Should Christians vote?

[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?

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).

Well sure. But that's not the real world. I bet you can't even show me one single congregation for which all of that is true. I'm asking about the world we actually live in.

[mike]

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?

I'm not sure if the country would look much different, because politically active Christians are split on the political parties they vote for. I know one thing, the church would probably look a lot better. That would be a good thing.

[ken_sylvania]

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).

Well sure. But that's not the real world. I bet you can't even show me one single congregation for which all of that is true. I'm asking about the world we actually live in.

Na, in the world we actually live in some professing Christians choose to vote. So it's hardly accurate to say you're asking about the world we actually live in.

[Ken]

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).

Well sure. But that's not the real world. I bet you can't even show me one single congregation for which all of that is true. I'm asking about the world we actually live in.

Na, in the world we actually live in some professing Christians choose to vote. So it's hardly accurate to say you're asking about the world we actually live in.

The title of this thread is "Should Christians vote?"

If the correct theological answer to that question is "NO" then I'm just asking what would be the political consequence if all Christians agreed.

[Dan Z]

Well sure. But that's not the real world. I bet you can't even show me one single congregation for which all of that is true. I'm asking about the world we actually live in.

Na, in the world we actually live in some professing Christians choose to vote. So it's hardly accurate to say you're asking about the world we actually live in.

The title of this thread is "Should Christians vote?"

If the correct theological answer to that question is "NO" then I'm just asking what would be the political consequence if all Christians agreed.

I think history provides some examples - in both directions. The pre-Constantinian church for example.

[Ken]

Na, in the world we actually live in some professing Christians choose to vote. So it's hardly accurate to say you're asking about the world we actually live in.

The title of this thread is "Should Christians vote?"

If the correct theological answer to that question is "NO" then I'm just asking what would be the political consequence if all Christians agreed.

I think history provides some examples - in both directions. The pre-Constantinian church for example.

My history is a little vague. But was 75% of the Roman Empire Christian in the pre-Constantine era? Or was Christianity a relatively minor sect in the grand scheme of things?

For that matter, it's not my impression that the early church as represented by the Pope in Rome and the other regional power centers in Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem were a-political. To the contrary. They were exceedingly involved in politics. Perhaps not small local congregations. But the church hierarchy certainly was. Politics were, of course, different then. It was less about voting and more about divine rights of monarchs and so forth.

[barnhart]

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 they are not voting because they are selfish and introverted, it would be different than if they are not voting as an expression of an embrace of a theology of the cross and an upside down kingdom where the meek inherit the earth. I don't think we need to fear that the kingdom of Jesus is impotent and weak.

[HondurasKeiser]

The title of this thread is "Should Christians vote?"

If the correct theological answer to that question is "NO" then I'm just asking what would be the political consequence if all Christians agreed.

I think history provides some examples - in both directions. The pre-Constantinian church for example.

My history is a little vague. But was 75% of the Roman Empire Christian in the pre-Constantine era? Or was Christianity a relatively minor sect in the grand scheme of things?

For that matter, it's not my impression that the early church as represented by the Pope in Rome and the other regional power centers in Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem were a-political. To the contrary. They were exceedingly involved in politics. Perhaps not small local congregations. But the church hierarchy certainly was. Politics were, of course, different then. It was less about voting and more about divine rights of monarchs and so forth.

What's more, what did it mean to be political in Pre-Constantinian Rome? It certainly had very little to do with voting.

[Dan Z]

I think history provides some examples - in both directions. The pre-Constantinian church for example.

My history is a little vague. But was 75% of the Roman Empire Christian in the pre-Constantine era? Or was Christianity a relatively minor sect in the grand scheme of things?

For that matter, it's not my impression that the early church as represented by the Pope in Rome and the other regional power centers in Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem were a-political. To the contrary. They were exceedingly involved in politics. Perhaps not small local congregations. But the church hierarchy certainly was. Politics were, of course, different then. It was less about voting and more about divine rights of monarchs and so forth.

What's more, what did it mean to be political in Pre-Constantinian Rome? It certainly had very little to do with voting.

Agreed - but that's where the answer to Ken's question lies, at least in part. Certainly the demographics and power dynamics were different, but how did the church, for its first 300 years relate to the power structures of the state? And what was the result? How did things change post-Constantine when the power of the state was incorporated?

[Mountain Merle]

(I've been on sabbatical from MennoNet for several months and just popped back in without reading this whole thread, so my apologies if I say something dumb)

I struggle with the argument that if more Christians voted the country would be a better place. (maybe a place to start would be to define "Christian") It sounds good on the surface, for sure. If more Christians voting would be good it makes sense that Christians getting more involved in holding political office would be good as well. But if you follow this reasoning to it's logical conclusion, we have what I heard someone call a "Constantinian" solution, which would be the Christians running the affairs of government as well as the church. Utopia, right?? I think we would all agree that the church running the state was one of the biggest disasters ever.