Well, the debates are over and now its time to choose. For some, the decision is obvious.

I heard through the grapevine the other day, that if you vote for John Kerry, you’re going to hell . . . or at least you’ll have to make an accounting to God on "That Day" for the unfaithfulness or foolishness of your choice.

I’m sure that will come as a great surprise to many of my African-American Christian friends, most of whom are either charismatic, pentecostal, or otherwise theologically conservative, who have nearly the opposite view: "How can you be a Christian and vote for George Bush?"

Who knows, maybe they’re both right. Mark Noll, a conservative Christian and Professor of Christian Thought at the very evangelical Wheaton College, has come to the conclusion that his Christian commitment to biblical positions on race, the value of life, taxes, trade, medicine, religious freedom, and the rule of international law, won’t allow him to vote for either candidate, since "neither of the major parties is making a serious effort to consider this particular combinations of concerns or even anything remotely resembling it." (The Christian Century, Sept. 21, 2004).

There are a growing number of Christians, me among them, who are registering this kind of deep dissatisfaction with our available political choices. And the problem is not just disappointment in the candidates themselves (lack of character or capabilities or consistency, or whatever happens to displease you). Instead, there is finally an awakening to the fact that for Christians neither of the political parties adequately embody, reflect, or promote a political vision that lines up with the Kingdom of God.

"God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat." declares a full page Sojourners ad and petition drive. And they are right! Not only is God not a card carrying member of either party, but as Christians, we need to question how much our own views and choices are shaped more by what party we’re registered with, than by undivided loyalty and courageous commitment to "seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s justice" (or "righteousness," if you will - It’s the same Greek word in Matt. 6:33).

After trying to line up the two party planks with his Christian convictions, Mark Noll concludes, "I am a citizen without a political home." Actually, the revelation that we are "without a political home" should be our starting point, not our conclusion. We are, after all, "aliens and exiles" (1 Pet. 2:11) whose best engagement with our culture and country is as "Kingdom Ambassadors" (2 Cor. 5:20) because our true "citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20).

I’m not saying, don’t vote. Jesus paid his taxes after all. But he knew whose picture and whose name was on the coin, and it wasn’t God’s. There’s a bumper sticker on a car in our church parking lot that says, " Vote the Bible." Good advice. Hard to do . . . if you read the whole Bible.

Thanks for helping me seek first the Kingdom,

Pastor Erwin

PS:

1. Click on the links for more info on any of my references. (Bible passages you can look up yourself!)

2. Did you know there’s a cool new coffee shop called Sidewinder in Northside? It’s next to Ali’s Boutique on Hamilton Ave., 3 stores down on the right from Chase Ave. They’re planning to expand it soon and make it an internet café. We had a MET leaders meeting there today. Interesting glimpse into Northside, and good place to be seen! Check it out.   Also, Northside has a very interesting online bulletin board that is also worth a glance at.