As we fulfill our civic duty to vote, let’s be conscious to not lose our faith over our politics. I’ve spent most of my adult life in multi-ethnic churches, in which the congregation politically is not red or blue but purple. Pastoring during election years is being between a rock and a hard place. Once I opened the midweek Bible study the night after an election taking prayer requests and praises. One member had a praise stating, “God’s man was headed to the White House.” Another had a prayer request declaring “the devil is going to the White House.” You could cut the tension with a knife.
We are passionate about our politics because it matters who is in power. Social institutions like the government are permanent until Christ comes. They are complicated structures formed to meet basic human needs. They are powerful, they endure for generations, and people who hold political power on every level greatly affect our quality of life. The tension of faith and politics cause some to opt out entirely, citing heavenly citizenship. On the other hand, there are those who will let you know in a second that if you don’t vote for their candidate or side with their political party, you’re not Christian at all. I think both of those positions are problematic. We can’t be so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good. And nowhere does Scripture imply that our political leanings are tied to our salvation.
People of God have always been strongly involved in governmental affairs. Esther, Joseph, and Daniel served in public office. The Book of Acts chronicles the birth of the Church, where civil disobedience was on full display. Paul even appeals to Caesar and is sent to Rome, where he writes the Book of Romans. Whether public servants or activists, what they had in common was her or his identity in being God’s representatives over and above political ambitions.
Psalm 146:3-7 makes things clear that politics is a way, not the way. Political power is brief and shaky, but God’s power is permanent and certain. Politicians and political parties are not our savior; both have limited capacity to deliver on the promise of human flourishing. Ultimately our hope lies in God, not the government.
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are clear where Jesus stood on politics. There isn’t a hint of him spending a whole lot of time engaging Roman authorities. However, there is plenty of evidence of him putting said authorities on notice that a new Kingdom had been established much more powerful than them.
Truth be told that political-purple congregation was a headache to pastor during election years. Yet that night we laughed and cried together about the election. And for the seven years I pastored, I watched them love each other, understanding their differences and acting on their commonalities. To date they have been the biggest witness to me concerning what it meant to love God and love your neighbor. Collectively their faith transcended their political positions. Let’s keep this in mind as we cast our votes.