Words of Faith: Faith, core values should guide how you vote

“Are you a faith-based voter?” the person on the phone asked me.

I asked them to repeat the question. “Are you a faith-based voter?” I asked them what they meant by that question. “Are you going to make sure that there is a Bible-believing Christian in the White House?”

I responded that I will vote for the candidate who best represents not the parroting of litmus test words whether or not they fully understand them (really, “TWO Corinthians?”) but the candidate who supports policies which reflect the underlying values of my faith.

My response confused the questioner, and the conversation was over.

We’re entering primary season for the presidential election that has really been in full swing for a year already. But for all the verbiage, things now get serious. Who is going to get the votes? Who is going to get YOUR vote?

I hope that you vote. I’m passionate about that. We have an appallingly small number of folks who show up to vote, especially in the primaries. I figure, if you don’t vote, you have no voice to complain about the outcome, or the consequences of the election. If you don’t vote, don’t tell me what a patriot you are. This is a participatory government, and this is our invitation to participate (I was a Political Science major in college, can you tell?).

But what does all this have to do with Words of Faith? This: People of any of the major faith traditions subscribe to a set of values that underlie their religion. What are the values that underlie your faith? What does your faith tradition teach? Not, what can you make your religion say to fit your own comfort, but what does it actually say, in context? How has that been lived out, historically, for better and for worse? How do those values and principles apply to today’s society and choices?

Do you know and live only the surface of your religion, or do you plumb the depths for meaning?

I am not aware of a single major religion in this world that has a “me, first” philosophy. If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, and you think his message was about your personal success and security, let’s talk. If you are Jewish and think that the Hebrew Scriptures teach that, I’ve got a rabbi I’d love for you to meet. Muslim? Same thing – an imam is standing by… Hindu? Buddhist?

I confess that this doesn’t make me very happy or comfortable. I like to think in terms of voting in my own self-interest. But I work to let my faith determine how I respond to current issues (which is a deeper and different thing than, “what would Jesus do?”) and then vote based on that.

I’d love to believe that one politician or political party will reflect all that, but I don’t. I hope that you don’t, either. I invite you to reflect on your faith and its core values, then to use those to instruct your voting.

I’ll see you at the polls!

This story was originally published January 24, 2016 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Words of Faith: Faith, core values should guide how you vote."