This article appeared first in Anabaptist World.
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I write this several weeks before a Presidential election that will determine the leader of a country more polarized than I have seen it in my thirty-some years of living. Many of you, like me, have watched the rhetoric of journalists, politicians, and social media users grow ever more divisive and have wondered where it is going and what it all means in the cosmic scale of things.
Unlike me, many of you will cast your vote November 3rd for the leader of your choice. I have never voted in a U.S. election, and at this point, I do not plan to. I grew up in the branch of Anabaptists that maintains a strong separation between church and state, including not voting.
I am personally convinced of the wisdom of this policy after watching, over and over again, the opinions of God’s people shaped by a particular media narrative. One candidate becomes a hero, the other a demon. One will lead us on a road to prosperity and freedom, the other to chaos and a loss of civil liberties. And while those beliefs in themselves may not be detrimental—everyone is entitled to an opinion—too often God’s people imbue one candidate with the authority of God’s Chosen, the one who will save the country from degeneration and place us in the golden years we’ve always imagined. Instead of offering Christ as the solution to lawlessness, mental health breakdown, broken families, racism, we begin to offer a figurehead.
Often, when we as Christians take up politics, we imbue our cause with all the sacredness of a Holy War and forget the battle we are supposed to be fighting.
Paul made it clear who our enemies are: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,” he wrote. Not against homosexuals or homophophes, abortion activists or white supremecists or my political opponents. If we mistake those people for our enemies, our real enemies—the kings and kingdoms of the spiritual world—gain the advantage of staying undercover.
When I was young and lived at home with my minister dad, the conservative Mennonite church we were a part of engaged in its own version of “church politics.” This saintly version of our national system cultivated two parties, a liberal and a conservative. The conservative party’s main job was to keep the liberal party in check, and the liberal party’s main job was to ride the edges, advocate change. Both parties found the other side intensely annoying and their preferences indicative of deep spiritual need.
I will always remember something my dad said over that time: “The mark of carnality is force.” Doesn’t matter if my cause is “spiritual.” Whenever I try to force someone else to conform to my wishes—whether through my own strength, through the church, or through the government—that is carnality. God offers choice. And as inhuman and unsettling as that feels to us, we as Christians are fighting his battle and must fight it his way.
The conservative Mennonite church where I am now a member recently ordained a new minister. Without campaigning, smearing, or open discussion, in a body of nearly 200 members with every male eligible for the lot, this young man was elected by private ballot, his name a clear majority of the votes. God’s will revealed through the quiet choice of his people.
Although our national elections will never be that simple and clean, I encourage you to carry to it that same attitude of gracious acceptance of God’s will. Whichever man is elected, God placed him there. “He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others.” Daniel 2:21
Whether it’s Trump, whether it’s Biden, whether you love him, whether you despise him—support him. Speak respectfully of him. Pray for him. Pray for the leaders of your country, whoever they are. God asks no less of his people.
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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Somehow I find this to be a slightly confusing reason for not voting in the country’s presidential election. Especially since you’re okay with voting in a church. The fact that we have the freedom to vote in a church ordination is because we also have the freedom to vote on who the leaders of our country will be.
I disagree with your position on this point, and hope I have done that respectfully.
You missed the point man. She wrote in the beginning that she feels a strong separation between church and state. Her principles are peaceful living committed to God government. It’s as if we aren’t citizens of the state, just respectful visitors.
Very very good thoughts here!
Katie, I take disagreements and yours was done respectfully. Thank you. :)
The main point of what I’m trying to say here is that Jesus, not a President, is the solution to this country’s problems, and as Christians, let’s be respectful of whoever our elected leader is. Although I’ve chosen not to vote, I respect the decision of Christians who do vote and still carry this attitude.
You nailed it…on the national level and in the church!
Life is all about choices…and (sometimes regretfully) we cannot choose for others no matter how wrong it seems that we cannot. Prayer is our best option. As someone once said to me, “I cannot do a better job than the Holy Spirit.”
This is so good!! Thank you for sharing!! I heard a quote recently that goes like this “It doesn’t matter who is president. Jesus is King.”
