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Title: Should Christians Vote?
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URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/11 ... rence-m-vance/christians-vote/
Published: Nov 8, 2016
Author: Laurence M. Vance
Post Date: 2016-11-08 08:26:58 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 181
Comments: 3
Review of Ted Lewis, ed., Electing Not to Vote: Christian Reflections on Reasons for Not Voting (Cascade Books, 2008), xiii + 126 pgs. I don’t normally review books that are more than a year old, and certainly not books that are more than two years old. I am making an exception because I think the subject this book addresses is an important one that also happens to be extremely timely. Although the book was published in 2008, I did not find out about it until after the presidential election of 2012. After obtaining the book, I put it on my stack of books to read and possibly review. Since I never got around to reviewing it, the book eventually made its way to the Christianity and Politics/Economics section of my library, where it sat on a shelf until about a month ago. While looking for a different book, I came across Electing Not to Vote, read it, and determined to write a review of it by Election Day. Electing Not to Vote is a small work with nine chapters, each by a different author: Polls Apart: Why Believers Might Conscientiously Abstain from Voting When There Is Nothing to Vote For: Liberalism, John Howard Yoder, and the Church Freedom of Voice: Non-Voting and the Political Imagination Serving by Abstaining: Karl Barth on Political Engagement and Disengagement Electing Not to Vote: Whether Choosing Red or Blue, Politics Is Love of Mammon When the Lesser Evil Is Not Good Enough: The Catholic Case for Not Voting Voting with Our Lives: Ongoing Conversations along the Path to Pentecostal Faithfulness The Folly of Not Voting: Reflections on the Incoherence of the Church The “Presidentialdom” of God: Our Conversation with Pilate The author of the last chapter, Ted Lewis, also wrote the introduction and serves as the book’s editor. He is an acquisitions editor at Wipf and Stock Publishers, and writes articles and book reviews for Mennonite periodicals. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that the book is written solely from a Mennonite perspective. The authors, none of whom are household names, belong to Mennonite, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal faith traditions. One of the Mennonite authors is a black woman originally from Trinidad. There are brief bios of the contributors at the end of the book. The book also contains footnotes and a bibliography. Myths, Misunderstandings and Outright lies about owning Gold. Are you at risk? Electing Not to Vote is not designed as a philosophical treatise against voting in general, although it does contain things in it that could be considered as such. Its essays “generally focus on American presidential elections,” and especially the election of 2008 that gave us Obama. The aim of the book “is to promote new thinking, new questions, and new dialogue where such thinking, questioning, and dialogue have not yet happened.” Although Obama is not in the election of 2016, the book should not be considered dated and irrelevant. In the book’s introduction, the editor gives a one-paragraph synopsis of the contents of each chapter so I won’t provide my own here. What I want to do is mention some things about and from each chapter. In chapter one, the author laments that “political involvement has now become a Christian imperative.” He suggests “five reasons that Christians might conscientiously abstain from voting.” He reasons that if he could not in good conscience serve as the U.S. president and have to authorize the use of violence, then “as a follower of Christ”: “How can I in good conscience cast my support for someone else to do that in my stead?” Rather than make “a dubious calculation about the lesser of two evils in this regard, perhaps we should consider refraining from supporting either option.” The author believes that “abstaining from presidential elections could signal to our children and to the global church that our first loyalty is to the worldwide fellowship of Christian believers, not to the nation-state.” In chapter two, the author refers to John Howard Yoder’s argument that “voting is at best the weakest form of political action, anti-Christian mythologies surround the ritual, and voting does not change the basic fact that some people still rule over others.” Elections reinforce the “state-as-savior” mythology. The author argues that “historically false and anti-Christian mythologies saturate American elections.” In chapter three, the author acknowledges that as a black, a woman, and a naturalized citizen, she is offending those in these categories who “risked life and limb to secure their vote in the United States.” But she no longer accepts that “voting is an effective way for people to exercise their political voices.” Ballots have only “room to affirm prepackaged candidates whose vague plans have been publicized via sound bites, by negative campaign ads, in speeches, and in televised debates.” In chapter four, the author finds troubling “the large number” of evangelicals “who have entered forcefully and vocally into the political fray with a view toward imposing an ostensibly Christian morality upon a divided American public.” He believes that “participation in the power struggles of governmental politics cannot but betray the cruciform character of Jesus’s ministry.” In chapter five, the author expresses his opinion that Democrats and Republicans are “really more similar than they are distinct” and “two sides of the same coin—a coin that Jesus called ‘mammon.’” Neither party “is really interested in reform or fundamental change.” He believes that Christians are called to submit to government, but not “to participate in it because they may be required to use violence to defend it.” The author holds that the kingdom of the world is the realm of Satan. Therefore, “To vote or to participate in government identifies one with ‘this world,’ not with Jesus’s kingdom.” In chapter six, the author presents the Catholic case for not voting. Instead of asking which candidate is the lesser of two evils, he argues that Catholics should ask: “Is the difference between Catholic teaching and the candidate nearest to it greater than the distance between the candidates?” He concludes that “almost without exception the gap between the two candidates is less than the distance of either candidate from Catholic teaching.” In chapter seven, the author presents the Pentecostal case for not voting. He reminds us that Scripture “never tells us to choose the lesser of two evils.” Reading early Pentecostals inspired him because he realized that “nationalism and the body of God form a lethal combination.” In chapter eight, the author maintains that “we are Christians first and foremost, members of the body of Christ, gathered to be the people and place where Jesus is Lord and Savior.” In chapter nine, the author states his thesis as: “Voting for political leaders, whether we think about it or not, establishes bonds between people and government in similar ways that religion establishes bonds between people and deities.” He posits that “the very act of voting itself is problematic in the same way that participating in warfare or in retributive punishments would be problematic for Christians.” Although Electing Not to Vote is not written from a traditional conservative, evangelical perspective (the most vocal Christian group of voters), it is a good staring place for Christians of every stripe who have never been introduced to the Christian non-voting perspective.
