We’re here again.  The debates have concluded, the rhetoric is dizzying, and the ballots are in hand. As we approach the voting booths, here are six thoughts to help us locate our center.

1.  Chronology Matters :: Rather than our faith being informed by our partisan preferences, our politics must be shaped by Jesus.  Far from looking like us, the Jesus of history was a dark-skinned Palestinian Jew who lived on the underside of the power structures.  Because of his deep commitment to restoration, Jesus actively disrupted oppressive political and religious systems, disturbed the power brokers, and ushered in a better way.  He did so through acts of courageous compassion and creative non-violence.  His life displayed the extravagant, inclusive love of an enemy loving, others-embracing, oppressed-pursuing, cross-wearing God and his teachings invite us to live, love, and, yes, even vote likewise.  As an expression of creative resistance, may the others-oriented values of a faith informed by this kind of Jesus shape our ballots more so than the self-absorbed values of a particular party.  With our ballots, may we declare that chronology matters: we are followers of Jesus first and citizens of the U.S. second.
2. Powerlessness was Jesus’ Politic :: Being that the United States is a nation state whose survival is dependent upon accumulating power, wealth, and safety, we cannot expect the US government to lead in a way that is informed by nor conformed to the teachings of Jesus.  America does not, cannot, and will not reflect the life and teachings of Jesus and no partisan influence will ever help us get closer to such a reality.  Why?  Because Jesus lived and taught that powerlessness made evident in self-sacrifice is the most powerful power and the only way that equity, justice, and restoration will spring to life.  If that’s true, then there is no candidate, party, nor measure on our ballots today, two years ago, or in the history (and future) of voting in this country that has nor will accurately represent the Jesus way of life, love, leadership, and liberty.  Therefore, may we release our misguided notions that a particular party will make our country “Christian” and may we vote in ways that represent our commitment to Jesus’ way of powerlessness on behalf of every human being.
3. Vote to Protect the Sanctity All Life :: As card carrying members of this particular nation state, we can and should affirm the role of the US government to discern and make decisions that prioritize national security.  That said, our faith in the Jesus mentioned above compels us to ensure that every decision protects the dignity, rights, safety, and future of every image-bearer of God on the planet.  May we vote in a way that demonstrates our belief that pro-life means all life and may we commit to working toward a future where every image bearer is secure, resourced, and included.
4. Language has Shaped “Reality” :: It’s likely that non-credible, biased sound bites have informed our perspectives and politics more so than Scripture and human relationships.  Thus, rather than moving toward our other with compassion and curiosity as is modeled by Jesus, we’ve become fueled by the latest talking point to sprint toward our own corners.  Once there, we’ve conspired with those who are like us against those we’ve demonized as our enemies.  We’ve even selected our own set of convenient “truths” from our sacred text to defend our platforms, politics, and perspectives. Our growing expertise in widening the gaps is carrying us dangerously far from the vocation of restoration that we’ve been saved into.  Simply put, we’ve become a joke…and so has the God that we claim to follow.  Because we’ve given language more power than Scripture, discernment, and relationship, may we acknowledge that our ballots, the ones in our past and, perhaps, the one in our hands, have been more informed by convenient non-truths than reality.  May we experience the conviction of that sad truth, lament for how we’ve allowed ourselves to be lulled, even bullied, into expanding rather than mending the divides, and may we repent by choosing to listen to the cries of the oppressed rather than for the applause of those in our corners.
5. Embrace the Ballot as an Opportunity for Self-Assessment :: As we live in a political milieu, there are issues and their champions that we’ve all been passionately for and against. The presence of a new ballot in front us presents an incredible opportunity for self-assessment.  Rather than simply coloring in the bubbles on our ballots, what if we got curious with ourselves and leveraged our voting as an opportunity for transformation?  Here are some prompts to guide the way:
   1. In the past two years, how have I gotten closer to this issue by growing an understanding of my own context, discovering the conflicts and injustices that plague my city, and pursuing relationships with the human beings who have been traumatized as a result?
   2. In the past two years, how many times have I critiqued or spoken truth to the power brokers who reflect my partisan preference when they make decisions that negatively impact the already oppressed & marginalized?  How many times have I thanked them (and those in an “opposing” party) when they make a costly decision that promotes the dignity of every human being in my community?
   3. As it pertains to each candidate and measure on my ballot, am I in relationship with anyone who is or would be negatively impacted by this platform or measure?
   4. If I were to vote like I always have, how much of my ballot would be informed by accumulating and/or protecting my understanding of power, abundance, and safety?
   5. What candidates or measures am I voting for and/or staying away from because of fear?  Where did that fear come from?  Is it legitimate or has it been fabricated for me?  If love (not voting) casts out fear, then what is the act of love that the Spirit is inviting me to embody in order to render the fear obsolete?
   6. Throughout this political season, have I allowed the doubts and questions I have about my partisan allegiance come to the surface?
6. The Bottom Line :: Christian faithfulness always looks like sacrifice and the promotion of the other over and above the self.  It takes the shape of solidarity especially with the oppressed, lonely, impoverished, and traumatized.  It reflects a Jesus who stands on neither side of the partisan divide, but instead, stands enthusiastically for restoration and diametrically opposed to any and every system that crushes human beings. The Jesus of our faith declares himself found among those whose lives we so frequently used as political bargaining chips. Voting is important and I hope that you vote.  But, if we want to be found & formed by Jesus, our ballot won’t get us there. Our solidarity with the oppressed will.