“Jesus is King” is correct.
“It doesn’t matter who is president” is incorrect.
History proves otherwise.
Yes our strongest vote is on our knees! 🙏🏽
Well put!
Well written!! My heart says amen!!
It’s a sad day when people pray on their knees yet sit on their hands. I thought Christians were called to be Jesus’s hands and feet? And to be doers of the word and not only hearers? I doubt on Judgement Day when asked why you didn’t stand up for the slaughter of innocent blood a acceptable response will be a belief in separation of church and state.
I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken – That response will be accepted.
Maybe she does? There are many ways to stand against the shedding of innocent blood, and to help prevent it, other than by voting… walking with women through their difficulties and getting hands on with helping the hurting may even be more effective. Not voting doesn’t mean one is doing nothing at all! It means we are willing to do the work ourselves and get down and dirty helping people rather than depending on laws and government to do it for us…
Thank you for this, J Chupp. I hope and pray I can stand against the shedding of innocent blood in the ways God calls me to. This encouragement means a lot and reminds me of what I need to be working for.
Agreed..and faith without works is dead….
It’s a sad day when people pray on their knees yet sit on their hands. I thought Christians were called to be Jesus’s hands and feet? And to be doers of the word and not only hearers? I doubt on Judgement Day when asked why you didn’t stand up for the slaughter of innocent blood a acceptable response will be a belief in separation of church and state.
I’ve sometimes wondered (in case anyone wants to chime in!) why anabaptists couldn’t hold to two kingdoms while also voting, as in, “This isn’t my kingdom, but if you ask me, this is my belief.”
Some of them do, Brenna. :)
Well I guess I wonder how ANYONE could disagree with that 😂😂
It was an honest remark on my part. She said she wondered. 😂 And I thought she probably didn’t realize that my decision not to vote isn’t universally Anabaptist.
Well said Lucinda!!! Although I did go vote today I do agree that no matter who wins we need to pray for them. God is in control of it all & it is our job to step back and let him do His will. The Presidency it’s not an easy job & who ever wins will need our prayers along with all those in office.
Amen, Pamela! Thank you for this thought.
Hogwash ! What a self-righteous article !
Hmm. Im not sure which part is self-righteous.
I loved that last paragraph! Thank you.
Recently our lead pastor made two statements which i thought was one of the most concise positions Ive ever heard:
“The essence of politics is compromise; the essence of the Gospel is the Truth”. Well stated, I thought.
I like this.
I respect your personal decision here and bless you! We each have to seek the Holy Spirit and His leading in our lives. For some, to ‘take up politics’ as you mentioned can cause people to lose sight of the primary battle we are supposed to be fighting. For some, praying and spending 5 minutes at the voting booth is another way they feel they can be salt in the world. That is why I personally believe it is a grey area and too big a claim to say Voting is 100% right or wrong.
And it is important to remember that a ballot does not only include Presidential candidates, but other important issues in a community. For example, each county in Virginia has a soil and water conservation board with farmers serving (that are elected) that allocate conservation funding and priorities for the year. The county next to me had a referendum on whether to allow a casino. Our state had an amendment to create a bipartisan redistricting commission to help eliminate gerrymandering. The 13th amendment (which abolished slavery) was voted on and had to be ratified by voters in states to pass and become law for the entire United States of America.
Good thoughts, Rebekah. I understand what you are saying, and my concern isn’t so much over the act of voting as it is over the act of Christians using political means to try to win spiritual ends. That’s what I hate to see. Especially when I think some individuals might be turned away from the gospel if Christians become too aggressive in promoting a certain political candidate.
Yes, we need to remember the ‘why’ behind what we do. And how our words and actions carry weight and can hurt our witness when becoming too aggressive or outspoken (in regards to political topics or many other things for that matter). I also think – since it is a personal decision- that it can be good to not know whether a person votes or not unless having a personal relationship with them or intentionally engaging in a conversation. We live in a fallen world and spiritual ends can only be achieved through changed hearts and the Holy Spirit moving and living inside people. Prayer is our greatest weapon!
Thank you for the ONLY intelligent reply to this abdication of civic responsibility.