How Should Christians Approach a Fraught Election?

Editor’s notice: The articles in our political theology collection are the opinions of the authors, not these of Logos. We’re publishing a breadth of voices to replicate various views throughout the church.

With the upcoming presidential election getting into its ultimate phases, our political local weather is extra polarized than ever. Disinformation, vitriol, and even violence pollute a lot of our discourse. Partaking with politics at any time could be fraught. However that is particularly the case now.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply we must always disengage. Actually, fairly the other is true, I consider. As Christians, we should interact, and we should accomplish that with out dehumanizing these we disagree with or resorting to vitriol and violence. As an alternative, we should permit the Scriptures and our convictions about Christ and the kingdom of God to tell how we interact within the political course of, together with how we vote.

It’s honest to ask what issues we ought to be wrestling with earlier than we forged our votes. Moral? Ethical? Religious? The newest outrage from our favourite podcaster? We have to dig deep inside ourselves and replicate on our values.

The significance of politics and voting

Politics is the artwork–science of presidency. Politics is the way in which that individuals dwelling in teams make choices about the best way to order society. It’s about making agreements between individuals in order that they’ll reside collectively in teams and as a gaggle.

In fact, a major manner most individuals take part in politics is by changing into engaged within the election course of and voting. Our founders established our nation on the concept that “we the individuals” are afforded the accountability to decide on our personal leaders. In different phrases, the individuals grant authority to those that govern.

The Bible additionally accommodates precedent for this observe; it commends the thought of individuals choosing their very own leaders. For example, Moses instructs the individuals of Israel to “select for every of your tribes people who’re clever, discerning, and respected to be your leaders” (Deut 1:13 NRSV). Or once more, Acts 6:1–7 describes the early Christians selecting their very own leaders. As Christians, we’ve got good cause to take part within the strategy of placing sound leaders in place.

And politics matter. Politics matter as a result of politics inform insurance policies that affect individuals. Due to our nation’s financial and political energy, the leaders we elect in the US make choices which have an incredible penalties for a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of individuals, each in our personal nation and world wide. These choices can usually imply the distinction between life and loss of life. That is notably true for people who find themselves experiencing poverty, starvation, and vulnerability. These embrace choices about emergency humanitarian help, home vitamin help, well being care, catastrophe aid—the checklist goes on.

Scripture emphasizes the significance of presidency in pursuing justice and caring for its individuals. Romans 13 emphasizes the function and accountability of leaders, noting that “governing authorities” (v. 1) are “God’s servant on your good” (v. 4 NRSV). The Scriptures additionally present that clever leaders uphold justice and the widespread good (Ps 72), particularly for many who are poor and in want (vv. 12–14). A passage like Leviticus 19:15 (cf. Jas 2:2–4) calls on leaders to manipulate with out partiality. As Christians, we should do what we will to elect clever and simply leaders.

Politics captivated by Christ, not tradition

Now, at this level you may be asking, “However Eugene, are you a Republican or a Democrat? Are you conservative or liberal?” My reply? Neither. Or higher but, on what situation?

Quite than asking about one’s politics, we ought to be asking about our understanding, creativeness, and embodiment of the wonder and energy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In different phrases, the crux of our dilemma is that, for some, we’ve allowed our politics to tell our theology somewhat than our theology and worship of Christ to tell our politics.

The time period I exploit for that is “cultural Christianity.” From a political perspective, cultural Christianity happens when our theology is held captive by our politics somewhat than our theology informing and even reworking our politics.

What are the risks of cultural Christianity? What does this seem like? Think about a Christianity that conforms to a tradition—in all of its shifts and adjustments—and now not adheres to the scandalous, radical love, grace, teachings, and lifetime of Jesus Christ. Think about an institutional Christianity that’s obsessive about energy, affect, and platform with out a dedication to the countercultural dedication of Jesus Christ—a dedication to empire rather than the kingdom of God.

The very fact isn’t any single political get together or highly effective politician monopolizes the dominion of God. As an alternative, let’s permit the Scriptures and our convictions about Christ and the dominion of God to tell how we interact the candidates, political events, and election course of.

Within the Gospels, Jesus shows a specific coronary heart for many who expertise poverty, starvation, and vulnerability in our nation and in our world. God is just not impartial; God sides with people who find themselves forgotten, marginalized, and oppressed. And Jesus warns that individuals shall be held accountable and judged for the methods they’ve handled the least amongst them (Matt 25:31–46).

Vote, however don’t simply vote

Civic engagement is about a lot multiple vote each 4 years, although. It additionally issues how we reside out our religion day by day. If we scale back civic engagement to a singular vote made each election cycle, we’re a part of the issue.

Sure, get out and vote! However don’t simply forged a vote. Embody your religion. Serve your neighbors. Advocate for the final and the least. Share the gospel. Work for the widespread good. Pursue justice. Search the peace of your metropolis (Jer 29:7).

We also needs to pray for our leaders—each current and future. First Timothy 2:2 tells us to wish for “all who’re in excessive positions, in order that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life” (NRSV). Prayer empowers us to help these in authority with a spirit of affection and advocacy.

However our prayers even have the ability to gas the mission to finish starvation and poverty. God listens to our prayers. Ask him to grant our leaders the integrity and knowledge to concentrate on issues that defend probably the most weak amongst us.

Hope-filled engagement, not dehumanization

I revealed my e book, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics, in March 2020, when each the presidential election and the pandemic had been simply getting underway. It was a time when many, myself included, thought that our nation’s political divisions and discourse couldn’t get a lot worse. Oh, how naive we had been!

Because the title of my e book suggests, I urge Christians to not be “jerks.” I encourage Christians and others participating in political discourse to cease vilifying these with whom they disagree—particularly people who find themselves weak—and as an alternative observe Jesus and his teachings.

As Christians, we should take a step again and rethink how we’re participating with others—nevertheless tough that may be when there are such a lot of individuals with whom we strongly disagree. As Christians, we do that, partially, by remembering that hope arrived—not in a politician, system, or nice nation—however within the individual of Jesus Christ and that, due to him, we’re known as to like each God and neighbor.

A individuals of affection amidst fraught instances

We live in fraught political instances. However to be a Christ follower is to be trustworthy amid pressure—to remain engaged, to stay hopeful, to like anyway, to walk with integrity, and to bear witness to the love, mercy, and style of Christ.

The best commandment is to like the Lord our God with all our coronary heart, thoughts, and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:37–39). We’re first known as to like. We all know love as a result of God liked us first (1 John 4:19). We reply to our loving relationship with God by loving our neighbors.

Let’s be told by our commitments as individuals with religion in Christ and God’s kingdom in thoughts. Let’s be told on many points. Let’s pray for convictions in line with biblical rules and an ethic that encompasses the entire of life—from womb to tomb. Then, let’s vote—and stay engaged afterward.

Be respectful. Be mature. Be clever. The world doesn’t want extra jerks for Jesus.

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