HWJV?

          On Tuesday, October 21^st my wife came down with the flu.  The date is significant because that was the day she was to lead a discussion entitled “Faith and Politics” at our church’s Presbyterian Women’s monthly meeting. 

As a loving and caring husband, I volunteered to take her place. Me taking her place, talking politics, made her nervous.  No, to be totally truthful, it made her VERY NERVOUS.  I promised, though, not to make this a debate on our two presidential candidates and my very strong opinion on that subject.  Unfortunately, that was only a slight consolation. But since she was already delusional with the flu, she relented and allowed me to fill in for her.

          My first question to the women that night was “HWJV?” Interesting question, isn’t it?  With the election just days away (assuming our newsletter is distributed on Sunday, November 2^nd), it is a question that most of us should be asking ourselves as we prepare to go to the polls.  How would Jesus vote? 

If you are looking for an answer in this “editorial” to that question, you will be sorely disappointed.  Again, I had to promise my wife I would not talk Presidential Politics.  Of course, I would love to tell you how to vote.  I think it is clear. Then again, other religious leaders also think it is very clear and their vote will be very different than mine.  What to do?

I think we need to approach the election as Jesus would.  And not just where it comes to presidential candidates.  We also have representatives to elect, bond measures to approve or disapprove, state constitutional amendments to consider.   This is a VERY IMPORTANT election.  I hope you plan on voting. But more importantly, I hope you are preparing to make an informed vote.  I believe it is the responsibility of every conscientious Christian to make an informed and carefully considered and prayed about vote on the candidates and the issues.

Let me suggest some things to be thinking about – things I think Jesus would also consider.  The most obvious: How does this candidate or issue stack up against the imperative to love God and love one another?  Do they/it demonstrate a love of one another? Or in the negative, does this candidate or issue impair our ability to love?

How does this candidate (or issue) deal with or affect our concern and/or responsibility for things like the poor, the hungry, the underserved in our society?  Jesus stood with (and in) those who were the disadvantaged in our communities (read Matthew 25:31-46).

Is healthcare in this country a right?  Do all people have the right to basic medical care?  How should this be administered?  There are no easy answers – but this is an issue we need to consider.  Jesus did – he healed the sick, he cast out demons (often just illnesses that were misunderstood at the time), and he raised the dead. 

How about the taking of human life?  War?  The death penalty?  Abortion? Or the right for all people to have the freedom to choose?  How do we decide when the cost is worth the lives expended?  Where would Jesus stand on such controversial issues?

If we don’t think about these things prayerfully and thoughtfully; if we don’t educate ourselves on the real implications of the choices we make in the voting booth --- we are not taking seriously our call to live in accordance with who God calls us to be.

We need to be living examples in our communities of GOODNESS, GRACE, COMPASSION and PEACE.

May we each take the time to vote and to vote responsibly.

 And as always, I hope to see you all on Sunday!!!

Pastor Tom