How Will I Vote?
A friend, whom I respect spiritually, recently asked for prayer for elections in their country: that they would get leaders more aligned with Christian values. My friend had someone specific in mind. I don’t think that is wrong-I often do that as well- but what I also want to make sure is stressed is that no matter who gets into office: that is then God’s plan for us as a country.
We are called to pray for the peace of the place we are in. (Jeremiah 29:7). We want where we are to flourish. As a Christian, I believe that having our laws aligned with Christian values will lead to peace and flourishing. I’ve chosen Christ (because He chose me, but also) because I believe He is the best, His way is the best, and it is the best for everyone. I wish the best for my country, and for all countries. I will vote towards having laws that are more aligned with Christian values. I will vote for people who I hope will make those kinds of laws. I have this bias, and I am well aware of it.
What I have seen happen is that a certain person may become “God’s plan” for our country- or my friend’s country. This is not about voting for whoever I believe will lead our country best, but turns into something that we have to make happen or (fill in the blank) horrible things will occur. The other politician (and anyone who votes for them) is vilified. “Us” versus “Them” means that I don’t have to love them because they need to hear my truth. Politics is turned into a state of emergency with everyone on high alert: this is not God’s plan.
What is God’s big plan? He made us to be with Him, sin disrupted that plan, He made a way back to Him—and in the end, He will make all things new (Revelation 21:5). His plan is reconciling us, as many as choose Him, to Himself. That is the point. How does my country, in this time and place, fit into that? Will more people turn to Jesus if our leaders are more aligned with Christian values? Maybe, maybe not.
History has shown us that pressure and persecution (rather than prosperity) from the government may lead to less numbers, but more purity and true growth of the church. It has also shown us that when the cultural majority is culturally Christian, it is beneficial for the politicians to be Christian—or at least align themselves with Christian values- and so they do. Over the years in America, cultural Christianity has diminished from 90% (late 70s) to 65%, but cultural Christianity is still the majority.
Most everyone understands in our country that everyone who considers themselves a Christian (hence, cultural Christianity) is not actually following Christ. Otherwise, I would find it hard to believe it would take so long to abolish slavery, fail so completely at reconstruction, and move forward from Jim Crow laws…at a time when 90% of people claimed Christianity. Christianity that clearly states we are all made (equal) in His image.
One of our two political parties has diminished their Christian majority, but only in their white members (30% culturally Christian), as non-white democrats continue to be the same as their republican counterparts (70% cultural Christian). There are still strong Christian brothers and sisters voting on both sides of the political spectrum, all believing they are voting for people who will best bring about laws that are aligned with Christian values. To believe differently is to forget how creative our God is, and how many different facets there are to Christian values.
One of our political parties particularly caters to cultural Christianity, which has led to something called “Christian Nationalism,” here defined as “an ideology that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity* with American civic belonging and participation. “Christian” in this sense represents more of an ethno-cultural and political identity that denotes a specific constellation of religious affiliation, cultural values, race, and nationality.”
This is not about praying and voting for someone that will promote Christian values: it is something that says that the government has to be run our way because our way is God’s way. And who are “we?” Certainly not the historically Black church: they don’t vote like “us.” Christian nationalism has divided itself into being a very strongly white movement, and that isn’t because everyone else “just hasn’t seen the light yet.”
Just as not everyone in cultural Christianity is following Jesus, so not everyone in Christian nationalism is. In fact, many people say that cultural Christianity and Christian Nationalism muddle the water and dilute actual Christianity (following Christ). If you ask why so many people are leaving the church, it isn’t because of secular universities and Marxism is convincing them of a better way. Instead, they say they are leaving because of the hypocrisy and muddled values of those inside the church (not a reason to leave Jesus, but that is another discussion).
So, one might say that not having a government leader aligned with Christian values might actually be God’s tool to call His beloved out of a hypocritical partnership with nationalism and worldly culture. What if our nation “going to the dogs” or whatever apocalyptic rhetoric is being used to declare the emergency of “This person must win” in the next election, is the exact thing we need for church revival?
We need to be aware of this “ends justify the means” rhetoric. There is no emergency. God is still on the throne. We, as Christians, are never left hopeless after an election: because it was never about the election. The point isn’t trying to get a country more aligned with Christian values: it is the church of Christ drawing closer to Him.
We also need to be careful about voting by party. There is not one godly party and one ungodly party. God is not republican or democrat. There are different people who have proven they do not promote Christian values, and those who have proven that they do, and we should vote accordingly.
I reply to my friend “I am praying for God’s glory to be shown through the next election.” I will vote for the people that I think will best put laws into action that are aligned with Christian values. I will work towards the flourishing of the neighborhood, city, state, country, and world that I live in. And whoever goes in and comes out of government: that is still in God’s hands (Proverbs 16:9).