Jesus saw the Kingdom of heaven so clearly that He may not have invested much concern over U.S. Election 2016. Explaining the source of the believer’s provision, Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt.6:33).
Tweet ThisSome have suggested to me that Jesus was endorsing civic involvement (or at least paying taxes) when He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). I take from this that Jesus instructs everyone to obey the laws of the land. I find more insight regarding this election in the description given of Jesus by the Pharisees and Herodians: “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (Mk.12:14). If this description were not true, I believe Jesus would have contradicted it.
What would Jesus do? How would Jesus vote? He would probably be so focused on building the Kingdom of God that we would not be much involved with the election. He might abstain out of voter apathy!
Or He might use the election season as an opportunity to teach on integrity, love of neighbor, value of life in all its forms, compassion, protection of those at-risk. He might seize the opportunity to expose self-righteousness, fear-mongering, futility of depending on the schemes of man, and selfish protection ones’ own rights while tolerating the exclusion of the widow, the orphan, the trafficked, and the foreigner. He might contrast the value of free trade against greedy opportunism of the already-wealthy. He might expose the difference between the right to bear arms with the unavoidable outcome of a militarized society.
In my own thinking, I will either abstain from voting for President or write in Michael Maturan of the American Solidarity Party about which I have written briefly here.
No matter what, I see this season as yet another wake up call as to where my allegiance must lie.
(photo credit: in-formatio.com)
My earlier election thoughts starting with Moses.
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