What the 2016 Election Can (and Should) Teach Us
By this point in 2016, most Americans are thoroughly exhausted by politics. This is typical of our civic experience every two years but especially every four as presidential elections try our patience and chisel away at our sanity. We’re not sure if another ad, sound-bite, or slogan will aid our decision-making or cause us to consider Canadian citizenship.
Most American Christians have been formed and shaped by traditions that emphasize voting and other forms of civic participation. The influence of these traditions is evident in the many churchgoers who serve as poll-workers, distribute voter’s guides in their gatherings, or believe that they have a moral or religious duty to vote.
Naturally, the largest civic decision looming for Christians concerns what to do on November 8. Amid all the aspects that surround this election, this is an important opportunity for Christians not to go unchanged.
The Bible explains sanctification as a process of growing in Christlikeness. The primary means by which God accomplishes this are His Word and His Spirit (Eph. 6:17b). However, the path of spiritual growth takes us through many different settings and circumstances. It brings us into contact with many people and places. Moreover, God’s presence extends even to the voting booth, as well as the town hall meetings, debate stages, and roundtable discussions that may precede or surround our political decisions.
Most Christians will vote this fall, I expect. And most of them are very unhappy about the choices before them. However, the 2016 election can and should teach us a few principles about political and civic activity in a fallen world.
Our Actions Have Spiritual Significance
In all of life Christians are subject to the full range of spiritual obligations placed upon them by the Lord. It doesn’t matter whether we are in the workplace, church, or privacy of our bedrooms. As the psalmist put it, “Where shall I go from your Spirit, or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Ps. 139:7). Accordingly, we take great care with what we say and do, even in political matters, because we’ll give an account to God for every word or deed (Mt. 12:37; Rom. 14:12; Heb. 4:13).
This point may seem obvious to Bible-believing Christians. However, when discussing matters deemed “political” (e.g., candidates, policy issues), we must resist two temptations: (1) becoming obnoxious and combative, which doesn’t tend to endear our views to others; and (2) having a “live and let live” attitude that neglects thoughtful discussion, reflection, and participation in civic matters. Both fail to recognize that our actions have spiritual significance.
I don’t mean to suggest a strict equivalency between protecting the life of the unborn versus raising the debt-ceiling for another two months. However, if all of life is lived under the lordship of Christ, political self-righteousness and civic ignorance are both extremes to be avoided. Passion and humility need not be divorced, especially in our politics.
Our Actions Have Unintended Consequences
I suspect that many people—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—are feeling some regret in these days. Had many known last fall what they know now about the scope of Mrs. Clinton’s activity at the State Department, we’d likely see a different democratic nominee. Likewise, had many known last fall that Donald Trump would actually win a major party’s nomination (or continue using Twitter so much), much more would have been done to prevent this result.
Consequences cut in both directions, however. No one ever knows the full state of affairs that will result from a decision they make today. This may provoke fear for some, but we must trust that God’s Word and Spirit are able to help us make good decisions (quite apart from becoming consequentialists). God’s Word gives guidance in all areas of life and character so that we don’t have to be fortunetellers in order to be faithful citizens. We must use our best moral judgment, trust that God will handle the outcome, and remember that faith working through love pleases Him.
In addition, unintended consequences sometimes ensue precisely because we did not act in faith. David’s census in 2 Samuel 24 coincides nicely with good military skills of assessment; yet it brought about God’s judgment in the form of three days’ pestilence. Faith is always a prerequisite for godly decision-making (Rom. 14:23b).
I do think that outcomes, broadly defined, have some practical value in decision-making. Concern for moral formation (e.g., virtue ethics) takes this into account. For example, Scripture doesn’t tell us how much time we can spend watching political news programs, but it does teach us to be wise, sober-minded believers who redeem the time. Accordingly, we will all have to make prudential judgments about boundaries around our exposure to such media, knowing how they may (or may not) make us more virtuous or frustrated citizens.
However, the prevalence of unexpected consequences in life is a good reminder of Scripture’s emphasis to obey God’s revealed Word. Even when there isn’t a command or prohibition for each situation, we prayerfully seek to apply biblical principles as concretely as possible with the information we have.
Consequences will always result from human actions, and, often, they’ll be unpredictable. As one astute commentator wrote, even in this election at least four different political outcomes could reasonably occur. Thoughtful political commentators (Christian or not) could make a case for any of these transpiring. This reminds us to trust God to help us speak, act, and vote with wisdom.
Our Actions Have Testimonial Capacity
Numerous camps have emerged within evangelical Christianity concerning this election. Some will vote for Mr. Trump under the auspices of “him being the lesser of two evils” (this is probably the most common rationale). Some go a step further and describe their decision as a “morally good choice.” Many remain #neverTrump for a host of reasons. Some have even made the case for voting for Mrs. Clinton.
Despite these mixed messages from disparate voices within the Christian community, I am encouraged that many believers have sought to articulate thoughtfully what they have decided and why they have decided it. Our actions not only have moral significance and unintended consequences, but also, what I call, “testimonial capacity.”[1]
The Greek word μαρτῠρέω can be translated as “to give testimony” and is also associated with the English word martyr. Though our current situation shouldn’t be compared to one of martyrdom, the root concept of bearing witness ought to be retained in our understanding of political and civic life. Our actions say something about what we think, hope, believe, or want.
Actions, however, aren’t self-interpreting. Aside from exit polling, a simple vote doesn’t necessarily say anything nuanced about the choice a person has made. It can certainly imply support for the candidate chosen. However, in many elections (especially this one), some say they’re not so much voting for one candidate as they are voting against another. Because our motivations aren’t often apparent, Christians should be prepared to discuss, prayerfully and carefully, the moral and spiritual concerns at stake in their political choices.
Although politics and religion are two topics fraught with peril, election seasons open opportunities for discussion about issues that matter. They get to the heart of what we believe is right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust. Moreover, when approached carefully, they speak to the deepest convictions of Christian faith.
Consider the matter of hope: Our two major presidential candidates have engaged extensively in fearmongering in order to garner support for their candidacies. Simultaneously, they’ve often used messianic rhetoric that suggests that they have the wisdom to solve all of America’s problems. Of course, they tell us, we as voters hold the keys to unleashing that wisdom! However, no Christian’s hope can be in a candidate, or in their ability to choose well in a fallen world.
“A Time for Choosing”?
Our source of hope, I believe, is a powerful thing to communicate to unbelieving (and believing) family, friends, and neighbors during election seasons. Though our views of God’s providence may become muddled (at least for a few months in the fall every four years), our decisions do matter. Furthermore, we serve a God Who is in control. Since how we speak and act during election seasons send signals about our hopes and fears, we should express both sobriety about our decisions and an abiding trust in God.
Whether we choose not to vote, to vote for one of the two major presidential candidates, to vote third party, or even to write in a candidate, may we do so with a clear conscience. Having such a conscience doesn’t mean that we feel cheerful about the state of American politics, or the types of candidates our process has given us. It means that we’ve thoughtfully considered all the information at hand and have committed the matter to God in serious prayer.
If our citizenship is spiritually significant, carries consequences (intended and unintended), and is part of our Christian witness, then we should face this election and future ones with charity, wisdom, humility, and faith.
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[1] This is not to be confused with testamentary capacity in the legal realm (sometimes called ‘testimonial’ capacity also).
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