Opus 2011-83, Wesley on Elections

We have just come through an election cycle that brought big gains for the Republicans in general and conservatives in particular.  It was a great time of “vote the suckers out.”  Now people are already looking forward to the next election.  As Christians we are called to honor Caesar.  Caesar is not the President or congress.  In our system of government, Caesar is the Constitution of the United States. 

As Christians we are to be engaged in supporting our Constitution.  We are to vote and campaign, not in the name of our church but as believers in a sinful world.  That means that we should behave different than the world.  John Wesley had something to say about that.

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy: 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And, 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”  John Wesley’s Journals, October 6, 1774

We should campaign with vigor with clear statements based on principle.  We are to campaign with an attitude the bring glory to our God.  We are to be salt and light.

Some issues have clear Biblical positions:  Abortion, homosexuality, and marriage come to mind.  We should never compromise on these.

Some are open to interpretation.  What is the proper tax rate?  How should we handle immigration?  How do we respond to the crisis in the Middle East?  On these areas we need to have a lot more flex no matter how strongly we feel.

Get out and get involved but don’t forget that you are a Christian first and a voter second.

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