Christians have moral obligation in elections

As citizens and people of God, we must be responsible and vote

My question: Should members of the Christian church vote in the next presidential election? Hopefully this question resonates with a firm grasp of the obvious. Yes, of course! Unfortunately, according to national media polls, a goodly number of folks are feeling both disgusted and powerless, and say they may not vote. As a religious leader I am deeply troubled by this unhealthy pall of despondency. This has been a strange, contentious political season void of civil, godly discourse and bereft of any sound political policies to address the basic needs of all Americans. In a recent “Faith and Justice” column in the National Catholic Reporter titled “Politics used to be fun. Now, it is depressing,” Thomas J. Reese comments on how voters are disillusioned by professional politicians. Some strongly feel that the “establishment” is not addressing and resolving national and international concerns and issues. Therefore, people are looking for a strongman who can dismantle the Washington system and make things work. Our present myriad media would have us believe that the establishment experts are solely to blame for this trend. Is this true? Is this rational? Are our educated, elected, trained and experienced political leaders, whom we placed in office by our vote (or lack thereof) the problem? Or are we, as citizens of the state and citizens of the kingdom of God, more of the problem? We are the establishment. Are we scapegoating the real problem by believing a Congress, or a Senate or a sitting president is solely to blame for all international and home-grown problems and conflicts? Since we created a balance of separation of powers in our government, is it reasonable or even logical to place the blame on one governing entity? The effectiveness and integrity of our political process is rooted in a cooperative unity of consensus-building and decision making. This is democracy. Nevertheless, today’s extreme partisan politics and the cry of “principle” has replaced common sense, consensus-building and compromise. Politics, from the Greek word polis — of, for or relating to citizens — is complex, messy and always has been. Engagement, not disengagement, is the solution to our problems. Are you engaged? Since the creation of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we, as Americans, clearly chose democracy over monarchy or any hint of political rule by a strongman dictatorship. We confidently established an identity as “We, the people.” Not “they, the Senate.” Not “they, the House of Representatives” nor “I, the president.” We also confidently settled on the wisdom, values and rule of due process in our justice and decision-making system that intertwines expertise, knowledge, experience, time and the good will engagement of many voices. Nevertheless, our democracy will remain imperfect simply because no one is perfect and no one has all the answers. It is our collective voice and personal engagement in the political process that makes our democracy and freedom strong, unique and great America always has been about embracing the common good — not just of ourselves but of the whole people of God throughout the world. We are a people who believe in a loving and just God. We are a democracy that strives for justice and peace among all people and respects the dignity of every human being. We are a people of compassion and mercy for all. The Christian church needs to speak up and vote. Are you speaking up and planning to vote? As a bishop in the Christian church, I would be neither presumptuous nor arrogant enough to tell people for whom to vote, but I do feel both spiritually and morally obliged to encourage people to consider “how” to vote. Voting is more than a privilege. It is a responsibility. Christians have a moral obligation both as citizens of the United States and as citizens of the Kingdom of God to participate in our democracy and to vote their conscience. What I believe informs our conscience and world view is the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. The biblical lens through which we see the world God created can best be identified in Jesus’ teachings in the gospels, especially Matthew Chapter 25, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and St. Luke’s account of the Magnificat declared by Mary (Luke 1:46-55). Our Christian political perspectives are shaped by acknowledging and upholding these biblical teachings and thus inform our conscience. We need to ask if our presidential candidate’s ideologies, beliefs and policies are consistent with these New Testament core values for the common good. The Christian church needs to speak up and vote. I will! Will you?