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First
Presbyterian Church
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As We Get Ready to Vote
Reinhold Neibuhr wrote these wise words over a half century ago: “Nothing is quite so difficult, yet so genuinely Christian, as to remember that in all political struggles, there are not saints, but only sinners, fighting each other.” With that reminder, here are some possible guidelines for Christians as we face the choice between candidates.
1) Pay no attention to whether or not the candidates give a good speech (Remember Moses!) If that were the important issue, we should be voting for the speech writers rather than the candidates. Let plain talk and clarity of ideas and visions be more the measure.
2) Remember you are not just voting for an individual but for the representative of a party. The relevant question is not “Is this candidate personally sincere?” but “Does this candidate support the party or group whose view of the world and vision of justice I share?” Where the vision is not adopted by a party or politically viable coalition, it never becomes law.
3) In politics, there are no permanent allies. As Christians, we make only one absolute commitment -- to Jesus Christ. Everything else is negotiable. That is not only good theology, it is also good politics. We make our commitment to a candidate and to a party knowing full well that those whom we support on some issues will have to be opposed on others.
4) Look for a little humility in the way candidates use religion. Be suspicious of those who make it seem that certainty on matters of faith can be transferred to certainty about public policies. Have a holy suspicion of candidates who assume a priestly role by invoking God’s name too easily in public, or who appear to enlist God as a campaign aide. What is required of candidates is to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” with their God through the corridors of power.
5) Look for a candidate who believes in the importance of public life and in the possibility of and need for a positive role of government. We ought to look for signs that the candidate sees public authority as a vehicle of concern for individuals. A candidate who does not believe government has something positive to contribute to our life together does not deserve our vote.
Rev. Charles F. Holm Pastor
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Rev. Charles F. Holm, Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Easton, PA
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