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I agree with Ronnie Floyd. I want to "Vote God." You may remember the flap during the previous presidential election
when Mr. Floyd ran through a list of fairly scandalous qualities as a picture of John Kerry flashed on the PowerPoint. Then
he commended a list of admirable virtues while a picture of George Bush shown above. He concluded with the allegedly non-partisan
admonition, "Vote God."
Well, I don't know how accurate Mr. Floyd's caricature was of the two candidates, but I like his conclusion. "Vote
God." I want to vote God's values. Here we are at election time, and we're asked to connect our highest hopes and values
with the promises and representations of candidates and political parties.
I know faithful people and honorable public servants who are Republicans, Democrats, Greens and Independents. No party
has a corner on God. But as I vote, I want to support people who will most closely represent Biblical and Christian values.
What are those values?
First and foremost, the Gospel of Jesus is about compassion and love. I will be drawn to the candidates who evidence
the greatest capacity for compassion and love. Jesus is love incarnate. He summarized the entire law with the commandment
to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus had a particular compassionate ministry as a healer. I want public
policies that make health care more universally available. I want leaders who are willing to work on behalf of the poor.
I'm always going to vote for the most compassionate candidate.
Secondly, the Christian message is about having faith in the perfect love which casts out fear. It is said that the message
"Fear not / Do not be afraid / Be not afraid" is repeated 365 times in scripture, enough for a reminder each day
of the year. I'm going to be drawn to candidates who avoid creating fear and who articulate hopeful responses for our problems.
Third, the fruit of the Spirit produces peace, and the passion of the prophets inspires justice. I am going to look for
leaders who create peace and justice. I want politicians who are peacemakers and who embrace non-violence as a faithful response
to threat. I want candidates who have a passion for the Biblical values of justice, especially justice on behalf of the poor
and vulnerable. God's concern for the poor is a primary point of scriptural advocacy.
Or, to put it negatively, I'm going to shy way from candidates who promote fear, oppression and victimization of other
human beings, especially of immigrants and gay people. Prejudice always sells at the polls. It is our ugliest trait. I'm
going to vote against candidates who play on our fears to divide us. "Blessed are the peacemakers." I'm going
to oppose those who promote war. I want some politicians who will hold accountable our leaders who manipulated intelligence
and information that our congress needed in order to make a informed decision about the ill-conceived invasion of Iraq. I'm
going to vote against politicians who give breaks to the rich and powerful while ignoring the poor and vulnerable. I want
leaders of virtue, who will dismantle the culture of corruption, cover-up and greed that seems so prevalent in places of power.
Finally, I want some candidates who will be good stewards. I'm tired of the soaring deficits created by tax breaks for
those who don't need them while we borrow from our children to finance military adventurism. Six years ago we had a budget
surplus. It can be done again. I want leaders who are good stewards of the earth, who protect and treasure our environment.
I want leaders who invest in the education and potential of our people. I want economic policies that strengthen families
rather than strain them. I want to see priorities shifted to the concerns of the middle class and poor. That's who Jesus
gave most of his attention to.
When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus' teaching is that your
neighbor is anyone who is in need. Anyone. Love your neighbor as yourself. That's the politics of Jesus. Vote God.
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