“Voting is one of the most powerful tools we have as people of faith.”
It is no accident that the Gospel’s directive to ‘Love Your Neighbor’ is frequently written off as mixing politics with religion. But what if the teachings of Jesus, by addressing the necessity of compassion and care for the least of these, are not just political but profoundly so? Indeed, if the definition of politics (from the Greek word, polis) asks, ‘How do we take care of each other,’ imagine if our sacred text is the most political of documents?
Yes, we are overwhelmed by the number of consequential, if not existential, issues facing us. Be it climate change, poverty, hunger, healthcare, immigration, housing, or violence waged against the most vulnerable, we are in a state of polycrisis, as when multiple challenges are affecting our world simultaneously. Yet what if politicians bankrolled by fossil fuel corporations and other big-money interests lost an election? What if they were voted out of office by the very people adversely affected by their greed and complicity?
Imagine if, all along, democracy has been the engine that has the means to change the levers of power. What if the unassuming, humble voting booth where ordinary citizens go to cast their vote is the basis for sacred ground?
Prayer: Holy One, when tempted to relegate politics beyond the scope of what our faith requires of us, teach us to remember that the love of one’s neighbor requires otherwise. Remind us that our actions, especially towards the least of these, were never intended to be separated from the faith we profess to hold. In your mercy, restore us to your likeness, we pray. Pour out your life-giving Spirit upon us so that we, as your people, will do whatever is necessary to protect and preserve your creation and all of humankind. Let your grace dwell richly within us so that, as citizens and people of faith, our actions will testify to your all-encompassing love. We ask this in all the holy names of God. Amen.
[1] I am indebted to the Third Act’s panel discussion on the Sacred Right to Vote, held earlier this May. In particular, those serving on the panel, Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Rev. Carol Devine, Activist Mubarak Elamin, and Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, illuminated this urgent topic through a well-informed discussion on the intersection of voting and faith.
Jessica, thank you for framing ” political” as how we care of each other. This election, even more than many others in the past, will decide if our nation moves in the direction of more caring for each other and the natural world, or in the direction of more destruction.
Thanks for your feedback, Mary Ann. Your observation concerning this upcoming election is spot on. I credit Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, whom I refer to at the close of my post, for making the connection between scriptural text and its political implications.
An effective way to present this issue for many faithful people who just want to stay away from anything “political,” and feel that they are justified by scripture. Thank you so much!
Maren, thanks for your observation, particularly given how your many years of preaching, teaching and serving in the parish. Your comment, that many faithful people who want to avoid politics feel they are justified by scripture, is spot-on. From my end, you’ve encouraged me to continue to hone my argument – especially given what the original Greek meaning of the word, politics, asks of us.