Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, recently wrote about how being a disciple of Jesus leads him to vote and shapes how he votes.
For me voting is love in action. It is about loving God, neighbor and about self. Therefore, I vote for candidates who are likely to enact policies that honor God and are in the best interest of my neighbors. Of course, I also vote in my own self-interest and that too is an act of love. However, I want to be clear voting in my own self-interest is not about being selfish. Policies that are truly beneficial to me are policies that serve the common good. They are the kind of policies that will make life better for all.
So What?
Black’s perspective is both refreshing and encouraging. It is an important corrective to the ministerial misuse of power leveraged so often today via annual events like Pulpit Freedom Sunday. Our Christian leaders, lay and clergy alike, must call us to act as people of faith in all areas of life — including in the voting booth. How will the Greatest Commandment (also known as the Jesus Creed), influence your decision about whether or not to vote? your decision about how to vote?