Being a grown up

Thanks for sharing this over on Facebook, Kathleen.

Voting

Our absentee ballots went in today. Being informed and voting are basic acts of citizenship, I think. And voting is a privilege.

As a Christian, I ask God to always help me to not vote for my perceived self-interest, but for the good of all, and to think not of immediate gratification but for the good of future generations.

No political ideology or political candidate is perfect. No party is more “Christian” than another. So, as a Christian, I simply ask God to give me wisdom, good sense, and other-mindedness when I vote.

My agenda in voting isn’t to bring the kingdom of God to my community through the coercive instruments of laws. The kingdom of God only comes to people through the proclamation of God’s saving good news about Jesus. But, as a Christian, I am directed by God to be a good citizen and a caring neighbor. Voting is one basic way to do that.

It also seems to me to be a fundamental act of patriotism, like paying our taxes or getting vaccines, basic acts by which we fulfill our parts in the social compact that is America.

2016: Year of Shocking Referenda Results

2016 is likely to be remembered as the year of shocking results for national referenda.

One hundred days ago, voters in the UK decided to leave the European Union (EU) in what's come to be called the Brexit referendum. (The vote for withdrawal was a slim majority, 51.9% of the vote.)

Now, voters in Colombia--also my a slim majority, 50.2%--have voted to reject a peace deal with the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The deal would have ended the last remaining war in the Western Hemisphere. One article says that in those areas of the country where the casualties have been highest, the vote for peace was over 90%. The referenda has been defeated nonetheless.

[Blogger Mark Daniels is pastor of Living Water Lutheran Church in Centerville, Ohio.]



[The picture is from the cited CNN article. If this attribution is inadequate and posting it violates copyright law, I will pull it down. But I think it well evokes the emotions associated with the Colombian vote. The woman pictured opposed the peace deal and was reacting positively to its defeat.]

Vote!

If you haven't voted yet and are registered, I hope that you'll take the time to vote today.

(If you have voted, like me, then don't vote again; that would be illegal. Thought I would just point that out.)

In case you're uncertain about where your assigned polling station is or about the candidates and issues in your community, this site can help you.

The Bible is clear that Christians are to be good citizens and honor those who are in authority. So, for us anyway, voting is more than a right, it's a responsibility...to God, to neighbor, to country, and to the world. 

You might want to check out this piece called, Are Governments Necessary? (The answer is yes, by the way.)