Faith and Politics

Election Day is right around the corner. There are some critical issues on the ballot as well as a school levy and the election of members for the school board. 

How does your faith influence the way you vote? How does what you believe have an impact on the way you cast your vote?

My faith plays a key part in what I vote for and why. My faith in Jesus Christ shapes and forms all my life including the way I vote. I hope your faith also leads you to decide how you might vote in the upcoming election.

But I’m not going to tell you how to vote or which issues Christians should be most concerned about.

People of faith sometimes reach different conclusions. Some support the Democratic Party, some the Republican Party, others remain fiercely independent.

As a pastor of the church, I’ll never tell you how I think you should vote, and I don’t think other pastors or priests should be telling you how you should vote either. And should not be having candidates from any party in our pulpits.

But what should we be doing?

First of all, pray about how you might vote. Ask questions about justice and fairness and inclusion. Does your vote help all people or just a select few? Will the issues you vote for harm people or hurt them? How might God’s word in Jesus Christ and the Bible inform the way you vote?

Churches should be in the business of supporting a strong faith life, helping you to work out your salvation as St. Paul says “with fear and trembling”  (Philippians 2:12) and all the time passing on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing and commendable” (Philippians 4:8).

In our church, we are not going to tell you how to vote. But we hope that you will use your vote, informed by your faith, to create a better world for all of God’s children.

In Christ, 

Pastor John D. Morris