Voting Like a Christian

If you read this blog, there’s a good chance you’re surrounded by one election campaign or another. Whether it is the recently begun federal election campaign here in Canada, or the marathon south of the border which is ramping up into it’s final stages, or even the municipal elections taking place here in BC, we’re all going to face the question of whether to vote and if we do, whom to vote for.

For those of us in the church, It raises the question: is there such a thing as voting like a Christian.

In light of all the campaigns swirling around these days, a friend of mine sent me a G.K Chesterton quote this week, that he thought I would enjoy. It’s from What’s Wrong With the World:

“Seemingly from the dawn of man all nations have had governments; and all nations have been ashamed of them.”

It’s a good quote.  It’s good for a laugh and it’s probably true, but it isn’t exactly encouraging.

Over the course of this past week, friends have e-mailed me with questions about the election or how to get involved. I’ve also talked to friends who just want to throw their hands in the air and give up on the whole exercise.

So I wanted to point to a couple of posts from Scot McKnight, a professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois) and a remarkable blogger. He identifies himself with anabaptist christian tradition, which has tended to emphasise non-violence and (in a certain sense) withdrawal from the affairs of the world. Scot was recently sent a letter by a reader asking for advice on what to do in the upcoming election: whether to vote; how to vote.

Scot replied in a series of thoughtful posts on the subject and I’d encourage you all to take the time to read them (and the discussion in the comments). He’s promised at least one more post and it’d be worth bookmarking his blog if you’re interested in some of these issues, it’s the only blog I know of where there are civil political discussions. I’ve pasted a couple of my favourite quotes from his posts below, but they’re definitely worth reading in their entirety.

Voting for President 2:

my eschatology, or my hope, is not in who will be the next President. I hope in the power of the gospel that flows from God’s good graces toward us humans. I hope in the God who designs that gospel; I hope in the Christ who embodies that gospel; and I hope in the Spirit who empowers that gospel. And I hope also in the Church whose task it is daily to live out the gospel and draw all into its saving graces. I don’t hope in the next President. I think that is idolatrous. In fact, hoping in the next President is the first step toward idolizing empire.

Voting for President 3

No matter who becomes President, it won’t change my assignment. I’m called to be a Christian, not a Republican or a Democrat. From that angle, I will offer comments about the Presidential candidates. Some of what the successful candidate promises now will be partially achieved when that person becomes President. Not all of it; so reliance upon all the promises goes against history. Candidates promise more than they can achieve.

Is anyone else struggling with how to vote? or whether to vote?