Thoughts on "Super Tuesday"

It is popular to complain that politics are dirty, that politicians are liars and that voting is a waste of time. Then, every once in a while, there comes an election where one or more candidates strikes a chord in the hearts and minds of a great number of voters and we see the kind of turnout we did yesterday. And yet, inevitably, the reality of competing interests reins in whoever is elected and less is accomplished than many thought and hoped would be. And so, a new round of disquiet and discouragement about politics sets in and people drop out of the “system.”

What does any of this have to do with being a Christian? Well, first, we have to understand just what the Bible says about government and our relationship to it. It comes as no surprise that democracy as we currently practice it in 21st century America has nothing in common with the kind of government Jesus and the disciples knew and lived under when the New Testament was being written. Ditto for Moses, David, and Isaiah in the Old Testament. Does that mean that the Bible has nothing to say to us? Hardly.

First, we have the principle from scripture that teaches us that government is a God-given concept. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every government is godly, any more than saying that creating humans was God’s idea and therefore every person is godly. Most scholars point to Genesis 9:6 where God says to Noah that, from that time forward, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed,” as the first indication that God intends for humanity to institute sufficient structures to insure justice. Human government is a natural outgrowth of this concept.

In the New Testament we have a much clearer exposition of the role of Christians in relation to government. Peter expressed this most fully in 1 Peter 2:13-17 (NIV) 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. In this passage we are clearly told that we submit to the governing authorities. Why? So that we might show that Christians can also be good citizens and because it is “proper.” Note also the reference to freedom in verse 16 – this is particularly important for we who live in our current society.

So what is our Christian responsibility in the electoral process? It seems to me that first we have a responsibility to do what we can to make it work. In our system we are in the dual position of being both government and governed. In this regard verses thirteen and fourteen above shed the most light on how to do this. The requirement to obey government except when it would mean violating God’s law is the first thing we learn. We are to “submit … to every authority.” That this does not mean in every circumstance is clear from the fact that the same Peter who tells us to do this also challenged the Sanhedrin when he was commanded to cease and desist from preaching Jesus – he not only challenged their authority to command what God had forbidden, but he answered his own challenge by going out and preaching. But the principle remains: we are to submit to the authorities. But notice also that Peter tells us also what the responsibility of those who govern is, as well: “to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right.” In other words, since in our American democracy those who govern are answerable to the people who elect them, we are required to hold those who govern responsible for doing the right thing! If I refuse to do my part, then I am abrogating my responsibility before God. What does that mean? That taking part in the electoral process is my responsibility before God.

This is why I have voted in every election I could, no matter where I was in the United States, since I was old enough to do so. And, it is also what has informed my standards for candidates. My bottom line is whether the policies of those running for office are likely to do the most good for the most people – whether they promote justice, including social justice. And it is why I cannot in good conscience ever cast a ballot for someone who is in favor of taking the lives of innocent human beings before they are even born, or of allowing others to do so. Are there nuances to that broad statement? Of course – but that is for another time. The point is, I cannot fulfill my responsibility before God as a citizen of the United States unless I vote – even if I have to hold my nose sometimes when I do! So vote in November, regardless of whether your candidate gets the nomination. It is the “Christian” thing to do!

Pastor Ken