How should a Christian vote this election? How can a Christian–who believes all people are made in the image of God–vote?
When one candidate consistently dehumanizes and spreads lies about immigrants, how can I vote for him? When he doesn’t just discuss the need for immigration reform or border security (which is all well and good) but he wields his words like weapons and fuels hatred and fear towards vulnerable people in crisis at the border, how can I vote for him?
When another candidate champions “reproductive freedom”–which is just coded language for, “the unborn shouldn’t have human rights”–how can I vote for her? When she is so radically pro-abortion that she’s voted against the Born Alive Act (which provides protection to babies born alive following attempted abortions), against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protect Act (which prohibits abortions after 20 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother), and against any restrictions how can I vote for her?
When one candidate has been accused by 20+ women of sexaul assault and misconduct (accusations spanning decades, well before he ran for president), and when he’s been caught bragging about that very thing over a hot mic, how can I vote for him?
When the other candidate supports transgender affirming “care” (including puberty blockers and hormone treatments for children) which has caused irreparable physical and emotional harm–especially to teen girls–how can I vote for her?
And when both candidates lie. Too many times to count. How can I vote for either?
For the Christian, I believe there is only one way to vote.
With grief. And with hope.
With Grief
Frankly, I don’t understand how anyone can be excited for either candidate. My laments so far have barely scratched the surface of my concerns.
I won’t tell you who to vote for, because I believe this is a truly deplorable “lesser of two evils” situation. And how can I want evil to win at all? But I do want to challenge those who feel happy about their vote.
You may affirm specific policies one candidate proposes, and truly believe there are elements of good they’ll achieve for our country. But if you are a Christian who believes (as Scripture teaches) that all people are created in the image of God–and if you are thinking consistently about this value–there should be a measure of grief to your vote.
Even if you’re convinced it’s the better choice.
To not grieve at all indicates you are turning a blind eye to grievous wickedness. You are letting your political preferences–or your disdain of the other candidate–minimize the evil of your candidate.
Brothers and sisters, we should lament how our preferred candidates have offended God–in both rhetoric and policy. We should pray for their repentance. There is no way around this fact: both parties have disregarded the imago dei. Both have treated certain people groups as worthless. Both have caused, and are causing harm, to the vulnerable. And that is worthy of lament.
With Hope
Yet even as we lament, we must not despair. In this election season, and every one after, we can vote with hope. Not hope in a political candidate, because even if we had better candidates, political hope is ultimately futile.
Our hope is in our reigning Lord. No matter what happens in our country, he is still building his Kingdom. He is still rescuing sinners and redeeming his creation. He is still working through his (imperfect) church. Because Christ is King, our hope is unshakeable.
Our leaders have less power than they (and we) think! The world is the Lord’s, and everything in it. So even as we grieve evils taking place in our society, we don’t need to fear or panic or try to seize control. We need to place our hope in our good, righteous, and just God.
He is already in control. Nothing can thwart his purposes. No president or cabinet or governing body can impede his ultimate governance. And someday, he will set every wrong thing in this upside down world right. We can joyfully trust him.
What Comes Next
I have no idea who is going to win this presidential election. But no matter who wins, I can seek to honor and trust God. No matter who wins, I can devote myself to loving my neighbor.
I can continue to speak up for the life and worth of the unborn and pray that the violent practice of abortion will cease. I can seek to support vulnerable mothers, to care for them in their need, comfort them in their fear, and confront the lies being told to them. Abortion ultimately hurts them too.
And I can continue to care for my immigrant neighbors. Whether they are here with legal documentation or not. I can advocate for immigration reform without dehumanizing the people it affects. I can care about border security and asylum seekers, and I can speak truth to lies spread about them.
Brothers and sisters, no matter what happens, we are called to love. To value the image of God in all people. To care for our neighbors. To fulfill the Great Commission. And most of all, to trust our good and righteous and reigning King.
Brilliantly written and well-articulated. You offer every American voter an insight to think about regardless of the candidate they support or to what degree. There is no clear “pro-life” candidate. From a Canadian neighbour, please know prayers are with you as you discern who to vote for.
Thank you for these kind words and your prayers! Grateful for you.
I feel the same and am thankful you gave words to it! Come, Lord Jesus!