How Should a Christian Vote? : part 2 | The Speckled Goat: How Should a Christian Vote? : part 2

10.03.2016

How Should a Christian Vote? : part 2

christian church jesus follower evangelical how to vote as a christian presidential election


About a week ago, I watched the dissolution of a friendship.

Social media is weird like that- allowing a bystander (like me) to see all the details, all the comments, that resulted in the death of a relationship.

It started out civil, just one political viewpoint, and a friend who disagreed politely. But soon the conversation turned from political standpoints and policy decisions to name calling and blaming, and right there, in black and white letters on the computer screen, their friendship was over.

And it got me thinking.

Because in this political season, the country is so... divided. And we're not really even that pleasant about it. The candidates are yelling and calling names, and we're following right along with them.



Honestly, I'm one of those who tends to see the world in black and white. There's right, and there's wrong, and gray area is just silly. (It's the J in my ESFJ personality.) I'd like to know, right now, which candidate is right and which is wrong and I'll argue that point until I'm blue in the face.

I know where I stand on so many issues (not on who I'm voting for, yet... ), that I start to identify with my views.

I'm pro-life. I'm anti-death penalty. I'm pro-financial responsibility.

But even though I say I "am" all of these things, who am I really?

Who am I? 

I am one in whom Christ dwells. 

And that fact has to be the definition of my life. I'm in Christ. First and foremost, for always and forever.

If I'm in Christ, then my political views are built on that foundation, but are not the bedrock of who I am. If I'm in Christ, I can change my mind on economy or human rights issues without losing my true self.

But my identity in Christ also changes the way I treat other people in this whole election process. It's not "us vs. them" anymore.

If I'm in Christ, I also have to ask the next question-- who are you?  When I ask that question, I'm reminded that you (whoever you are) are loved by the same God who loves me... and you might actually be my brother or sister in Christ.


Vote with Unity in Mind


That's not to say, "vote the same as everyone else." Not what I'm saying. What I'm saying here is that no matter how I vote, I need to remember that I am unified with those around me- that even the people I disagree with are worthy of dignity and respect because of who they are- loved by the very same God who loves me.


You know, your experiences and ideas may differ from mine. You have a perspective that I may not share. Your views could be totally opposite on many fronts.

This presidential election is complicated. We see the tension in our culture and country, and we also see it in the Church. Respected Christian leaders have reached different conclusions about where their vote will best serve God's purposes- not everyone agrees on who the best choice is for President... but you know what?

We can't let that divide us.


So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:26-28


If we are all one in Christ- never mind our ethnicities or genders or socio-economic status- aren't we also one in Christ despite our policy views? Despite our political party affiliation?

Because once this election is all said and done, after November is passed, we'll still be one. We'll still be brothers and sisters. Different, but the same. Parts of one body.

And while we don't always agree (and it's probably good that we don't always agree! we need lots of different parts to make up the body of Christ), we need to maintain that unity of spirit. That commitment to treating one another with respect. That knowledge of who I am and who you are and that we need one another.

If we're to spread the message of Love and Truth to the world, we'd better stop fighting and dividing and cutting ties within our own selves. We're starting to look a lot like the world from which we're supposed to be set apart.

There's no "us vs them" in the body of Christ. No Republicans or Democrats. There's not even pro-life and pro-choice. As Christians, it's us and us, trying to live out our God-given calling in this crazy messed up world.

This election season, vote (and campaign, and behave) with unity as the body of Christ in mind.


Posts in this Series: 




how a christian should vote election part  one  Christians presidential election church unity
Christians presidential election church gratitude thankfulness privilege  Christians presidential election church respect





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10 comments :

  1. This well articulated and well written! Thank you for sharing such great reminders.

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  2. I would of voted for Bernie Sanders LOL. Here in Canada we get to sit back and watch everything unfold but it's definitely getting very tense there! I hate to say it but I'm happy to not be in the US while this election is happening. I think your post was spot-on. Division is always the goal of the enemy and we would be wise to not allow it.

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    1. Your perspective is so interesting- looking at the election from "afar," kind of.

      You're right- division is the goal of the enemy! Pray for us.

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  3. This totally makes me think of the verses in Col 3:11 that state "where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." I have to say that I struggle with this point of view because it seems so clear to me. My focus has to be Christ. Otherwise I will just think of myself. Cant wait to read the others

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    1. Paul seems to repeat some of the same points to many of the churches in early Christianity, doesn't he? Unity is a recurring theme- and something that is important for all of the churches touched by the epistles- including the Church today.

      Focusing on Christ is so important! Thank you for reading, and stay tuned! Next post comes out on Monday!

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  4. Romans 14 - Christians have different thoughts on matters of conscience. We can inform each other's consciences, but in the end, we don't despise each other, because we remember that the other has to stand before God for his choice, just as we do!

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    1. Yes yes yes!

      I honestly think that we each have to vote as we've been led- and sometimes, that may look different from one Christian to the next. We have to stand strong in unity, despite our different ideas and perspectives. Thank you for reading, Lynna!

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  5. Dignity and respect we all deserve it and we all should give it no matter who we choose. I'm more worried about this election than I was the past two. But like I told someone the other day, it doesn't matter who I want, God has a plan for whom He puts in office. Thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.

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  6. I'm not an American but I can't wait for this election be over! Good grief! What helps me in the midst of this chaos is to think that God is in control no matter who will be the president of the United States. But yes, let's keep on praying for the unity, we so need it. Thanks for your post, Ally! Blessings to you!

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