The Most Important Vote You'll Ever Cast

Tomorrow is Election Day.  And you'll cast your vote (if you haven't already done so).

Now, I have no interest in influencing your vote tomorrow; too many have already tried that.

I simply want to propose: after casting your vote for 'Caesar' (e.g. 'secular' voting selection/s) -- cast a vote for God.

Tomorrow evening, the Brethren Woods outdoor ministry center along with the Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren (in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia) is hosting a Love Feast: a full reenactment of the Lord's Supper, including feet-washing, an Agape Meal (simple fellowship meal) and the Eucharist.   Click on the link that follows for more details.   https://www.facebook.com/events/194362961004494/

Now, you might not be able to attend this event -- however -- I want to invite you to enter into the vision for this event: "It has been a long and divisive presidential election season. Whether you plan to vote Democratic, Republican, Independent, Third Party, Write-In, or not at all, let’s join together after the polls close to make the same choice together: Jesus Christ.  Election Day Love Feast is an opportunity to affirm that our first allegiance is to Jesus, and this allegiance is bigger than party, candidate, or country. Jesus is our true savior and the one with the actual power to change the world...Let us affirm that our love for one another is stronger than the forces that have sought to divide us..." 

This is absolutely brilliant.  

For we will always vote differently for 'Caesar' -- but we can always vote uniformly for God. For unlike Caesar, there is only one God-Candidate: Jesus.  Jesus, Himself, made that so clear before Pilate:  "My kingdom is not of this world [e.g. neither democrat, republican, green party, etc.]  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.  But now my kingdom is from another place..."  (John 18:36).

Thus, no matter our 'Caesar Politics' -- we can find unity in God's Politics: Jesus.  

The implication:  there is no one Christian Candidate, uniquely favored and blessed by God. For, in the words of Myron Augsburger, Christ followers are not "...partisan...identified with either right or left but with the way of the Kingdom of God.  As disciples, we can neither be rightist conservatives nor leftist liberals in lockstep.  Instead, we are to live in loyalty to Christ, a loyalty that lets us select from right, left, or middle, going by primary considerations of faithfulness to the Kingdom of God.  We are given freedom amid the partisanship of our society..."  (Myron Augsburger.  The Robe of God.  Herald Press, 2000, 170, emphasis added.

Part of that freedom is headlining the law of love.  The premise: long before persons find Jesus, they find the love of Jesus, that ultimately leads them, to Jesus. Thus, promoting the love of Jesus -- unconditional, reconciling love -- is central to binding up the wounds that mark our culture -- including the wounds, stemming from our current brutal, election season.

To that end, Willow Creek Community Church has launched a campaign throughout Chicagoland entitled:  Love Everyone Always.  Under that banner, they detail love, including the necessity of respecting everyone, which requires that we: "See people as image-bearers - differ without demonizing -- believe the best -- don't interrupt -- [use] no incendiary words - [be] courteous to everyone -- [employ] no stereotyping -- apologize quickly - form opinions carefully -- [be] prompt and faithful..."

Sounds more relevant than ever, given the current lack of respect, in the current election season.

Frankly, after tomorrow's election, there will be considerable angst and anger, no matter who wins.  And, persons will be confused:  how do we move forward?

I want to suggest that we move forward by indeed adopting the mantra:  Love Everyone Always.  Go to the Willow Creek link related to this campaign and get the details. https://willowcreek.tv/sermons/south-barrington/2016/10/love-everyone-always/#top But begin with respecting everyone always; it's a great way to commence.

Beyond the Love Feast mentioned earlier, folks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia are encouraging respectful love, in yet another way. Why in recognition of the varied, multi-cultural population that increasingly 'flavors' the Shenandoah Valley, the Immanuel Mennonite Church, is making available yard-signs in three languages (English, Spanish, and Arabic) reading:  "No Matter Where You Are From, We're Glad You're Our Neighbor."  https://www.facebook.com/welcomeyourneighbors/?fref=nf&pnref=story

A variation, as we seek to love everyone always, could read:  "no matter who you are, I'm glad you're my neighbor" (e.g. in keeping with Jesus use of neighbor; see the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37).

Not because we agree with everyone -- prefer everyone --  sanction everyone -- even like everyone. We don't.  But simply because we are called to love everyone -- nevertheless.

That's where the 'clean-up' from Tuesday's election begins. To quote an anonymous writer:   "...Build a bridge [to everyone] and get over it..."

Just like God.

For God is love (1 John 4:16).  Thus, "...let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God...Since God so loved us, we ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us..." (1 John 4:7-12).

Not a bad way forward -- a loving way forward -- a Godly way forward - as we elect Jesus -- above every other political force or lord.