This blog, as many of my blogs do, pulls from a Facebook status I saw. The status stated that this person was voting for a particular candidate based on the reasoning that they best represented the biblical word view. They did preface their statement by saying that the candidate was by no means a saint but wanted to vote for something that not only represented biblical values but also the candidate that Jesus would vote for.
This brought up a question that I think needs to be addressed, “Who would Jesus vote for?”
To be honest I don’t think he would vote for either, in fact I don’t think he would vote. Now thats not to say that we shouldn’t vote, we should. We are Americans and have the freedom and honor to do so, but that doesn’t mean Jesus would.
When I really start thinking about it I think there are three main reasons Jesus wouldn’t care about the election.
1. I don’t think Jesus would vote because he cares about taking care of the poor. We read in Matthew 25:34-36
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Its a topic that has come up during the election over and over again, the economy. The questions have been asked and the answers have been given and I don’t think Jesus would care at all. We see in this text that he is far more concerned about what we are doing to help the poor, not what the government will do. He expects that those who follow Him will take care of those that need taken care of, not pass it off to others.
If we, as Christians, complain about the government not taking care of the poor and yet do nothing about it ourselves we are like fullish children complaining that nothing is getting done while we sit on our butts doing nothing to help.
2. I don’t think Jesus would vote because he doesn’t care about taxes.
We read in Mark 12:13-17
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,[c] but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius[d] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
Its not that Jesus is in favor of or opposed to taxes, he simple says that one should give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s. He tells them that they should be loyal to the government, but more importantly loyal to God. His disciple Peter echo’s these words later in 1 Peter 2:13-15. The words here are clear, “Stop raising silly questions about what is right or wrong for a Christian to do. Is it God honoring? Then do it!”
Now I understand that here we may have some that say that they don’t want their taxes going to pay for abortions. Hear me when I say I am with you. However when Jesus says that they should pay taxes to Caesar he is really saying just as shocking. When he tells them to pay their taxes is telling them to give money to an occupying nation that forces them into poverty. Every time they pay taxes it is to a government they are really paying the guard that may very well take their house from them.
Jesus is more concerned about how we deal with all our money, not just our taxes. Our money speaks, in some cases, louder than our vote. So how are you voting with your money?
3. I don’t think Jesus would vote because he knows who is going to win the election. We read in John 19:10-11
So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Jesus understood that Pilate, with all of his power, had only been given that power because God the Father had planed and placed Pilate in power. That might seem odd, but lets play that out. We see in a number of places, Romans 13:1-7 being a big one, that God puts leaders in place for His glory. Sometimes, many times even, we would say that these leaders do not bring Him glory. However His plan is much bigger than ours and He can see it when we can’t. Whether Obama wins re-election or Romney wins his first term we see in scripture that God has appointed them.
Understandable we don’t have the ability. We don’t know who is going to win and shouldn’t use the “God is in control” card. He is in control and does know, but uses all of us to bring this plan forward. So practically he is using your vote and the vote of those that don’t even believe in him to bring forward a plan for His glory.
Now I know that you may disagree with all or some of these points. You live in a free country and have that very right. However when we look at Jesus in the scriptures its hard to find a Jesus that would vote for anyone. It seems far more concerned about a heart church. A grass roots up kind of approach.
Resources: Great Sermon On Government And Jesus by Mark Dever
Pastor Mike Moore 