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| Would Jesus Vote?Dear Friends: Jesus didn't live in a democracy. Therefore, he had to make his views known in ways far more risky than entering a voting booth. By making whole a damaged hand, and restoring sight to blind eyes on a holy day of worship, Jesus "voted" that it was okay to heal people on the Sabbath. By sharing meals and conversing openly with the "losers" and outcasts of his society, Jesus "voted" not to ostracize people. By encouraging Mary to sit at his feet, Jesus "voted" for women not to be confined only to roles of cooking and cleaning. Jesus "voted" with his feet when he started walking toward Jerusalem, even though his friends told him they didn't want to go. He "voted" with his hands when he tore up bread and broke apart fish to serve a meal to thousands, even when his disciples told him there wasn't enough food. He "voted" with his heart when he told the foreign woman that her daughter had been healed by faith, even when all those around him were saying, "Make her shut up and go away." Jesus did not ignore the institutions of his society. He studied at the temple. He preached his first sermon in the synagogue. He was fully aware of how economic and political dynamics influenced the world he lived in. He understood that Caesar and his governors held temporal power. He plunged into that world with the intention of making people's relationship with God come alive. His word, deeds, and sacrifice of love continue to transform the world, its people, and its institutions. Jesus cared not just about attitudes, but about policies and leadership. He knew that policies and leadership could squelch people's humanity and their relationship with God, or could lift people up, deepen their relationship with God, and strengthen their moral awareness. So yes, I think Jesus would vote. And voting would be just the beginning. Jesus would vote, and then he would find a multitude of ways to be involved in the world. He would engage institutions and individual lives, challenging both to behave more faithfully and more in accordance with God's purposes. It takes time and effort to be an informed voter. It takes study and prayer to be a Christian voter. But if we care about the world (and remember, "God so loved the world that he sent his only son...") how can we not vote? I'll be voting on November 8, and PB UMC will serve as a polling place for two precincts. May God guide us as we prepare to mark our ballots. With gospel hope, Pastor April |
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