Pastor Sid's Journal

Who Would Jesus Vote For?

I grew up in a household where politics was an active topic of conversation and so when I turned 18 I eagerly looked forward to the opportunity vote (I’m sure I was a strange teenager). The first official act of voting that I was ever able to participate in had to do with the Charlottown Accord in 1992. In a national referendum Canadians were asked to ratify a new constitutional agreement…we didn’t. None the less, I took pride in being an active participant in the ongoing affairs of our country. A few years have passed since that time and I’ve become a lot more cynical about the political process in our country and don’t have the same excitement about voting. It would probably be very easy for me to join the long list of apathetic Canadians who say, “Why bother?” But as tempting as it might be to ignore politics, as Christians I don’t think it’s an option.

The apostle Paul once wrote, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

The apostle Paul makes this comment about authorities in a section of the book of Romans that helps establish the ongoing life of a Christian in the world today. His comment on respecting authority is an encouragement to be good citizens because we have to trust that God has a hand in everything, even in matters of government. Because we live in a democratic society, the authority today might very well be the ‘process’ as much as ‘the people in the process.’ Part of our Christian service in submitting to the governing authority of the day is that we become active participants in the process.

So who do we vote for? We might even ask the question “Who would Jesus vote for?”

Would Jesus vote "NDP" because of their strong emphasis on care for the poor?

Would Jesus vote "Green" because of their strong emphasis on the care of creation?

Would Jesus vote "Conservative" because of their emphasis on stewardship of finances?

Would Jesus vote "Liberal" because of their emphasis on inclusivity?

As a Christian, the problem with voting is that one could make arguments in defence of each of the party’s platforms because governing involves being the guardian and cultivator of all parts of the society (although I will say that some arguments might involve a certain level of mental gymnastics). And being a guardian and cultivator of all parts of society involves more than just Christian rhetoric (for which there is far too much on both sides of the border when it comes to politics); it involves action. The same Paul who wrote the words about respecting authority also wrote, “Indeed, when Gentiles (those outside the faith), who do not have the law (God’s law that is), do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15) That is to say, sometimes those who are outside the Christian faith exhibit the way of God in their choices and actions…sometimes even more so than those who profess to be Christians. Jesus would likely vote for the person one who acts according to God’s ways.

I guess my point in saying all of this is not to encourage or criticize any party or candidate, but rather to challenge all citizens, especially Christian citizens to take seriously the role we have been called to; to be discerning participants in the ruling authority of the day. For whichever party receives the mantel of leadership we must trust will be working by God’s establishment, even if it isn’t the one we voted for.