FOUR THINGS TO DO BEFORE VOTING
If you hadn’t heard, there is an election happening in a few days. For many, it feels like the world has been spun into utter chaos with extreme opinions flying, heated social media wars, and families divided along political lines. How do we engage this moment as a community of faith? Here are four things to do before you vote.
ONE: EDUCATE YOURSELF
While God will not be surprised or shock by the outcome of this election, that doesn’t give you permission to pinch hit this one or just “go with your gut.” In many ways, it’s an incredible gift to live in a democratic society and have the freedom to elect our leaders. Take time to read through the candidate statements, proposition information and the future impact of your vote. If you are relying on social media or the political gossip you overheard from a coworker, you will go into the voting booth unprepared. Take some time to make an informed decision.
By the way, many of the decisions your local elected officials make will have a much greater impact on your day-to-day life than the president, so don’t forget to read those as well. The great thing about local politics is that you can often reach out directly to candidates with questions on social media or email.
TWO: PRAY
After you have been through your options, ask the Holy Spirit to help you sift through all the data. Notice that this comes after you read, since the Spirit of God isn’t interested in playing candidate roulette with you. You do your work, God will do His. As you pray, ask the Holy Spirit, “What does ‘on earth as it is in Heaven’ look like for this season and what leaders or laws will support that future?” Ask Him to guide your steps as you make your decisions. At the end of the day we want heaven on earth, not just another version of America.
Then pray for the future of our nation, and for the wisdom of the current and future leaders that will be guiding her.
THREE: VOTE YOUR VALUES
No politician will represent your faith, values and opinions exactly. After you have educated yourself and prayed, vote for the candidate that most closely represents the values that you believe are closest to the heart of God. By the way, the hierarchy of those values will be distinct for each person, so you might be voting differently from how your parents, spouse or pastor does – and that’s ok!
Because of this, you may feel conflicted with your vote. For example, you may vote for a candidate because of their position on immigration, but are deeply disturbed by their stance on abortion. For some, you may vote for a candidate’s position on the economy, but are deeply troubled by their social impact. Resist deifying your candidate by not recognizing their policies or practices that you are against, or are in conflict with your other values.
We aren’t electing a perfect high priest to a throne, we are electing a fallible president into a highly dysfunctional political system. It would be very rare to find a candidate that checked off all the boxes, so don’t feel the need to pretend your choice does.
…But actually vote. Make a plan to vote by mail or get out to a polling place on or by November 3rd!
FOUR: HUMBLE YOURSELF
Just based on polls, it looks like our nation is divided almost down the middle yet again. As I started with, God will not be shocked or overwhelmed by who is elected (and that isn’t to downplay the importance of this moment). Whatever happens at the end of this election, it is not the time to gloat, vilify the other side or mock those who think different than you. What if we assumed the best in each other and moved forward together from that place.
Jesus didn’t put much stock in the political system’s ability to transform the world. The extent of his politics was “pay your taxes.” He cared deeply for the oppressed, marginalized, outsider, the poor and orphaned, but for Jesus, Cesar was clearly not a viable answer to those systemic needs in the community.
If the person who you believed should lead us for the next four years loses, guess what? Your mission to bring faith, love and hope to the world continues. If the person who you believed should lead us for the next four years wins, guess what? Your mission to bring faith, love and hope to the world continues.
Jesus still reigns, your neighbor is still there to be loved and the community is still in need of heroes – maybe more so than ever. So, let’s swallow our need to lash out in a defeat or revel in a victory. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get back to the hard and beautiful work of serving humanity through the power of Jesus.
All hail Him.
