Should Christians vote?

[Valerie]

Here's what a Church of the Brethren friend and spiritual director posted on Facebook yesterday:

I don't put a lot of faith in voting, but I care about those on the margins and am glad to say NO to this wicked man, his enablers, the lies, the chaos, the brutality, and the failure to take COVID seriously. I often feel conflicted when I vote, but today, this was an easy choice!

Dale Gish must be talking about Biden because everything he said fits Biden.

I think he he is referring to Trump because these are typical anti-Trump accusations, which has been falsely attributed to him. The accusations about Biden, keep coming out but mainstream media, Hollywood, etc want to make little of reports about the left, Biden, Obama, Clinton. No one ever claimed Trump has an unspotted past. But same with Biden, same with Kamala Harris- why does the left consistently get a pass??

But Im just surprised a professed Christian man from Anabaptism would ignore New Testament Scriptures- regarding how we speak about others, including the warning of Jude. Would we want to be called wicked due to our past? Seems it was important to him to have a strong Christian Vice President, and appoint people of faith to the supreme court. Would satsn want pro-life justices appointed like President Trump did? And why does the left hate those judges (and or nomonees) so much that Kamala Harris came against Kavanaugh, she was his worse accuser in the fabrication of trying to tear Kavanaugh down! How can people give all this behavior a pass???? The Catholic Church, to whom Biden belongs, discourages the faithful from voting for him,- it seems so much blindness.

[Ms. Izzie]

For those of you who believe that there are two separate kingdoms--one of evil and the other, God's kingdom and further, that these kingdoms will not intermingle--where exactly is this kingdom of God? Is it in individuals or are you equating your local church as the kingdom of God? If you believe your church is where God's kingdom resides while we are here on earth, what do you do with Jesus' words in verses such as Luke 17:20-21?

Also, if evil and good are neatly sliced apart from each other into separate kingdoms, how do you account for the ongoing battle which resides in our own houses of clay which Paul talks about in Romans 7?

[Dan Z]

Thoughtful questions Ms. Izzie - thanks for asking them!

For those of you who believe that there are two separate kingdoms--one of evil and the other, God's kingdom...

I can't speak for everyone else, but I believe there are two Kingdoms (the kingdoms of this world being a conglomerate if kingdoms)...however, I would not quite characterize it the way you do - "one of evil and the other, God's kingdom." I would say there are kingdoms of "the world" over which evil holds sway, and one Kingdom of (from) Heaven over which Christ reigns supreme. The distinction is important to be because I believe good and right (which is ultimately from God) breaks through into the world - even ahead of the Kingdom of God.

...and further, that these kingdoms will not intermingle--where exactly is this kingdom of God? Is it in individuals or are you equating your local church as the kingdom of God?

While the boundaries of these Kingdom's are distinct (either under the reign of Christ or not) I wouldn't go so far as to say they don't "intermingle." It seems like the call of Christ to be "salt and light" is a call for intermingling, a type of insurgency really - advancing the way of Jesus and winning over the kingdoms of this world from within. The Kingdom of God is wherever Christ reigns...spiritually in the hearts individuals given to His Lordship, and physically in the actions and possessions and influence of all those living out his rule together (i.e. the Church both local and global).

If you believe your church is where God's kingdom resides while we are here on earth, what do you do with Jesus' words in verses such as Luke 17:20-21?

See the insurgency comment above. The Kingdom breaks in wherever Christ's rule of love and grace and good prevails.

Also, if evil and good are neatly sliced apart from each other into separate kingdoms, how do you account for the ongoing battle which resides in our own houses of clay which Paul talks about in Romans 7?

They aren't so "neatly sliced" (see my first comment). While I believe the spiritual boundaries of these kingdoms are stark (a person or action is either sourced in Christ or not) - the temporal boundaries are more ragged around the edges as the battle for Christ's supremacy rages, and the Kingdom of Heaven advances. Ultimately, the Kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. Hallelujah!

[Ernie]

I agree. Dan said it much more succinctly than what I could have.

[joshuabgood]

For those of you who believe that there are two separate kingdoms--one of evil and the other, God's kingdom and further, that these kingdoms will not intermingle--where exactly is this kingdom of God?

I think there is "one" real kingdom, and many impostors or rival kingdoms of this world, that is, worldly kingdoms. I think they do intermingle, in fact, I see them in competition with each other. When the Kingdom of God advances, the worldly kingdoms lose power. We are called to be like Jesus and overcome evil with good through suffering love. For the "where" question see the response below.

