He Did What Now? He Remained with You in the Voting Booth

2024 has been a wild year so far.

On top of an exponential increase in the use of AI, devastating hurricanes and wars, and Russell Brand becoming a brother in Christ (hallelujah!)... it’s also an election year.

Though it feels this way every four years, this year’s election seems to be particularly polarizing. Every aspect of this election seems amplified through the current news programs and social media - there is no escaping the looming decision Americans will have to make this November. 

While elections seem like a normal part of life for Americans, it’s important that we do not take our ballot box privilege for granted. Freedom is something that has to be paid for, as we as Christians can evidently see in the death of Jesus Christ; He died, so that we may live freely in truth. As November 5th draws closer, it can be easy to fall into a pit of anxiety that keeps you from casting a vote at all… I want you to remember a couple things. Firstly, there are many people around the globe who do not get to experience the blessing that is a democracy. Especially for all of my female readers, there are hundreds of thousands of women who will never have the right to cast a vote. It is a privilege to vote, because someone paid for your right to vote. From our founding fathers, to the suffragettes, to the Civil Rights Movement, to the countless number of American militia that have dedicated and sacrificed their lives, someone somewhere at some time has paved the road for your vote to count. Please, do not take this for granted. Secondly, it’s important to remember that the Bible is not only a love letter, but it’s also an incredible collection of history. I’ve met many Christians who believe that “loving God & loving people” means not getting political. While it is true that our eyes should be fixed on Jesus and not solely on politics, it’s also true that we can love and care for people through politics. Take the book of Esther, for example. In this book, God works through the politics of Persia to bring deliverance to the Jewish people. There is nothing - including politics - that will keep God from accomplishing His will.

As Christians, we have to take our faith, values, and beliefs into the voting booth. The more and more I’ve talked to voters, it seems that this is a lot easier said than done. This week, we are going to explore what it means to vote faithfully.

Personality or Policy?

A couple things I’ve heard repeatedly through this election cycle have been (1) “Well, I’m not voting because I don’t like the candidates,” or (2) “Well, I’m voting for this candidate because I just don’t like the other.” 

It’s easy to turn a political election into a popularity contest. Everywhere we turn, we see celebrities endorsing different parties, social media posts and podcasts going viral, and “I’m So-And-So, and I approve this message” commercials interrupting your favorite fall movie or  football game.

Here’s what’s important to remember: There is no “perfect” party. In fact, I can only recall one perfect man who has ever walked this earth… remember, in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” When we remove the layer of glamourization that has been cast over each party, we are left with the policies that each candidate promises to the next generation of people.

When it comes to policy, it’s important to do your research. If you’re like me, you consider this a world of fun - and if you aren’t like me, you’d rather watch paint dry. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you start to explore each candidate and the political landscape of this country…

• Firstly, what do you believe? Before you even review what each candidate - from your town, county, state, and federal offices - promises, it’s important to take inventory of your own beliefs and values. Try not to base this on what your friends, family, or partner believes, but instead what you have found true through the Word of God. What are your stances on national defense? On abortion? On the ongoing war in Israel? On immigration? On free speech? On social norms? Once you’ve analyzed these beliefs under a microscope, go back to the Word of God to find the truth… What does God say in His word about these topics? Are you in agreement or disagreement with His word? I promise that God has something to say about the world (and all its issues) today through both the New and Old Testament, because God is consistent in His love and His care for us.

• Secondly, what does each candidate promise and how have they proven that promise? Take into consideration that (1) actions say more than words ever will and (2) the only heart, mind, and soul you will ever truly know is your own. A verse I’ve meditated on thoroughly for the past few weeks has been Matthew 5:37: “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than that is from the evil one.” At the end of the day, we can apply this verse to our lives by being truthful people - living this verse means that your words don’t only imply action, but result in action. Anyone can say anything, but not just anyone can do what they say. This is something we can’t just hope for in our leaders, but something that we should expect. So, start pulling the receipts! 

Servant Leadership

The walk of Jesus was a path of humility and servitude. In John 13, we see Jesus wash the feet of His disciples, teaching that if He as Rabbi - as a leader - washed His students feet, that they in turn should show the same kind of servant’s heart to others. Feet washing was a job usually done by the lowest servant in the household, yet in John 13, Jesus - the Lord and Savior - blatantly spells out that this example to His followers to live by.

If we as everyday people are called to be servant leaders, should we not expect the people we elect to power to have the largest servant hearts? I go back often to Mark 10:45 - “For even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as ransom for many.” In our world today, it is evident that many enter into a career in politics, not to “give his life as ransom for many”, but to establish a name and reputation for themselves. Leadership is all about sacrifice. It is laying down yourself so that the people you serve can live freely, peacefully, safely, and abundantly. An analogy that we see through each of the Gospels is Jesus as the Good Shepherd. As I’ve written before, shepherds in ancient Israel would stay with their flocks day in and day out, never leaving the flock unattended. They would literally act as the barrier between their flock and the outside world; they would sleep in an opening in the fence at night, becoming the gate that kept the sheep safe from wolves. They would provide shelter, fresh water, and fresh pastures for their sheep. It was a life of sacrifice to make sure their sheep were well cared for.

This shepherd-servant attitude should be expected of all of our city, county, state, and federal offices. After you’ve done the research on each candidate’s policies, ask yourself, “Does this policy reflect the heart of a servant? Is this candidate focused on their political gain or the gain of the American people? Does this candidate love the people of this country and sacrifice for them as a shepherd cares and sacrifices for his sheep?”

Vote with a Grain of Salt

Lastly, vote with a grain of salt, guys. No, I’m not saying that your vote is small. I’m saying that as Chrisitans we are called to be salt; Matthew 5:13-16 calls us to be salty and lit! Let’s break down what it means to be salt and to vote with a grain of salt.

First, we have to recognize what salt is used for. Yes, it’s used to enhance the flavor of food. So, as a Chrisitan we aren’t “salty” in a mean or rude way, but “salty” in a way that enhances and emphasizes the presence of God in the world. Voting for policies that align with the Word of God can absolutely change the environment around us, adding salt and light through our actions in the voting booth. 

Salt has another use, though. Salt is used to preserve! For millennia (aka a ton of years), we’ve used salt to specifically preserve meat. Salt dries the meat out, preventing bacteria and disease from growing or spreading. In the same way, we are called to preserve the world, preventing darkness from spreading throughout it. It’s through voting that we can have a hand in changing the world for generations. When reading through the old and new testaments, the two are constantly linked, the old foreshadowing the new, and the new calling back to the old. As all of the leaders we’ve elected up until now have affected the state of our states and country, the leaders we elect next will have an impact on the future of our country. So, when I say “vote with a grain of salt,” I mean vote in a way that enhances the goodness and presence of God while also preserving the world from darkness and decay. Your vote is not small, and it will affect your children’s generation and their children’s generation.

Overall, though…

Regardless of what happens this November, you must have peace in knowing that (1) Jesus is Lord, (2) God never stops working, and (3) the Holy Spirit works through any and all situations. In the grand scheme of things, no matter who is elected to office in 2024, Jesus is king forever!