How God REALLY Wants You to Vote!

A political campaign season can be really wearying for those of us who are independent voters, especially if we are people of faith.  There's no shortage of parties and political groups claiming to most fully represent the Divine.  Stressing personal morality, Republicans claim God is on their side. Emphasizing social compassion, Democrats claim God is on their side.  As if any humanly constructed movement or organization could remotely capture all that God is and all that God's heart wants.  Please...!

Admitting that I'm biased, I think the founder of our movement got it right.  John Wesley is credited for starting the phenomenon known as Methodism in the 18th century.  In 1774, giving advice to those in so-called Methodist classes and bands who were casting votes in England, regardless of how they voted, he suggested they commit themselves to the following:

1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy,

2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against,

3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.

Now there's a voting strategy that is closest to Christ-like!  How much of this do you see on the Right or the Left or anywhere in between?   If we all voted this way, neither Republican nor Democrat nor Independent nor anyone else would have the gall to claim to represent God.  We would simply yield to the Holy Spirit, make an informed and humble decision, and do so in love.  Then maybe this current embarrassment which is the American political scene might become something different.

Okay, that's enough from this old political cynic.  I'll see you around the next bend in the river.