reasons to abstain from voting from their Christian leaders, so I want to give a few of mine.
First, we are instructed to avoid every appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians and 1 Peter deal extensively with this concept.) When I place my understanding of Scripture related to the issues that most concern me in policy such as the unborn, the immigrant, ethnic reconciliation, economic justice, and grace neither partisan cluster crosses my tolerance for evil in ordinary living threshold. Each instead tries to persuade me to cast a vote demonizing the opposition while asking for me to ignore substantive issues.
Second, we’re instructed in making judgements to judge ourselves first (Matthew 5 to 7.) I grew up in a conservative denomination rooted in the South. I acquired a bachelors and master’s degrees from their best universities. I’ve been affiliated with local church ministries for 30 years among white evangelicals. I’ve served in America’s global cites and networked with faith leaders. I’ve pastored in a total of 3 evangelical denominations. I have significantly more bad memories of institutional sin in those churches and their structure than I have good memories. I’ve lived through lies, abuse, division, racial animosity, both threats and acts of violence, financial exploitation, tolerance of systematic sexual exploitation, and flippancy with protecting the life and health of vulnerable people. I’ve seen measures of truth, confession, and repentance; but it has been inadequate when placed against the magnitude of systematic sin. Thus, I can’t just vote with my tribe as I know how hard the hearts are.
Third, I’ve explored other options thoroughly. I’ve read the policy positions. I’ve gone and sat at a picnic table with our local independent candidates. I’ve signed petitions and written letters. I’m not convinced that reasonable compromise on my strong positions is possible.
Fourth, I’m empathetic to other nations' Christian Democratic parties. I watch as they win a few seats, make their arguments, and then negotiate policy. I could be content in that genre where I don’t get my way but do have a seat at the table that arrives at a less than ideal consensus. The American Solidarity Party may one day fill that niche. Evan McMullin in Utah is running in that ballpark. Yet, in North Dakota I don’t have that option on the ballot. Thus, I’ll stay in the faith traditions of waiting, praying, and mobilizing for the future.
Fifth, I recognize that at some point in the next few weeks the votes will be counted, and winners announced. No matter who wins I’ll be governed by pagans. So what? Almost every believer in Christian history has been in the same situation. Most believers around the world are in that situation. Why should I think that my American citizenship should produce an option different from most other followers of Jesus?
Sixth, I choose to suffer. My decision not to vote may be a factor in post-election violence. My decision not to vote may be a factor in continued poverty for families like my own. My decision not to vote may further the suffering of vulnerable people in America. Yet, I have been instructed by my Lord not to seek out my own best interests but the common good of my fellow man. Thus, I am at peace with the cost of not voting.
Seventh, I believe I know well the national and state issues my vote could influence. Yet, I don’t have a clue about local elections. I live in a rural county where our local newspaper collapsed. I haven’t been able to find information to make either an informed vote or informed abstinence in voting locally. It seems to me that I should trust those who know local issues to vote wisely. If I voted locally all I could currently do is add to ignorance, bias, and foolishness.
Eighth, I notice that among friends with different partisan affiliations I’m still trusted. We still have conversations that are kind and thoughtful amongst disagreements. If I choose to vote in such a partisan time, I risk losing that diversity of relationship network. I hope a day may come in which civility matters. I will do all I can to prepare for that day.
Ninth, I’m still called and spiritually gifted as a missionary. I never voted in local elections in the nations to which I was called though I voted absentee from my sending nation. I now sense that’s where I need to stay. I was sent as a missionary from Africa to America and that’s who I am.
Tenth, I’m radically committed to good citizenship and believe that is the substance for cultural change. I will still most days read my Bible and local papers. I will still pray. I will still know my neighbors. I will still be involved in local churches. I will still use my spiritual gifts. I will still labor. I will still be my best son, brother, husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, and cousin I possibly can. I will still serve with diaspora people and their organizations. I’ll still attend school board and county commissioner meetings. I’ll still call or write my political leaders a few times a year about concerning matters. I may even try to restore institutions that could increase knowledge and grace in our community. My hope is that those disciplines will have greater good than a single day of voting.
My hope is that my Protestant vote this Tuesday will speak loudly. I will write each winner and loser in the coming month to explain why they didn’t receive my vote. I do believe in American’s ideals, institutions, and leaders. I do believe most people in America are decent. I do believe despite strong differences of policy among ordinary Americans consensus is still possible. God help us all.
