Election Day 2020
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
For many of us, this election has been a point of contention and divisiveness. It seems that our politics have never been more partisan. This election seems like the most important thing going on in our day and age. And after we vote an elect our President, there will be many people who are upset with the results; and I fear that our country will become even more divided. But I think it is important to realize that elections have always been divisive. One side wins, and one side loses. So, we cannot continue to let politics divide us. We have to find a way to look at politics and find common ground. We have to find a way to talk to people who are different than us. Even if we don’t agree with others, we have to find a way to respect them. We have to find a way to love them. We have to find a way to enter into community with them.
On October 6, 1774, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement met with members for his society who were about to vote in an upcoming election.
He offered three points of advice:
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person you judge most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person you vote against, and
3. To take care your spirits are not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.
Remember that this advice was given in 1774, but it is extremely relevant for us today. We often put too much stock in our politics. We often look at politics as our Savior. More often than not we look to politics to fit our wants, needs, and desires. We want the policies that support our way of life. We want the healthcare that is best for us. But part of being a follower of Christ is asking the question, what kind of healthcare is not only good for me, but what kind of healthcare is good for my neighbor? What tax laws work for me, but also help those around me?
There is a story in the New Testament where a group of religious leaders go to Jesus and asked him about politics. They ask him about taxes to be specific. “Should you pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Bishop Will Willimon was leading a dormitory Bible Study at Duke Divinity School one night; and they were working through the Gospel of Mark and they came to this text about the coin. Jesus is asked a very straightforward, yes or no, question. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus sees through this question. He realizes that this question is a trap. So, Jesus says, “Hand me a Roman coin, and tell me who’s picture is on it.” They answer, “Caesar.”
Jesus then says, “Yes, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but you be careful! Don’t you EVER give to Caesar what belongs to God.”
A student’s hand went up and said, “Hey, hey, hey! I can’t stand it when Jesus does this kind of stuff. He didn’t answer the question. Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Willimon says, “Well, Jesus says, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what’s God’s.’” They student responded, “But he didn’t tell us what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.”
Willimon says, “Well, the Psalmist says the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it.” One of the students said, “Ooh, that doesn’t leave much left over for Caesar, does it?”
Then one of the students said, “Maybe Jesus was saying that when it comes to the government and when it comes to the faith; when it comes to religion and when it comes to politics; sometimes you just don’t know what you’re worshiping. Sometimes you don’t realize you’re worshiping a false god until you are knee deep in it. And maybe since Jesus didn’t clearly answer the question, the best you can hope for, is just to stay uneasy when it comes to government and faith. Just permanently uneasy.”
Jesus has a way of making us permanently uneasy. How do we balance faith and politics? How do we navigate this political world that we live in without worshiping it as a false idol? Where do you look to for hope, help, and healing? Where do you look to for morality and guidance? Who is your Savior? Is it Caesar, or is it God?
Tomorrow is election day. After we cast our ballots, and after we find out the results, the world will keep turning. The sun will come up, and the sun will go down. And we must find a way to live together in unity. We must find a way to focus on the one thing that unites us. We cannot continue to use speech that is full of divisiveness and hate. We cannot continue to hope that the President will fail if they do not belong to our party. Over the years the Presidents will change, but God will always be God. Let us focus on our true Savior; not Uncle Sam, but Jesus Christ.