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#1. To: Ada, All (#0)
(Edited)
Utter nonsense. IOW, Christians are to lower themselves into something akin to a suicide cult with not one ounce of resistance to predators, by pretending that they are too holy to participate in politics on any level because nobody will meet their lofty standards. “abstaining from presidential elections could signal to our children and to the global church that our first loyalty is to the worldwide fellowship of Christian believers, not to the nation-state.”
-Alex Kurtagic
#2. To: Ada (#0)
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked 14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? [ http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20Government/Federal%20Reserve%20Scam/satan_on_our_dollar.htm / realitybloger.wordpress.c...-the-constitution-part-i/ ] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”… 17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18And: “I will be a father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”… 1 Corinthians 10:21 / http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/6-17.htm You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons [ realitybloger.wordpress.c...the-constitution-part-ii/ ] too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/6-15.htm Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Long story: 2 Samuel 7 God's Covenant with David (1 Chronicles 17:1-15) 4And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel [and The Church Is Israel Now: Galatians 3, 4, Romans 4, 9; http://www.preteristarchive.com/PartialPreterism/provan-charles_dd_01.html ] , and will plant them [ http://www.wnd.com/2007/04/41327/print/ ], that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime ( http://www.apfn.org/apfn/destruction.htm ), 11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.... [ http://biblehub.com/luke/1-32.htm ] http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/7-10.htm Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6In his days Judah [ http://biblehub.com/revelation/5-5.htm ] shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 8But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.... http://biblehub.com/kjv/jeremiah/23.htm Ezekiel 34 The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6; John 10:1-21 : http://biblehub.com/kjv/john/10.htm ) 11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 16I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.... http://biblehub.com/kjv/ezekiel/34.htm : The enduring legacy of the First Landing Posted By Doug Phillips On 04/27/2007 Four hundred years ago yesterday, the world changed for the better. A cross was planted in the ground [ http://biblehub.com/psalms/2-6.htm / http://biblehub.com/isaiah/49-22.htm / http://biblehub.com/isaiah/11-10.htm and a prayer was offered to heaven. The cross was planted literally, but it was also planted spiritually. The event was the first landing of the Jamestown settlers. One hundred and four of them arrived at Cape Henry on April 26, 1607. We remember the event as the “First Landing,” but it might be better known as “Covenant Day” for America. The rude wooden cross they stuck in the Virginia ground was more than an ebenezer of thanksgiving to God’s providence. In fact, it was an actual gauntlet thrown in the face of the enemies of Christianity. It was a legal and spiritual challenge to all comers that declared, “This land now belongs to Christ and His people.” ............. http://www.wnd.com/2007/04/41327/print/ Do Not Be Unequally Yoked 14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? [ http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20Government/Federal%20Reserve%20Scam/satan_on_our_dollar.htm / realitybloger.wordpress.c...-the-constitution-part-i/ ] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”… 17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18And: “I will be a father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”… 1 Corinthians 10:21 / http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/6-17.htm You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/6-15.htm Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. http://biblehub.com/psalms/20-7.htm Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 2Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers And against the help of the workers of iniquity.… http://biblehub.com/isaiah/31-1.htm Isaiah 49 The Restoration of Israel …21"Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come?'" 22Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations And set up My standard to the peoples [ http://www.wnd.com/2007/04/41327/print/ ]; And they will bring your sons in their bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. 23"Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you will know that I am the LORD; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.… http://biblehub.com/isaiah/49-22.htm Isaiah 41 8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. [ http://biblehub.com/galatians/3-29.htm ] 9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought... http://biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/41.htm / http://biblehub.com/isaiah/41-10.htm Ezekiel 34 22Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 23And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. The Covenant of Peace 25And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. 28And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. 29And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. 31And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD. http://biblehub.com/kjv/ezekiel/34.htm works for me. short story:
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speech http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
#3. To: Ada (#0)
A better question right now might be who should Christians shoot in civil or revolutionary war. If anyone.
"Define yourself as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion."—Brennan Manning
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