Pastoral Letter Regarding Midterm Elections
In just a few weeks, our state (like the rest of the country) will hold elections for a wide variety of offices and propositions. In fact, you’ve probably already received your ballot in the mail. These midterm elections do not draw quite the intensity of a presidential election, but they are significant politically and therefore draw out many of the same temptations we face anytime an election comes up.
As I did in 2020, I would like to challenge you to think about how this season is impacting your heart and soul, and what it would mean to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” to God in the midst of a democracy like ours.
Here are four things I’d like you to consider in the run-up to the midterm elections:
HOW IS MY FAITH SHAPING MY LEVEL OF POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT?
We live in an optional democracy, where people can spend as much or as little effort on politics as they like. For some, politics has become a surrogate religion in our country - they turn to it to provide identity, purpose, meaning, delight, an enemy, a worldview, a legacy, and even a redemption story. To me, it is a sad thing to see people on either side of the aisle living for something as fleeting as politics.
That said, for others, the temptation is on the opposite side: indifference and abdication of any political engagement, often under the banner of “Who cares?” When Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar, he famously responded, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” While this still applies to taxes, I would also encourage us to see its application for voting. If you are an American citizen with the ability to vote, I would strongly encourage you to do so.
WHAT WOULD "WINNING" OR "LOSING" MEAN FOR ME?
In a democracy, we have the option of participating in a personal way in the electoral process, both through voting and advocacy. This can be exhilarating and (at times) intoxicating. Winning or losing can bring a sense of triumph or defeat that feels existential.
For most of us, this election will come and go with little immediate impact on our lives. But for some of us, elections can feel momentous, a referendum on who we are as a state or country, and by extension, who we are as individuals.
As a Christian, I would strongly encourage you to reflect on your identity in Christ leading up to this election. You could consider praying through the Lord’s Prayer regularly in light of the election, not in order to “win” the outcome you are hoping for, but in order to reframe your soul before God.
ARE MY VOTING CHOICES MEANINGFULLY SHAPED BY MY FAITH IN CHRIST?
Sometimes before I submit my ballot I think, “Would I be voting differently on this if I were not a Christian?” Or am I only voting the way I am based on my life stage, economic station, gender, educational background, and where I live?” There are many political operatives who are convinced that appealing to our selfish instincts is the way to win elections. May it not be so among us! I hope that our ballots are different because we are Christians than if we were not.
Of course, how to apply our convictions as a Christian will vary from member to member within our church. Maybe you’ve experienced that in friendly (or not-so-friendly) debates with friends or family members where each of you cites biblical passages accurately yet come to different conclusions on an issue. That diversity can be a sign of a healthy church and a robust concept of Christian freedom. We’re grateful to be a church where everyone is not expected to agree on political matters.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that our faith is irrelevant to how we vote. As you look through the sample ballot (available here) and consider candidates, I hope your faith will guide what you see as wise governance.
There is one specific item on the ballot in California this fall I would like to highlight: Proposition 1, an amendment to the state constitution regarding abortion. I’ve never highlighted a certain Proposition before in a pastoral letter*, but it is highly unusual to vote on a constitutional amendment related to a topic in our teaching positions.
This constitutional amendment is of grave concern to me, personally, because it enshrines limitless abortion into our state constitution and I am going to vote “No” on the proposition. I hope that you will prayerfully consider how you vote on it, as with all your voting decisions. Here are two resources (one and two) you might read as you prepare to vote.
I wrote another pastoral letter a few months ago on the Dobbs Supreme Court decision that outlines some of the key considerations for me in responding to the issue of abortion in our country generally.
Our church strives to both teach the sanctity of life and practice our convictions through engagement with our Compassion ministry partners, including Horizon Pregnancy Clinic, Precious Life Shelter, and Precious Lamb Preschool. (Of course, you could say that all our Compassion partners are “pro-life,” as we recognize the image of God in others and care for their well-being through our partnerships with the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, World Relief, and Prison Fellowship.)
If you’d like to research this more, you can go to the nonpartisan State of California’s Legislative Analyst Office page on Proposition 1.
*Though I haven’t referenced a proposition in a pastoral letter before, in the history of our church our elders have encouraged the congregation to consider how to vote on propositions in the past, including a proposition on sports gambling in 2004 which is relevant again this year with Proposition 26 and 27.
WHAT IMPACT WILL MY POLITICAL SPEECH HAVE ON OTHERS?
This year we have spoken at length about the beauty and significance of the unity of Christ’s church. I have heard from many of you about how much you cherish being in a unified body of Christ. Let’s not sacrifice that to gain foolish political laughs on social media.
In addition to the impact on our unity, we are wise to remember that our comments will also be viewed by those outside our congregation and faith and reflect well or poorly on our Lord.
As Christians, we are called to be people of salt and light whose presence and activity are a blessing to those around us. May all we do this political season reflect the light of Christ in us.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8