Who're You Voting For?

I heard Will Willimon, always a provocative Christian voice, once say that he does not think voting is high on the list of Christian duties.  I was surprised because I had always considered good citizenship to be integral to Christian discipleship.  I think the point Dr. Willimon was making is that Christians need to be clear that their primary allegiance is to the kingdom of God and the reign of Christ, and that we sometimes confuse our allegiances between God and country, as if they are one and the same.

          Without getting into a long debate on whether or not our nation is a new Promised Land, as some people think, I would argue that our vote as Christians should matter.  However, I am a bit philosophical about the impact of the Christians in any election.  After all, those Christians who vote for President Obama and those who vote for Governor Romney both believe that their vote is representative of their Christian convictions.  Who’s right?  I guess only God knows for sure.

          We are flawed in our decision-making, and those we elect are flawed human beings, themselves.  Psalm 146 gives us a helpful perspective on the election of leaders . . . “Put not your trust in princes,” says the psalmist.  The psalmist gives a clear-eyed view of the limitations of those who lead us . . . “their plans perish with them.”

          Instead, the psalmist tells us that if we want a merciful, just and peaceful world we should place our hope in God.  The work of God is going on around us all the time as the hungry are fed in soup kitchens, as the homeless are given shelter, as the sick receive care, the stranger is welcomed, the prisoner is set free, the sinner is forgiven.  All these signs of God’s rule happen regardless of whom we elect. 

          So, vote for whomever your Christian conscience leads you to vote for, but don’t expect your candidate to bring the kingdom of God.  Christ and his followers are doing that right now without the help of “princes.”