Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders.(Deuteronomy 1:13 NRSV)
I heard two statistics recently that have been bugging me: One, that 50% of Christians nationwide vote in elections, and, two, that only 8% of our state’s Christians voted in the last election.
How are we supposed to be Salt and Light to the world if we don’t participate in it?
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV)
There are plenty of ways to participate in our civic world. I have no interest at all in running for office, but I vote in every election. I have no interest in knocking on doors or working on campaigns, but I am researching the candidates and voting with those that most closely align with my values. (Yes, sometimes I have to vote for the lesser of two (or more) “evils”.) I hope and pray that all Christians are praying, doing the research to understand the issues and the candidates’ positions, and then voting accordingly.
My aunt, who basically is housebound taking care of my 102 y.o. grandmother, wanted something to do to help make an impact in the election. She found the nonpartisan group MyFaithVotes.org, which connects Christians who are occasional voters with others who send them personal letters. My aunt is super excited about writing and sending these letters to potential voters in Pennsylvania (she’s in Tennessee) to encourage them to pray and vote. For her, this is a tangible, practical, simple, and realistic thing she can do to impact our civic world. I certainly can’t argue with encouraging others to pray and then vote accordingly.
God of Light,
Today we come to you thankful for the freedoms to participate in the process to elect leaders at the local, state, and national levels of this nation. We thank you for the wisdom of those who designed this system of governance, and all those who have gone before us to guard and maintain it. Today we pray that Christians would pray, research, and then vote as you call them to vote. Help us not to be conformed to the lazy, uninvolved, godless ways of the world, but be engaged in civic relationships that help to share your Light and Life with those around us. Help us as a nation choose those who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be our leaders. May we not be people choosing sin, but may your righteousness exalt this nation, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. (Proverbs 14:34 NIV)
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways. (John 17:14 MSG)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NJV)