Casting a (Christian) vote

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Casting a (Christian) vote

Voting to choose a government is a privilege that some have and others do not. My own country of citizenship (Australia) soon has an election and the US will choose a new President later this year. How should a Christian vote?

Some Christians assert that they could not vote for this or that party but must vote for this one and urge others to adopt their stance. Others profess indifference to the whole matter.

What does a Christian vote look like?

Is voting a Christian issue?

In view of the indifference of some, it’s worth asking whether there is a Christian issue here at all. It could be argued that choosing who to vote for (or whether to vote at all) is a purely private matter of taste somewhat like choosing what food to order or what car to buy.

That can quickly be dealt with. The followers of Jesus are called to make the whole of life a thankful sacrifice to God as a reasonable response to his mercy in Jesus (Rom 12:1-2). We are told to love God with all of all we are and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mrk 12:29-31). Again, Jesus is the one in whom all things hold together and all is to be done in his name (Col 1:15-17; 3:17). There are things that belong to the civil ruler (Mrk 12:13-17) and he (or she) is there by God’s appointment for the common good (Rom 13:1-7).

Seen through this lens, voting is an opportunity to show a thankful love of God through political participation.

What does a Christian vote look like?

We can say at the start that a Christian vote will arise from loyalty to Jesus and be part of the life that is worthy of the Lord. Family background, life-position and personal preferences may influence our vote. However, if our loyalty to Jesus does not form the foundation, it may be a vote by a Christian but it is not necessarily a Christian vote.

Linked to this, it can be argued that to some extent we can say that the basis and process of forming our vote is as important than the vote itself. In Australia, any vote is likely to represent a balance between several competing and overlapping forces and not be exclusively ‘Christian’ in any meaningful sense. So the big question is not whom we vote for, but why we vote that way.

A Christian vote will rarely be mono-dimensional in the sense that a single factor will decide the matter for us, or that every believer votes the same way. Different people will come to different conclusions based on their assessment of several considerations. Some of these are discussed below.

However, we can expect that Christian votes will be cast on the basis of loving God and others before ourselves. This is in contrast to the self-interest that is sometimes appealed to by political parties.

Loving God may include voting in a way that promotes outcomes that reflect God’s character and revealed will and that give scope for advancing gospel mission and kingdom outcomes. Or at least voting in a way that minimises the reverse of these.

Loving neighbour may include voting for outcomes that serve our neighbour’s good at all levels, noting Jesus’ wide definition of neighbour to include even a stranger or enemy who is in need (Lke 10:25f)). This is not the same as voting to give our neighbour want he wants, but rather what God says he needs. Nonetheless, it is a matter of neighbour before self.

A Christian vote is complex 

A Christian vote will usually involve more than identifying one or two Christian issues or looking for a party that professes to have a Christian base, or a political candidate who professes to be Christian. These have their place but it is rarely so simple that just one dimension will decide the matter.

A vote is cast at the intersection of parties, policies and people. Questions can be asked in each of these aspects.

Parties

·      - What is underlying world-view of each party?

·      - What is the track record of each party with regard to stability, integrity etc?

·      - What is the party platform and how tightly is it enforced on parliamentary members and in the legislative agenda?

o   eg: the Australian ALP will soon give its parliamentary members no choice but to support same sex marriage.

·      - What are prospects of this party having a useful influence if elected?

o    Eg: an overtly Christian party may have good policy alignment but have no prospect of election or of influence if elected and so represent a wasted vote.

Policies

·      - What policy areas are on the table at this election?

·      - What is the Christian interest in such issues as:

o   Sexuality and marriage

o   Abortion and euthanasia

o   Care of disadvantaged

o   Asylum seekers

o   Access to health, education & basic services

o   Incentives to work

o   The sharing of national wealth

o   Creation care

o   ?

·      - How is each issue weighted in terms of level of importance and how does that shape a vote?

o   Eg: The Australian Greens party attracts some Christian interest in areas such as social justice, asylum seekers, environmental care, but their policies on abortion, euthanasia and same sex marriage are widely seen as contrary to the gospel.

o   Eg: the Australian Liberal party attracts some Christian support on same sex marriage, but some find it hard to see Christian synergy with its asylum seeker, environmental and social justice policies.

In the present Australian election there is an public media tool to help make sense of our individual views on policy areas and their respective importance: https://votecompass.abc.net.au/. This can be a useful starting point, although it would be an unusual voter who finds that it decides the whole matter for them.

People

What are the relevant people like with respect to qualities such as religious commitment, personal values, integrity, reliability, maturity and wisdom?

·      - Party leaders

·      - Local candidates

A candidate who professes Christian faith may not necessarily be the best vote as against a non-Christian opponent. The person’s own track record and the policies and track record may be a reason not to support them.

Putting it together

Good information, shrewdness and prayerful wisdom are needed in making wise assessments of parties, policies and people and in weighing the relative importance of these relative aspects of a vote.

All that can be more complex depending of preference arrangements. For example, a tactical vote may be cast for a more undesirable candidate with no hope of election in order to block the election of a less undesirable candidate with a greater chance of election. Or again, a Christian may vote for different parties in different houses in a bicameral parliament (or in the case of a federal constitution) on the basis of total depravity and a desire to give no one party all the power.

As these complexities increase, so does the need for careful consideration and prayerful wisdom.

Before we vote (& after)

Casting a Christian vote is not an isolated act that should only concern us at election time. Prayer about political matters and political involvement are ongoing matters.

Prayer (1 Tim 2:1-3):

·      - For wisdom in our vote

·      - For outcomes that reflects God’s nature

·      - For elected representatives and governments as they face the challenges of office

·      - For Christians involved in political processes whether or not we support their party or views.

Involvement:

·      - Consider joining a political party so you can influence policy and pre-selection processes

·      - Give space to Christians who come to different conclusions from yours

·      - Keep your identity as a follower of Jesus and his kingdom agenda’s central to this involvement

The last word

The last word is with God who is the sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords and who works all things according to his purposes (Eph 1:11). Even as the monstrous Emperor Domitian persecuted Christians as the Revelation was written, the ascended Jesus ruled (Rev 1-5). If the Lord can use a pagan ruler like Cyrus or Nero (Is 44:28 – 4:1ff) Rom 13:1-7), he can work his big plans through whoever gains political power in today’s nations.

I have friends in countries where they never or rarely get to vote and yet the countries get along fine. Likewise with nations where elections deliver perplexing results. The bottom line is that Jesus is risen, reigning and returning irrespective of our passing constitutional arrangements and the passing parade of mortals who hold government. That is a great comfort as we puzzle over our vote, puzzle over the results, or if we never get a vote.