As a Christian I place my hope in and swear my allegiance to Christ alone, not any human figure. I did not take those vows at my ordination as a priest but at my baptism! Any Christian who claims that their allegiance is to a political party, candidate, or platform should seriously reconsider calling themselves a Christian!! Nevertheless, I am a citizen of this country, and it is my civil responsibility to vote. As I sit here on the eve of what many consider the most important election in our nation's history I cannot help but grieve. There is so much pain, so much division over this election season. It is in times like this that I lean on the Gospel, and I urge my brothers and sisters in Christ to do likewise.
While I cannot tell anyone who to vote for--nor would I ever be so audacious as to do so--I believe that we would all be wise to consider what it is that Jesus calls us to hold sacred and important and to ask ourselves which candidates uphold those values. Which candidates are calling for us to love our neighbors as ourselves? Which candidates seek to empower those who have been powerless? Which candidates are seeking justice for all of God's children, especially the poor? When we look at the politics of Jesus we may be surprised to find out that this poor Jewish carpenter-turned-rabbi saw no redemption in violence ("those who live by the sword will die by the sword"), advocated for men and women to share their goods with those less fortunate ("give to everyone who begs from you, and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again"), empowered the voices of women (Mary Magdalene, who all the Gospels agree was the first witness of the Resurrection and shared the news with her fellow apostles), called for equal treatment of foreigners (the parable of the Good Samaritan), and called the rich to take responsibility for caring for the poor in their midst (the parable of Poor Man Lazarus). Furthermore, if we look at Jesus' earthly ministry it is easy to see him as a political revolutionary. While many--like Judas Iscariot--thought that Jesus' political revolution would come with the overthrowing of the Roman government, Jesus had other ideas, letting the world see him crucified and rising again, as if to show the world that the Kingdom of Man was NOT the supreme power in the universe, but instead it is the Kingdom of God. As Preston Epps, one of my favorite New Testament scholars once wrote:
"The Kingdom of Man says hate your enemies; the Kingdom of God says love your enemies.
The Kingdom of Man says get, accumulate; the Kingdom of God says give, share.
The Kingdom of Man says retaliate; the Kingdom of God says forgive.
The Kingdom of Man says force is the highest power; the Kingdom of God says love is.
The Kingdom of Man says everyone for himself; the Kingdom of God says love your neighbor."
At the end of the day all things are in the hands of God. No matter who wins, the world will keep spinning and God will still reign supreme. No matter who wins, we are all still beloved and beautiful children of God; yes, even that candidate you hate is beloved and made in the holy and sacred image of God! So we can take solace in the fact that, as Julian of Norwich said, "all manner of things will be well."
Still, as we head to the polls and make our voices heard--a luxury not everyone in the world has--we must ask ourselves: what kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country that values the things that Jesus valued? Do we want to live in a country that--to borrow the words of our baptismal vows--respects the dignity of every human being?
We have the opportunity to let our Christian values--of justice, peace, respect, healing, and love--be heard. Will we use our vote to promote the values of the Kingdom of Man or the Kingdom of God? It is our choice. Let us pray that we make the one that will reflect the values of the One to whom our allegiance truly belongs.
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges:
Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise law, the rights of all may be protected and
our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise law, the rights of all may be protected and
our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
