Faith At and Beyond the Ballot Box
A Pastoral Reflection from Pastor Paula
Today, people across our country are heading to the polls. Some are voting with excitement and hope. Others are voting with concern, frustration, or uncertainty. Still others have decided not to vote at all. But regardless of what happens today, I want to remind us of something:
Our responsibility to pursue justice includes AND does not end at the ballot box.
In Luke 4:18–19, Jesus says that the Spirit of the Lord is on him. He gives us five reasons:
To bring good news to the poor
Proclaim release to the captives
Recovery of sight to the blind
Set free those who are oppressed
Proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
This was not a simple declaration of what Jesus believed. It announced why he was sent and what He came to do. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to participate in that work.
Voting is one way we exercise our responsibility to our neighbors and communities. Elected officials' decisions affect people's access to resources, opportunities, protection, and justice. Those things matter because people matter.
And--not but--our responsibility doesn't stop at voting!
We cannot cast a ballot for justice and then ignore injustice in our neighborhoods. We cannot advocate for policies that help people experiencing poverty while refusing to see the needs of people right in front of us. And we cannot allow our political differences to convince us that someone is beyond the reach of God's love. The inverse is also true!
We cannot say we believe that God created everyone in his image and then vote for policies that negate those same people. We cannot read Scriptures like When I was hungry, you fed me, and then vote in a way that cuts food assistance. It is incongruent to read the over 400 Scriptures that speak to how to treat the foreigner living amongst us and then vote in ways that we think will safeguard us even as it disparages and marginalizes immigrants in our community.
Living a life of justice and righteousness includes what we do today
and how we show up for our neighbors next week!
Our faith must be bigger than our political affiliations, and our commitment to following Jesus must outlast every election cycle.
At Cohesion, we've been studying what it means to live out the good news- more than wearing the label Christian like a clothing brand; what does it mean to follow Jesus? Now we have another opportunity to put Luke 4:18-19 into practice. What does it mean for us to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captive, recovery of sight to the blind, set free those who are oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor?
This has to be more than our get-out-of-hell-free card, but actions that move the kingdoms of this world closer to resembling the kingdom of God. So whether your preferred candidates win or lose, whether you leave today encouraged or disappointed, remember that the work of loving our neighbors, pursuing justice, and following Jesus continues tomorrow.
The election may end tonight. Our calling does not.
With Unity + Grace,
Pastor Paula Dannielle
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