Would Jesus Vote?

Approved Voter Jesus I am not asking, “Who would Jesus vote for?” That question has been beat to death.

Instead, I am asking the more basic question: ”Would Jesus even vote?”

I believe He would. But before I explain why, let us look at two of the arguments some Christians give for NOT voting.

I know most of the arguments for why some Christians say that we should not vote (see, for example, this book: Electing Not to Vote), and I understand their concerns, but I think that most of these arguments are invalid. Here are two examples:

Voting for Evil

Some say that a vote for “the lesser of two evils” is still a vote for evil.

Well, of course. But unless the candidate is Jesus Christ, you will always be voting for the lesser of two evils.

It is not an “either-or” option. I would say “Vote AND pray.”

But note that even when we do not vote, we still vote in other ways. Voting is one way of supporting your chosen candidate, but so is paying taxes, using government services, attending school, and supporting our military. Anything that the government does for you, and which you make use of, is a form of affirming and supporting the governmental system that we have. If you do not like the governmental system that we have, then it is your responsibility to help change it. And even if you are successful in changing it, it will still not be perfect, but will be the “lesser of two evils.”

Voting is a Cop-Out

Some Christians say that rather than try to change the world by voting in a flawed candidate, what Jesus really wants is for us to get out into the world and be the change we want to see.

Such an argument is a straw man. I agree that voting is not enough, but I also doubt that there are any Christians who seriously think that they can change the world for the better simply by casting a ballot. But although voting by itself will not change the world, it does not follow that we should not vote. Voting is one of the many available methods by which we can share our opinion and have some small influence on the world.

There are numerous other reasons some Christians give for not voting, but I think that these two examples reveal my basic framework and perspective on voting.

Why Would Jesus Vote?

Jesus never discussed voting partly because voting was not an option in the Roman Empire. But there were other questions which people asked about the role of God’s people in supporting the government. They wanted to know, for example, if they should pay taxes to Caesar. And Jesus said “Yes. You should pay taxes to Caesar.”

Paying taxes, of course, provides way more support to the government than casting a ballot ever will. Since no government is perfect, some of the tax money will always go to support some sort of evil. But Jesus said to pay it anyway.

Furthermore, much like John the Baptist, Jesus was critical of some of King Herod, and I believe that if Jesus has been given the opportunity to vote for a new king, Jesus would have voted for someone who would do a better job of obeying God’s law, upholding biblical values, and protecting the innocent and weak. No candidate will do these things perfectly, but some candidates will definitely do such things better than others.

Voting isn’t going to change the world. Only people can do that. But voting is one of the available means by which we can do the good we know we ought to do.

While our responsibility to this world does not stop with voting, it definitely does not stop short of voting either.

This post is part of the October Synchroblog, a group of bloggers who write every month about various topics. This month we are all writing about “Faith and Politics.” Below is a list of the other contributors to this topic. Go check them all out and interact with them in the comment sections of their posts.

We The People by Wendy McCaig
Pulpit Freedom, Public Faith by Carol Kuniholm
Plumbers and Politicians by Glenn Hager
Conflating Faith and Politics by Maurice Broaddus
You Cannot Serve Two Masters by Sonja Andrews
A Kingdom Not Of This World by Jareth Caelum
I am a Christian and I am a Democrat by Liz Dyer
5 ways to make it through the election and still keep your friends by Kathy Escobar
Why There’s No Such Thing As The Christian Vote by Marta Layton
God’s Politics? by Andrew Carmichael
Faith and the Public Square by Leah Sophia

Check out these related posts on Scripture, Theology, and Church:

God is NOT Violent

Jesus Became Sin for Us

The Love and Horror of the Cross

Why did Jesus come to earth?

A Two-Word Blog Post

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http://www.calacirian.org sonja n a

Nicely done, Jeremy
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  Thanks, Sonja. There are a lot of great posts this month!
http://www.EmergingLife.org J.R. Miller

Good stuff brother. I have shared some similar ideas on my new column on “Faith in Politics”. I may need to give you a shout out in an upcoming column
http://www.thefaithnews.com/category/blog/faith-politics/
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  JR,
  I am heading over to read it now! Thanks for sharing it.
  - http://www.EmergingLife.org J.R. Miller
    
    Sweet!
Pingback: Plumbers and Politicians | Glenn Hager
Carol Kuniholm

I’m struck by your observation that Jesus said “render unto Caesar,” when that much of that money would have undoubtedly been used to exploit Jesus’ own people, enslave others, and continue a reign of violence throughout the known world. When groups complain about their money going to support things they object to, it’s helpful to remember that that has always, and will always, be the case. And no, voting will never completely solve the evils of the world (or cause them!), but it’s part of our responsibility. People across the centuries and around the world have struggled and sometimes died for the right to vote; failure to vote; the least we can do is use the privilege wisely.
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  Carol,
  
  Excellent point about how Caesar was going to use that money. This is one reason the Jewish people did not want to pay taxes (and the reason many today do not want to as well).
Clive Clifton

I agree with you Jeremy and the other contributors. In the UK in the early 1900 women suffered terribly for the right to vote, as they did in America.

In many countries in the African continent they have only been allowed to vote in the past couple of years. Have you noticed the queues, sometimes miles long, when people were given the opportunity to vote.

To have your say in a world that listens to every word expressed by mouth or over the internet scrutinized, the secret ballot (vote) is about the only thing left that we can not be brought to task on.

I consider it a privilege to vote not just a right. It cost me nothing to receive it, it cost others their lives so that I may have the privilege. To me not to vote is an act of betrayal. Clive
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  I really like your point about how it cost us nothing to receive it, but cost others their lives. You know what they say, that those things that cost us nothing are held in little value. This may be why so many today so quickly give up their voting privilege.
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Andrea

Great post. The alternatives to a democratic system have not proven so good. And although a very imperfect system, a system that allows for us to vote without violence is one worth participating in It’s what we have until Christ returns. And I try to remember at the poll that I’m not voting for a messiah just a somebody that I think may be a better leader than the equally flawed person they are running against.
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  Andrea,
  
  It is an imperfect system, isn’t it? But among the available world governments, I think it is one of the best, and nothing will be perfect until Jesus returns. Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/erick.laycock Erick Laycock

Wonderfully said! John Piper said (paraphrased): If voting for a non-Christian ends up saving millions of unborn babies’ lives, so be it.

It certainly is odd looking into American politics from here in Canada.

May all the sweet aromas of our Lord Jesus Christ surround you and your family for all eternity.
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  Some days, all I want to do is move to Canada!
  
  Thanks for the blessing, Erick… and same back to your and your family.
Andi-Roo

WOW! This was a really great piece — while I am not Christian, I find myself quite moved by your logic. Wish more Christians thought along these lines. Regardless for whom your vote is cast, it’s important to cast it, for all the reasons you mention. I’m a big advocate of voting (even if it’s for the party I oppose!) because being part of the solution is way better than being part of the problem — and 100 times better than hoping the problem goes away! Excellent piece — thanks for a great read!
- http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers
  
  Thanks Andi-Roo.
  
  And thanks for reading! There are a few Christians out there who are not like the ones that make the news!