Most Americans identify as Democrats, Republicans or Independents. Some prefer to be known as conservative, liberal, or centrist. Their voting decisions tend to be made according to their political identity, and for too many, the sketchiest understanding of policy positions their candidates embrace. Their understanding is too often fueled by unfounded conspiracies, rumors, prejudices, political dirty tricks, campaign distortions and outright lies. Would that, regardless of party affiliation, Christians voted for candidates and policies more nearly reflecting the moral standards commanded by Jesus Christ as fulfillment of the law and prophets. They don’t. They fall into the same grab bag of voters as the general public.
Christian morality is not exactly the same as accepted social mores practiced by the people of each age and era. It is also more than personal commitment to God’s way of love, repentance, amendment of life, forgiveness and reconciliation. It means living into the social and economic standards God delivered through the prophets, and sealed by commandment by our Lord Jesus Christ. The standards are not hidden, obscure, or vague; they are written in plain sight, clear, specific language. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah and other prophets cannot be read without coming face-to-face with God’s condemnation of nations’ social and economic sins, sins no different than from our own.
Lengthy prophetic lists enumerate what nations do that angers God but tend to fall into several sin sets: unfair taxation, dishonest lending and market practices; corrupt rulers and judges; policies that oppress the marginalized; tolerance of sexual predation; lack of integrity in foreign relations, and the like. National sins are a result and reflection of the dishonest, oppressive and discriminatory behaviors of the people
Christians cannot be satisfied with righteous scoldings of others. What is implicit in the prophets is made clear by Jesus: those who follow him in the way of love must engage in work needed to move policies in the direction of godly justice. Jeremiah’s advice to the exiles in Babylon to pray for the welfare of the city in which they lived because, “in its welfare was their welfare” is sound advice for us. It wasn’t a prayer for God to do something, but for God’s people to act for the welfare of all based upon God’s standards. John Donne wrote that “no man is an island entire of itself,” and neither is a city, state or nation. The welfare of one is dependent on the welfare of all.
Christians are commanded by God in Christ Jesus to do what they can for the just economic and social welfare of all. At a minimum that means voting, but for whom?
God shows no partiality for the form of government a nation has. God’s interest is in whether a nation has laws and practices that approximate the way of loving justice. Americans believe our representative democracy is the best way to ensure freedom, protection of rights, and opportunities for each person to enjoy an abundant life. It’s imperfect, messy, and sometimes inefficient, but it stumbles along in the direction of godly justice that enriches the welfare of all, especially those most in need. Voting is the most basic act needed to preserve and improve our democracy. For Christians it is a moral obligation.
Care must be taken not to confuse what some churches call a biblical world view with what God has actually revealed in scripture. Christian voters must always be skeptical of being misled by contemporary social mores sold as traditional or biblical. God is not conservative or liberal, Democratic or Republican. God is God and we are not. The only question for Christian voters is whether a candidate’s moral character and policy positions reflect godly justice for all.
Words, deeds, and the record of candidates that are more consistent with godly standards of morality are those for whom Christians should vote. Will they? Or will some stamp their feet, dig in their heels and vote for one who appeals to social prejudices, claiming biblical authority?