Before you vote, please ask yourself a few questions

I voted today, Oct. 22. Most of you know that Kathy and I left Oct. 26 for a vacation in Germany to celebrate our 35th anniversary, so we won’t be in Alaska on Election Day.

As a pastor I try not to tell people for whom I believe they should vote. One reason for this is there is no perfect candidate. God tells us in Scripture we are all sinners. Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. Imagine if the church supported a candidate who was elected and this office holder was then involved in a horrible scandal. Did the church then approve of the scandalous behavior? Obviously not. However, it can seem to others that if the church supports a candidate, and the candidate misbehaves, that children of God then accept that bad behavior. We want to give a witness that honors our Lord, not one that dishonors him.

Although as pastor I won’t tell you which candidate you should support, I will seek to pastor and guide Christians to follow what God says about how we should live as God’s children. God’s people are called to respond to his love and live lives of faith, honor, righteousness and justice. We are to love God and love others. God has given us the Ten Commandments. These commandments are the healthiest way for us to live, and when we live according to these commandments our lives then give honor and glory to God.

So, while as pastor I try not to tell you who to vote for, I will encourage you to act in an informed manner to honor our Lord, who loves and saves us. Before you vote, please ask yourself a few questions.

• God calls his people to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). So, which vote will lead to policies and actions of justice and mercy, especially for the vulnerable in society?

• Scripture tells us a purpose of government is to reward those who do good and punish those who do evil. When I vote, which vote supports righteousness in our culture?

• Scripture tells us the government is to work for an orderly society so the church can “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2).

Which vote will provide the best opportunity for God’s church to live as God’s children and to freely share the Gospel?

Please remember, no matter how we vote, human beings are sinful and have failures. Just like there is no perfect Christian, there is no perfect leader. We can, however, see directions that a politician endorses and we can judge which candidate plans a course for our community that most closely follows the direction God gives us. I firmly believe that when we live as children of God we bless those around us with our faith and love.

Christians need to do more than just vote. God calls his children to work for the good of our communities, to honor those who serve, and to pray for our leaders. We work for the good of our community and our country when we vote informed by God’s love and direction.

The Christian life is a life of response to our loving Lord who has saved us in Jesus. Jesus describes that Christian life of response with these words, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). I am convinced that when we take our responsibility as citizens seriously, we then show God’s love to others. I encourage you to vote this election, and I pray for God to bless our community and our country.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

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