SHOULD WE Vote?

We are living in a time of moral and political upheaval. While we know God is in control, it can be discouraging. We see Congress passing laws that conflict with Biblical truth and ungodly leaders being voted into positions of power. Darkness looms, and evil is advancing! We are being told (as we were four years ago) that our vote is important and needed. The future of America, it seems, rests on who wins!

So what should followers of Jesus be doing? If you have grown up in a church fellowship that has refused political involvement, you will quickly say we should be praying. But do you ever wonder if that is all we are supposed to do? With everything that is at stake, is it different this time? Isn’t there more on the line than ever before? And further, if Jesus were living in America, what would He do?

Would Jesus vote?

Jesus didn’t live in a democracy, and this question isn’t easy to answer. But we can glean some powerful guiding truths by observing Jesus’s life. Jesus was born in a dark time. Israel was oppressed by the cruel Roman Empire, and corruption was rampant. Political shenanigans were normal, and leaders lacked personal integrity. Jesus’ goal was to save, restore, bless, and bring relief to those who were oppressed. Yet, He ignored some remarkable opportunities to utilize earthly power and political influence. Why?

Let’s back up and examine Jesus’s purpose. What did He come to earth to do? Your immediate response might be, “Jesus came to die on the cross so that we can go to heaven when we die.” There is truth in that statement, but we often forget that God’s purpose is much greater than getting us to heaven. This greater purpose permeates Jesus’ teachings and is woven throughout the New Testament. Jesus came to establish a rival “nation,” and He called it the kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God

John the Baptist announced its arrival, Jesus repeatedly proclaimed it was here, and it was foundational in the Early Church. When we read the Sermon on the Mount, we read the blueprint, the constitution, for this rival kingdom. These are basic, daily life instructions for everyone from the shopkeeper to the land baron. Loving your enemies, sharing your wealth, faithfulness to your spouse, and caring for the poor—this is what the kingdom of Jesus Christ looks like! These are attributes of the beautiful “nation” Jesus came to set up!

There is something very unusual about this kingdom. The kingdoms of this world have always used power, force, and coercion. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he offered ownership of the existing nations if Jesus would just do things Satan’s way. “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them…” was Satan’s tantalizing offer.

In other words, “Why take the difficult path, Jesus? I can provide a much easier shortcut!” But Jesus didn’t come to take the world using Satan’s techniques. His purpose was greater than ruling over existing nations.

What did Jesus do?

When faced with the cross, Jesus admitted there were easier ways. Peter, ready to forcefully use the sword, was soundly rebuked. ”Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” Much easier; just call for angels – poof – threat eliminated!

But the kingdom of Jesus Christ doesn’t force its way. The kingdom of light pulls, drawing men to it, while the kingdoms of this world push, forcing people to submit. Jesus came to attract, not attack! He wanted the beauty of His way to draw men and women to Himself. While this ability to call thousands of angels to annihilate the enemy must have been extremely tempting (a power the kingdoms of this world dream of), it would have destroyed everything Jesus came to do. May I gently suggest that the same is true today?

Fascination with force

Power has always fascinated humanity. Whoever has the biggest gun, bomb, or army, rules. This is how our world operates, and sometimes we are tempted. We see our world becoming darker, and we long for change! Abortion of innocent children, moral degradation, gender confusion, promotion of sinful lifestyles, and loss of committed relationships surround us. Darkness seems to be winning the battle, and we long for light.

But remember—we will never bring light to this world by using the tools of darkness. Force and overt power always corrupt; it is love and forgiveness that provide the attractive beauty that draws. Today, our job as kingdom Christians is not to forcefully protest the world into a particular ethical conformity. Rather, we are to attract lost humanity to the saving and peaceable beauty of Christ.

What does this look like in 2024? Can we do things Jesus’ way in the middle of this highly charged political climate? Jesus didn’t live under a democratically elected government, but under a harsh, tyrannical Roman regime that had brutally suppressed the Jewish people for decades. Further, many Jews were actively looking for rebellion. They wanted a strong Jewish leader capable of overthrowing the Romans and kicking them out of Palestine. Jesus had power and the hearts of the common people, and could easily have started a revolution. What an opportunity!

What didn’t Jesus do?

Many times we ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” But we should ask another question: “What didn’t Jesus do?” After all, He was facing even stronger cultural and political pressure than we are. Let’s look at four things Jesus refused to do:

1. Jesus refused to utilize political power or use force.

He calmly told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight." Amazing! Did Jesus just miss a huge opportunity? No, He was simply seeing something we often miss. We are constantly being told that the way to transform society is to vote the right people into power and that the solution to reform is in Washington, DC. But when we succumb to the belief that transformation will come through ballots, bullets, or bombs, we have forgotten the way of Jesus. When we choose to enter the voting booth and get involved in the political process, we are telling a lost world that force and power are the way to bring change. We are demonstrating the belief that Jesus’ way of peace and love isn’t sufficient.

