Have you ever asked that question?

Recently this question has been on my mind a lot as the final debates finish and people prepare to vote (or not vote) next month.

I’ve seen a lot of articles, interviews, and news headlines showing where Christians are in this political season. Some are out parading an elephant or a donkey; others are refusing to align with one party but instead spend their time and energy bashing both candidates in this election.

But what about Jesus?

I believe if Jesus could return in bodily form to America today, He would live and align Himself much different than we do.

We as Christians cannot neglect that our first and ultimate allegiance is not to the American flag but to the name of Jesus (Hebrews 13:15). We are citizens of heaven and sojourners on earth (Philippians 3:20). We are called to submit to our authorities and pray for our leaders while we await our eternal home (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

In America, we are given the right to vote for our leaders, but we must not forget that our hope does not lie in a particular party or in a certain candidate. Our hope is in Jesus alone. We might claim that our hope is in Jesus and not a candidate, but do our words and actions prove that we truly believe it?

It’s easy to lose sight of our ultimate allegiance in the chaos of this season. We find ourselves discussing Trump more than Jesus or caring about policies more than people. We can become so blinded by the rat race for power that we forget that Jesus’ ultimate example of authority wasn’t through political triumph but through sacrificial death.

So where is Jesus in this election?

Jesus is not bandwagoning nor bashing either candidate.

Jesus is not looking for followers to get caught up in the fight for power the world offers.

Jesus is looking for humble, self-sacrificial servants who are willing to be the hands and feet of Christ and share the hope of Jesus in our ever-increasingly dark world.

The question is not if or should I vote November 8th. The question is what will I vote each day of my life. Will I choose to surrender my desires for the good of another? Will I choose to love my neighbor even when it’s costly to myself? Will I take initiative to serve the least of these as though I am serving Jesus Himself? Will I vote to live my life the way Jesus, the Lamb of God did?

The Kingdom of God far exceeds any earthly kingdom that ever has been or ever will be. It’s marked by Jesus’ sacrificial love and is carried out through humble service. So regardless of how or if you vote November 8th, remember that the real question is if you will choose to vote Jesus each day in how you live your life.  On November 9th, our ultimate task still remains—to be the hands and feet of Jesus and self-sacrificially love and serve as He did until He returns to make all things new.

 

 

(Photo Courtesy of Shane Claiborne)