Decision 2020

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God was near, and invited people to step into it, into his way of life, his teachings and his practices. One implication of this is that followers of Jesus have dual citizenship. They are citizens of heaven (Ph 3:20), and citizens of some earthly country (or countries). In the United States, we have had a very intense, dramatic, and anxious political season - all of which is in deep tension with the heavenly citizenship of those who think of Jesus as Lord and King. Faced with these choices, they feel a duty to consider their political responsibility in light of their faith.

It’s fair to say that neither candidate represents the values of Jesus or the Kingdom of God, which gives Jesus followers two options. Time would fail me to try to spell all this out, and good people of like faith disagree about which candidate might be the best exponent of values of the Kingdom. Take for example the abortion vs. pride debate over which was the greater national sin; even John Piper was wringing his hands in dismay at the “choice of evils” he has been handed in 2020.

But my own view is that the “which candidate represents the values of Jesus/the Kingdom of God” approach is the wrong approach. In our “dual citizenship” as Americans, we are also inherently pragmatists. In our own lives, in our work, and in our public/political life, we do what works. So my goal here is to give you the most basic, practical help that I can. For those who are still deciding, let me distill it for you, at the risk of oversimplifying.

One candidate wants to keep America essentially the same (i.e., “great”), retain its customs, traditions, practices, cultural heritage and identity, because he believes those things are good for its citizens, and also for the world.

One candidate wants to change America into something we have never seen before (which is possibly a good thing), because he believes that its customs, traditions, practices, cultural heritage, and identity are fundamentally broken/flawed and in need of repair.

In view of those options, you have two choices.

First, you can abstain from voting, opting out, or voting for a third party. You can see this as either a kind of protest or as a conscious decision to love God and neighbor by not participating in a system you believe is flawed/corrupt. Or, by not voting for a candidate whom you can’t fully support in your conscience, you express your “right to vote” by a form of considered, conscious inaction, a kind of nonviolent “truth force” that Gandhi called satyagraha. This non-participation in earthly political systems has a long history in the Christian church, from the monastic movement in the 300s to the Anabaptist tradition of the Reformation.

Second, you can use your “right to vote” for the candidate that you believe is better for the future of the country. That could be related to personality and temperament, platform/policy, values, or whether you believe America needs to be changed/remade or should continue forward, more or less as it has always been.

Recognizing that neither candidate is a scrupulously clean, upright individual (my gut tells me that no American president has even been, including the “good ones”), you look past all that and exercise your “right to vote” to support, in good faith, the candidate you believe will do better for the common good. This is really hard to see and know for sure. I know this can sound like “the most important election of our time” is essentially a toss-up for people of faith.

But no matter what happens, whether you choose to vote one way or another, or whether you choose to opt out, you can still hold on to some essential truths of your faith. Things like:

“The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he

wishes.” (Dan 4:17)

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except

that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by

God.” (Ro 12:1)

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made

for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet

lives in all godliness and holiness.” (2 Tim 2:1-2)

If you can do this, and hold to these truths and practices as a fundamental part of your personal/religious/political identity, then in the big picture it matters less whether you vote for one “side” or the other, or whether or not you withhold your vote. By holding fast to Jesus and his way, you are acknowledging the sovereignty of God and that everything happens (including the political) is under his watchful care, and part of God’s good, unfolding work in history.

And because of that same acknowledgement, you’re also committing to accept the result of whatever happens, without violence, resistance, or dismay. Instead of those responses, we substitute prayer, thanksgiving, and submission. We once again fix our eyes on Jesus our king, the author and finisher of faith, and trust that he is the one who has been entrusted with all authority on heaven and earth. To put it in the most basic way possible: “God is in control.”

Instead of being caught up in one political “side” or another, let us patiently reaffirm our commitment to the way of Jesus and life in the kingdom of God. This allegiance should unify followers of Jesu beyond any earthly political party or agenda. It’s true that we may have beliefs that differ from one another in how we think this should look, but in this political season let’s return to the words of the Apostle: “submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

My prayer is that this perspective helps you sort things out a bit, but most of all that it brings you a sense of peace and assurance at the end of what for most of us has been a very difficult year. It may become more difficult before long.

Grace and peace be with you.