Christian friends,
In a few scant days we’ll know the outcome of the impending U.S. election. We’ll go to work on Wednesday and likely stop for groceries on Thursday on the way home. What will we do? With a nation bitterly divided (and almost in half) we all have family and friends, neighbors and acquaintances, that have voted contrary to our best judgment. What for me seems incontrovertible, has not been the case for many that are close to me. What will I do?
Social media is full of rhetoric and vitriol. Some that I have huge respect for have resorted to name calling and the impugning of others’ character and motive. This election has brought out the worst in some folks. Names like deplorable, Nazi, bitter-clingers, dumb, fascist, garbage, stupid, childless cat-lady, and every form of demeaning appellation has been thrown about. The political playground on Facebook, X, InstaGram, and Tic-Tok is rife with bullies on both sides of the aisle. Meanie Sid Phillips from Toy Story would be shocked at the competition.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got my political opinions and I certainly question the political decisions of some folks who claim Christian affinity. In the moment I admit that sometimes I shake my head at the childishness of it all. But what about Wednesday and Thursday of next week when we see our neighbor from a distance? What happens when our poison-speak does not account for real persons, perhaps those members of the family that we’ll see over Thanksgiving? The New Testament writer named James warns us that, “…the tongue is a fire and a world of unrighteousness” (3:6). James gets right to it with this, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (1:26). Did you get that? Worthless, of no value. And don’t think that because we use a keyboard and not a voice that we can escape James’ warning.
I think it can be demonstrated that we have a duty to vote. Living as citizens in a Constitutional Republic it is the duty of the citizenry to vote. That means every eligible citizen should exercise this duty, if possible. That being said, as those who name the name of Christ, we have an imperatival obligation, not simply to vote, but to love our neighbor. Yes, even those neighbors! In sermon-form Jesus puts it quite plainly, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 5:43-45). Jesus ratchets up the obligation and issues this as a command with imperatival force, and if anyone had the ‘right’ to hate his neighbor, it would be Jesus. Christian friends, the imperatival obligation is yours, and not your neighbor's. For those you consider to be your political enemies, engage them, discuss political philosophies with them, challenge them and let them challenge you, but above all, love them and pray for them, so that you may truly be sons and daughters of your Father.
There’s an old maxim that says it’s impossible to hate someone that you pray for. My guess is that may not initially be true, but God has a way of changing us. And, my suspicion is, that if we begin to love our neighbor (as we’re commanded to do) we’ll see a change both in the world, and in us.
11/3/2024
- DJM
Dan and Judy Morse live near Prineville, Oregon. Over the years Dan has done bi-vocational work, church planting, and served as a senior pastor in several churches. He now serves with InFaith, a ministry that assists small and rural churches.