You know what’s fun and easy about finding Christian scriptural support for the party or candidate of your choice? It can be done easily with tools you probably already have in your home, particularly if you focus on the warts of one candidate or party while ignoring similar defects decorating your own.
And the thing about Christian theology, see, is that it’s
not a cafeteria plan. You don’t get to waltz in and pick only the stuff you
want. You have to take it all.
Similarly, when you select a candidate or political party,
your selection should not be made holding your nose or ignoring the faults that
are there. You get it all, the halos alongside the horns. To believe otherwise
is to be dishonest with yourself.
For example. I’m not much pleased in what I see in the official
platform of Black Lives Matter, the organization. I do, however, recognize that
in America, black lives indeed matter less than white ones. Maybe not to the
rank and file of most good Americans. But certainly that message comes out, and
loudly, from some good Americans, and some good American politicians and
political parties.
God tells me the following:
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)
I see little of this in the platform of Black Lives Matter.
And I see little of it in the attitude of “All Lives Matter,” which seeks not
to spread love and understanding and reconciliation, but the dismissal of
ongoing prejudice and justifiable anger for the sake of maintaining the status
quo, or even saying “wait a while longer; it’s getting better.” That kind of
thinking and rhetoric is certainly not making things better, and waiting since
at least 1860 seems long enough, doesn’t it?
Does that mean I love riots and the destruction of property?
Of course not. But if a party’s candidate’s answer to riots and destruction of
property is to shout that ongoing suffering that engenders it doesn’t matter
because all lives do, I find little to support in that either.
And also, I find little to support in a party that turns a
blind eye to racism in some of its base, its rank and file leadership, and its
top politicians.
“Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am
about to say,” said Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints in early October 2020. “God does not love one race more
than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto
him. Black and white, bond and free, male and female. I assure you your
standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or
disfavor with God is dependent up on your devotion to God, and his
commandments, and not to the color of your skin. I grieve that our black
brothers and sisters the world over are enduring the pains of racism and
prejudice. Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes
and actions of prejudice. I plead with you to promote respect for all of God’s
children.”
This, to me, if I can borrow a phrase from U.S. President
Richard Nixon’s press secretary Ron Ziegler, is the operative statement. And by
asking members of his church to “listen carefully” to what he has to say, and
to “lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice,” he acknowledges
such attitudes and actions exist among church members.
I see little in American politics of any stripe that
promotes such introspective action, and certainly not from the party currently
in power. And I hold little faith that President Nelson’s request will be much
more than a footnote as Satan continues to strengthen his hold on the hearts of
men, both inside and outside the church, unless we as members of the church
embrace this request in earnest. I know where that request comes from, and I
will do my best to follow it.
And while I see little to gain from a party or candidate who
turns a blind eye to the problems inherent in illegal immigration, I see little
to gain from a party or candidate who vilifies each immigrant, legal or not, as
criminals, rapists, sponges, or job-stealers.
Back in 2015, Elder Patrick Kearon said the following of
refugees:
“Being a refugee may be a defining moment in the lives of
those who are refugees, but being a reguee does not define them. Like countless
thousands before them, this will be a period – we hope a short period – in their
lives, Some of them will go on to be Nobel laureates, public servants,
physicians, scientists, musicians, artists, religious leaders, and contributors
in other fields. Indeed, many of them were these things before they lost
everything. This moment does not define them, but our response will help define
us.”
He then quoted the following from Matthew 25:40: “Verily I
say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Jesus, in this verse, does not say “unless they came into
the country illegally,” or “unless they’re criminals.” He offered no such
exceptions. He did not excuse sin – He famously told the woman caught in
adultery to “go and sin no more,” but neither did He condemn her. Interestingly,
He asked her accusers to be the first to cast a stone, if they were sinless.
And they were not. And they left without tossing so much as a pebble.
In today’s politics, no such hesitation exists. No party
holds such innocence. Stones would be hurled, the woman killed, by politicians
and parties with blood on their hands from other such actions, literal or
figurative. To claim otherwise is, again, to hold one’s nose and ignore the
stink underneath the perfume.
So what’s the answer?
Oh, if I knew, and could implement it successfully, I’d be one of those Nobel laureates Elder Kearon spoke of. I do believe, however, the answer does not lie in turning a blind eye to the shortcomings of politicians or political parties merely because some of what they say aligns with what I believe. I see enough vilification of politicians who ideally express similar ideas, even among people who profess belief in God and profess adherence to all of His teachings; vilification that comes because not everything they do toes the expected line.
There is no ideal spiritual refuge in politics. I do know I
cringe when I hear someone say a particular politician is “the one” God or
Jesus has chosen to lead. Looking at the politicians vying for such leadership
leads me to conclude:
1. 1. God and Jesus really stink at selecting politicians
to promote what we read in the scriptures, or
2. 2. Earthly society is so far gone the bottom of the
political barrel is being scraped relentlessly, by both God and man.
The best principle I can come up with is this:
“Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in
various political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody
those principles.
“While the Church affirms its institutional neutrality
regarding political parties and candidates, individual members should
participate in the political process. Please strive to live the gospel in your
own life by demonstrating Christlike love and civility in political discourse.”
This, from a letter signed by Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H.
Oaks, and Henry B. Eyring, on October 6, 2020.
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