2. Jesus didn’t succumb to anxious concern.

Jesus lived in full confidence that His Father was in control. He knew that the rulers of the Jews wanted to kill Him, and the Romans would be glad to silence Him as well. Yet He didn’t let this fear overwhelm Him. Today, I am concerned that many Anabaptists are succumbing to paranoia and fear. Ironically, when I travel to persecuted countries, believers there seem less fearful than Christians here in America. We fearfully subscribe to conspiracy theories, pass on unverified gossip, and align ourselves with political talk show hosts. Rumors fly, and in the process, our mission is forgotten. It is a time for concern and to be praying for guidance. But we are not to live in terror or fear that the powers of darkness are stronger than our Heavenly Father. “God hath not given us the spirit of fear,” the Apostle Paul told Timothy, and it is still true today. Jesus didn’t succumb to paranoia, and neither should we.

3. Jesus didn’t complain or criticize the government.

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” was Jesus’ response to His disciples when asked about paying taxes. This was a legitimate question. Both Jewish and Roman powers actively opposed Jesus and later His church. But Jesus and the Apostles were clear. Even when facing potential persecution, we are to comply with earthly governments as long as they do not force us to disobey God.

Frankly, living in America has spoiled us. Just let the government ask us to comply with some regulation which even slightly inconveniences us, and instantly we are up in arms. Our complaining and resistance to small governmental requests do not provide an attractive, compelling picture to American seekers. As much as possible, we should be known for paying our taxes, complying with regulations, and being upstanding residents in our communities.

4. Jesus refused to let earthly politics distract Him.

In spite of the highly charged political climate, Jesus never took His focus off His ultimate mission. His goal, and the focus of His followers after His death, was building another kingdom—a kingdom unbound by geographical lines. It is a kingdom that is just as concerned about refugees from other countries, as those who live in America. It is also a kingdom that will survive and thrive, regardless of who is elected in the next election. Today we have a tendency to get caught up in the political clamor and shift our focus from the kingdom of God to the kingdoms of this world. But Jesus refused to do this. He wasn’t interested in promoting Jewish or Roman superiority, and we shouldn’t get caught up in promoting the country we happen to reside in.

The major concern

My primary concern today is not the government becoming socialistic or the fact that laws are being generated that condone sin. Neither is it who wins the coming election or the future of America. Democracy is not necessary for Christianity to flourish. Ungodly legislation will exist until the Lord comes again. No, the major catastrophe is much deeper. It is when people who proclaim to be following Jesus leave His methods and try to bring change through earthly power and force.

Unfortunately, the American evangelical church as a whole is no longer famous for transforming hearts, lives, and communities. Rather, it is known as a powerful political movement, a force to be reckoned with at the ballot box. But when the church links arms with the world, it always loses its power, its compelling beauty, and its ability to transform.

Give us Mohammed?

The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, has many historic and unique treasures on display. One of these is Mohammed’s sword. Each year, around three million visitors file past a well-lit glass case to get a glimpse of Mohammed’s weapon. Viewers marvel at its curved handle and jeweled scabbard which glisten in the special lighting. The sword represents how Mohammed (and almost every other world leader), ruled and reigned. It is the world’s way. Unlike Mohammed, Jesus was willing to be killed rather than take life. He refused to utilize force or earthly governments, and you will not find His sword in a museum. And yet I wonder. Does the fact that politics and voting tempt us demonstrate dissatisfaction with the way of Jesus? Is it possible we actually prefer the way of Mohammed over Jesus?

We long to see change, and when we don’t see God working as we would like, it is tempting to protest certain laws, apply pressure on government officials, or even vote for an earthly leader who promises to bring transformation. But relying on earthly power and force, as Mohammed did, is something Jesus refused to do. We should as well! Our task is not to vote the right people into power or to use political means to bring about change. Neither is it our job to protest or force unbelievers to follow Jesus and transform America into a “Christian nation.” Rather, we are called to attract an unbelieving world to the beauty of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The Jesus Way

The Jesus Way brings change as individual hearts surrender to His Lordship. Like the seemingly insignificant mustard seed, his love grows and spreads through local church communities. It empowers us to love each other sacrificially, care for the weak and downtrodden, and love our unbelieving neighbors. The Jesus Way causes us to love our enemies, give anonymously to those who lack, and fast and pray for earthly governments. When this occurs, it provides an attractive, compelling, beautiful sight. We won’t see the full completion of this kingdom until Jesus returns. But we are seeing the first fruits even now as His love and power are being demonstrated in church communities all around the globe. And it is beautiful to observe!