Is it in individuals or are you equating your local church as the kingdom of God? If you believe your church is where God's kingdom resides while we are here on earth, what do you do with Jesus' words in verses such as Luke 17:20-21?

I like the verses you noted, the kingdom of God is not a literal place like the geopolitical states with borders and a worldly political structure. The Kingdom of God is in our midst. Among its citizens.

Also, if evil and good are neatly sliced apart from each other into separate kingdoms, how do you account for the ongoing battle which resides in our own houses of clay which Paul talks about in Romans 7?

I don't see them neatly sliced. I think they rage against each other both corporately (interpersonal collective) as well as intrapersonal (within our own hearts/spirits as noted in Romans).

[Fidelio]

Here's what a Church of the Brethren friend and spiritual director posted on Facebook yesterday:

Dale Gish must be talking about Biden because everything he said fits Biden.

I think he he is referring to Trump because these are typical anti-Trump accusations, which has been falsely attributed to him. The accusations about Biden, keep coming out but mainstream media, Hollywood, etc want to make little of reports about the left, Biden, Obama, Clinton. No one ever claimed Trump has an unspotted past. But same with Biden, same with Kamala Harris- why does the left consistently get a pass??

But Im just surprised a professed Christian man from Anabaptism would ignore New Testament Scriptures- regarding how we speak about others, including the warning of Jude. Would we want to be called wicked due to our past? Seems it was important to him to have a strong Christian Vice President, and appoint people of faith to the supreme court. Would satsn want pro-life justices appointed like President Trump did? And why does the left hate those judges (and or nomonees) so much that Kamala Harris came against Kavanaugh, she was his worse accuser in the fabrication of trying to tear Kavanaugh down! How can people give all this behavior a pass???? The Catholic Church, to whom Biden belongs, discourages the faithful from voting for him,- it seems so much blindness.

Well, on the surface the Democrats claim to be for the little guy, so with an uncritical acceptance of their words, one might feel they are acting in a Christian manner to elect Biden, but the facts show otherwise. Or perhaps this person has a deep desire to be a martyr for the Christian faith, which could definitely become a reality under a Biden presidency as they give the USA over to CCP control. But I would suggest instead of dragging all of us into the martyr situation, he can move to a number of places in the world and become an instant martyr for his faith.

[Neto]

I suspect that I have a bit different view of the future (in regards to the meaning of the book of The Revelation), so my answer would differ somewhat, or you might say continue beyond.

In a nut shell, I see the kingdom as existing where the King is. And yes, that means that it is here in the spiritual sense. But I do believe that the Christ is a physical being (or else what need did he have of his dead body after the crucifixion?), so he is, therefore, physically somewhere (in heaven, the abode of God the Father). But in my understanding, he will also return here to this earth, in a physical body (just as he ascended), and when that comes to pass, he will then be the supreme King here, in a literal sense. (And all who dare rise up against him will be defeated, not only in the spiritual sense as we see today, but also in the physical sense.) So in this regard, the Kingdom of God is not yet here, but still future. (But of course not nearly everyone will share my understanding of the future, and how the prophecies will be fulfilled. I also recognized that I may well be wrong in some parts, and perhaps in many. So our major focus should be on the part that deals with the here & now, in terms of our actions, with our hope - i.e., confidence - placed in His certain and future appearing.)

[Ken]

According to surveys, between 70 and 75% of Americans identify as Christian.

What would politics in this country look like if none of them chose to vote?

And would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

[ohio jones]

According to surveys, between 70 and 75% of Americans identify as Christian.

What would politics in this country look like if none of them chose to vote?

And would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

If 70% of Americans loved God with all their being, loved their neighbor as themselves, loved their enemies, and followed the teachings of Jesus, politics would become much less important. That would be such a good thing it would hardly matter if all of the other 30% voted for (insert your least favorite politician here).

[silentreader]

According to surveys, between 70 and 75% of Americans identify as Christian.

What would politics in this country look like if none of them chose to vote?

And would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

If 70% of Americans loved God with all their being, loved their neighbor as themselves, loved their enemies, and followed the teachings of Jesus, politics would become much less important. That would be such a good thing it would hardly matter if all of the other 30% voted for (insert your least favorite politician here).

If there was practice rather than only profession....