harbarger theory: never, ever waste a vote

It wasn't until 1920 (that's right 1920!) that women had the right to vote in the United States of America.  That was nearly 150 years after the signing of the Declaration Of Independence!!  These days, it's hard to believe that it took that long to grant a basic civil right to a predominant class of the citizenry.  But, it is a hard and sad, sad truth.

What's more, although Black Americans were granted the right to vote freely in elections way back in 1870, it took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make that a reality for many.  Jim Crow Laws kept so many blacks out of the voting booths that it the black vote was a cruel and bitter joke.

As a pastor, I will be the last person to tell you for whom and for what you should vote.  That is not my place. But, it is well within my purview to share with you what your role as a citizen is.

It was St Augustine  (Dr Robert Bull, one of my seminary professors, suggested that the theologian's name is pronounced au-GUS-tenn and the city in Florida is pronounced AWE-gus-teen) who suggested in City of God that we Christians are to be good citizens and participate in the machinery of government as far as our ethics will allow.  Since Augustine is the one who has influenced Western Christian Theology more than any other, I'll take his suggestion to heart.

Therefore, it is my deeply held belief that we, as Christians, have a responsibility to apply the principles of the Kingdom of God to our civic life.  Many folks have made much of "values voters" in past elections.  I'm not really sure what that means, because I believe that all voters are values voters.  Of course, those values may range from how good-looking or well-spoken a candidate is to the value of money in their own pocket to more intangible values.  But, values they all are!  Values they all are!

If I am to shape my political opinions based upon the Kingdom of God though, then I think the following "values" need to come to the fore.

- Care for the least and the last and the lost
In my cosmology, this entails rules/laws that make it so that the playing field is, indeed, fair and flat.  All are respected and all are given equal opportunity.  This is NOT socialism.  This is honoring the dignity of all people.  VERY different concepts.  When the playing field is fair and flat, then the poor, the marginalized and the neglected are allowed the same opportunities of involvement as the well-heeled, the powerful and those with advantage.

- We play the long game
Too often, we (voters, shareholders, leaders, everybody) think of today, tomorrow or maybe as far ahead as next week.  What if, instead, we thought of how this policy or that will affect our children or grandchildren?  What if we built our nation's economic, energy and social policies with an eye to how it will affect the next generation or even the one after that?  I think they would drastically change!!

- We expect, nay even DEMAND, integrity from our leaders
Too often, we elect people based upon what they SAY they will do and then are either happy that they do not do it, or vote them out of office when they come through with it.  We like the ideals, but hate the realities.  Or we give a wink and nod when our leaders are profligate with tax dollars or campaign contributions; or shrug our shoulders when they don't show up to vote or do their job, or show questionable moral behavior.  Why can't we expect our governmental leaders to live out the values that they espouse on the campaign trail?  Why can't we expect our elected leaders to simply do their job, keep their fingers out of the till and not make convenient compromises on important issues?

- We vote.  At every single opportunity, we vote.
In my mind, if you don't vote, then don't complain about the elected leaders.  Never.  Not once.  If you don't work to fix the problem, you don't have room to grouse about it.  If you do, you're just a whiner.  Vote absentee.  Vote provisionally.  Get up earlier.  Take time off work.  Do whatever is necessary.  But ... vote.  If it's inconvenient ... vote anyway.

On that same note, it is my personal opinion (not as a pastor, nor as a representative or the United Methodist Church or any other organization ... just as Joel), that ANY restriction on the right/opportunity/access to voting is wrong.  Dead wrong.  We should be making it possible for each and every single US Citizen to vote.  Even if my candidate or party is voted completely out of office across the board, I want every single person possible to vote.  Bar none.  No exceptions.  None.  Any official who advocates for that is wrong, and in my opinion, should be relieved of office.

- We get involved in our community
Not only do we vote, but we pick up trash, we run for office, we serve on commissions and committees and task forces.  We volunteer.  We pay our taxes.  We voice our opinion and listen to other folks' opinions.  We coach, we lead Scout troops and packs, we chair committees, we work, we show up.  We participate.  We are a part of a community.  How else do we evidence the principles of the Kingdom of God, if we don't show up and contribute?  How do we earn the right to be heard if we don't roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty.  To whom do we listen?  People who have skin in the game!  If we don't have skin in the game, we are just debutantes who can't be bothered except to proffer their elevated (and probably worthless) opinions.  Show up and get involved!

- We live out our own principles
We give to the needy around us.  We treat family, friends, neighbors and strangers with honor and respect.  We champion the marginalized.  We lift up the downtrodden and don't show undo favor to those on top.  We are honest and trustworthy.  We take the slings and arrows directed at those who don't deserve it.  We live like Jesus.  Every day we can, we live like Jesus.

My friends, when it comes time to vote (whether on Nov 4 or any other time), read ahead, make your best Kingdom decision and go and vote.  Whatever it takes, go and vote!  As St Augustine of Hippo suggested to us, be a model citizen.  Let that be part of your witness is this dark, cynical and twisted world.  Be part of the solution of bringing light, hope and forthright witness to the love and grace of God.

harbarger theory: never, ever waste a vote