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Christianity Today, November, 2008 |

Ballot Buster

Some Christians think voting is wasted effort.

John Wilson | posted 10/31/2008 09:45AM

Electing Not to Vote: Christian Reflections on Reasons for Not Voting
by Ted Lewis
Cascade Books, June 2008
140 pp., $15.30

In a Wall Street Journal column that ran during the Democratic National Convention ...

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Michael YF Lu

Posted: November 03, 2008 4:37 PM

I think Karen's closer to right: this book is probably not as smug as the very jaded, smug review. Consider: "Michael Degan writes, 'I reject voting not because there is anything intrinsically wrong with it, but because of who I become in order to win. When I join in that contest, I can't help but succumb to the hatred.'" The "therapeutic 'I'"? Regardless of dirty tricks you suspect in the "liberal" media establishment -- can't you agree with Degan, that in this campaign many of "us" have done exactly what he's talking about? Compromising who we are in Christ and our mission as His body, for the sake of something that's ultimately worth much less? The review reveals the same polarized spirit that plagues many US evangelicals' faith: "for us or against us, and if you're against us, you're all the way over to absurdity, nothing to say to us." Even if the book's rhetoric is sometimes "over the top," surely "we" can do better than this as a reply.

Chris Faulkner

Posted: November 01, 2008 12:21 AM

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke. Yes, God is "the decider," so why do we send missionaries overseas or witness to people in America? If God "decides" they are to be saved, then He'll save them, right? There are a lot of things the "we do" not because we are the great and powerful Oz, but because God wants us to be his hands and feet. We vote and pray. But not necessarily that the right person wins (although I'm sure many Christians are doing that). What if (sorry, Angie, from another blog) Obama is the wrong person in God's eyes, but God wants him to win for ..... (God will fill in the blank later). But because we don't know that, we still vote for the best candidate (and some would vote for a non-major candidate who has no chance of winning) and THEN we leave the results up to God. (Re: star rating) I'm new at this and accidentally hit the first star by mistake. I give it a 4.

Karen

Posted: October 31, 2008 10:26 PM

Patrick...it is probably helpful to also point out that if the Founding Fathers had followed the teachings of Christ we would perhaps still be British subjects as well. Is it actually better in the cause of Christ that the US fought for independence? Was the fight against "no taxation without representation" truly a fight against evil? Is voting truly a way of combatting evil or actually a way of harnessing evil for some would-be justifiable end?

Patrick

Posted: October 31, 2008 8:42 PM

If the Founding Fathers and the colonists felt like jon and joe chip, we'd still be british subjects. Cynicism,apathy,complacency, and inaction are self centered and indulgent; the very kinds of charachteristics that invite evil. We are admonished and spurred on throughout scripture Not to adopt these attitudes , but to resist them ALL THE TIME! This is part of a christian's duty and obligation to our God and HIS word. AS Christ said "Let him who would follow me count the cost and bear the cross DAILEY. God as made it possible for americans to guide the course of government through the vote. IT IS SIN TO THROW THIS PEARL BEFORE SWINE, I.E. ALLOW EVIL TO GO UNOPPOSED, GOD WILL SURELY JUDGE US IN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT FOR OUR NEGLECT.

Karen

Posted: October 31, 2008 6:03 PM

Here are some thoughtful reasons not to vote: http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2008/01/08/ten-reasons-why-i-wont-be-voting-f or-the-president/ I think that the book is probably better than John Wilson suggests. After all, I can't imagine a less sympathetic reader for the book that Wilson. It would have been better if someone more appreciative to the Anabaptist non-voting perspective were to offer a review.

Jon	Posted: October 31, 2008 4:41 PM


According to Romans 13:1, God gets the only vote that counts. Any notion that "we the people" have the power to choose is a worldly illusion, unsupported by scripture. Vote if you like, but God is "the decider."

Larry

Posted: October 31, 2008 1:35 PM


Not voting may be "unamerican", but the question is "is it un-Christian"? And if you claim allegiance to both Christianity and America, which allegiance is more fundamental?

Joe Chip

Posted: October 31, 2008 1:35 PM

There are plenty of issues I care about, but I can't in good conscience vote for either of the two main candidates, and seeing as my state (South Carolina) is blood-thirsty and ignorant, they will vote for McCain. McCain will get all of our electoral collage votes, leaving everyone else (even Obama supporters!) with zero voice in determining our national leaders. Will I still vote? Yes. Am I deluded into thinking that my vote makes any difference whatsoever? No.

vince

Posted: October 31, 2008 12:55 PM


Not voting is just plain unamerican, is there not one issue that you feel strongly about?

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