by Tim Burgess

In a couple of weeks we will vote, taking part in an American ritual that is the bedrock of our democracy.

I suspect many of us don’t feel comfortable discussing religion and politics in the same breath. Or we may buy into the belief, common around here, that these topics don’t mix; that matters of faith are strictly private and shouldn’t intrude on the public square.

Or, we may feel sidelined by other Christians who speak loudly, sometimes abrasively. We allow our voice to be silenced by the rhetoric of others.

As we prepare to vote, here are some biblical principles that I believe should inform our decisions by focusing our thinking. I’ve gleaned these from my own study and from the work of Mark Noll, a history professor at Notre Dame, and Stephen Monsma, a former elected official and professor of political science at Pepperdine University.

God created us in his image. Life is to be cherished and protected. Beginning with the creation story and throughout Scripture, we read about God’s overwhelming desire to reconnect with lost humanity. Genesis tells us that God “created us in his image.” The Psalmist writes, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The essence of the gospel is God’s redemptive love for each of us. People matter! Examine political issues and candidates with this principle firmly in mind. There is no place for divisions based on race, class, and the other convenient separations we concoct.

God has a special affinity for the poor and those unable to defend themselves. The Bible speaks more about our responsibility to protect and care for the poor and oppressed than about any other single subject. The Old Testament is packed with stories and warnings from the prophets that God’s people should defend and look after the poor. The book of Luke is often referred to as the “political and social-action Gospel”; James tells us that pure religion is demonstrated by “caring for widows and orphans.” Before voting, ask yourself, “How does this candidate approach issues related to the poor? To poverty? To systems of oppression?”

God demands justice. God wants us to demonstrate justice in our relationships with other people, in our business transactions, in our courts, in relationships between nations. Justice and righteousness are often directly linked in Scripture, as in the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

God created the earth and appointed us as its stewards. Genesis is clear that stewardship of the earth is one of God’s assignments to us. In Psalms we read, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Do the candidates you support advocate developing and using resources in ways that protect God’s creation, renew resources, guard against pollution, and clean up the damage we have already done?

God mandates civil society. In Jeremiah we read a very interesting admonition. “But seek the welfare of the city . . . and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” God is telling his people to work for the good of the city, to pray for the city. Why? Because the people’s well-being was linked to the welfare of the city. God is saying, in essence, that he wants the city to prosper so that everyone can benefit. He wants his people to work for the common good, to contribute to the community, to make it a better place.

Do your candidates focus on self-interests or the common good? Do they advocate for inclusiveness and community? Or do they tend toward the rhetoric and “consumer mentality” of individual gain?

Sixth, God desires reconciliation. Jesus set some high standards of reconciliation behavior for those of us who follow him: Love our neighbors. Pray for our enemies. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Confess our sins one to another. Forgive so we may be forgiven. Do your candidates display a desire for reconciliation?

With these principles in mind, I’m advocating that as Christians we evaluate candidates, as one writer says, “by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, or special interests.”

And let’s always remember this central truth: It is the sacrifice of Christ, and the promises of God’s Word, which give us our ultimate hope—not our political system or our politicians.

Tim Burgess is a member of the Seattle City Council. He and his family have attended Bethany since 1985.