Munsil-How Would Jesus Vote

Guest Opinion

How Would Jesus Vote? Look to Scriptures, Not Political Correctness

By Len Munsil
August 23, 2004

Earlier this month, a gathering led by liberal clerics in Texas purported to answer the question, “How Would Jesus Vote?”

Unsurprisingly, this ideologically blinded group took the usual pot shots at leaders of the “religious right” while concluding that Jesus Christ was the original “bleeding heart liberal” because of His concern for the poor.

While Jesus unquestionably was concerned for the poor, there is no evidence He would have aligned Himself with a political philosophy that promotes the destruction of unborn children, the coddling of criminals, the redefinition of marriage and a lack of seriousness about defending the safety of our citizens against evildoers.

All Christians must be cautious to remember that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world. At the same time, however, Christ taught us to love one another, and to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

An entire movement, complete with wristbands, coffee mugs, bumper stickers and websites, began with a simple book -- "In His Steps," written in 1896 by Charles M. Sheldon. More than a century later, we see the wristbands on everyone from students to highly successful businessmen. The premise of the book that launched this phenomenon was quite simple -- what would happen to the world if before taking any action, people asked themselves the question, “What would Jesus do?”

In 1935, Sheldon wrote an author’s foreword for a new edition of "In His Steps." There, he summarized his perspective on the phenomenon that to that point had resulted in his book selling 3 million copies and being translated into 21 languages: “I hope for this edition a hearty and kindly welcome from the readers, old and young, who believe that in the end of human history Jesus will be the standard of human conduct for the entire human race.”

A simple proposition -- making Jesus the standard of conduct for the entire human race.

There is little dispute and little controversy, at least among Christians, that our lives, families, churches, communities and nations would benefit if we all gave more thoughtful consideration to what Jesus would do in each and every circumstance of our lives.

But despite widespread acceptance among Christians of the truth that the teachings and behavior of Jesus should inform and influence every area of our lives, application to the world of politics seems to fall into a different category.

Why is that? Why does everyone go frantic when it comes to applying Christian principles to politics and voting? Suddenly, our decision in the voting booth is a sacrosanct, private matter that cannot be informed by biblical truth and the teachings of Christ? Why?

The notion that Christians should have nothing to do with politics and public policy finds no support in Scripture. To refuse to bring biblical principles into government denies the supremacy of Christ in every arena of human activity. Only a false worldview would lead us to the conclusion that God is omnipotent and omnipresent … except in the Legislature, where He is noticeably absent, and His principles are inapplicable.

In fact, the Bible tells us that all worldly and governmental authority is not only given by God, but exists to serve Him. In describing the exalted Christ, the Apostle Paul writes, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16).

Living as we do in a representative democracy, where our actions influence laws and culture, I think Jesus wants us to vote, and to do so in a manner that advances His principles and reflects His love, recognizing that our laws and policies affect the lives of real people Jesus cares about.

Our goal in examining public policy is not to determine what I think, or what pastors think, or what you think. Our goal is to try to understand what God thinks about particular issues and even candidates. God has answers to every public policy question, to every political issue, and has a perspective on every candidate for public office, none of whom are perfect.

So I have no problem with a group of liberal clerics trying to determine how Jesus would vote. I just think their conclusions are wrong.

Of course Jesus was compassionate toward poor people, and encouraged His followers to take care of the poor. As far as I can tell, however, He never suggested that Christians should steal money from other people and then use a small portion of it inefficiently to redistribute wealth. He wants us to use our own resources to help the poor.

When liberals call conservatives “heartless” for failing to support government programs, they should be challenged to empty their own wallets and put their own money behind efforts to help the poor.

Scripture teaches that God ordained government to serve certain purposes, most significantly to protect people from “evildoers.” Government’s primary purpose, according to Scripture, is to punish those who transgress laws and threaten the safety of citizens (Romans 13).

Liberals who seem unwilling to commit to defending our nation from the attacks of evildoers, who are soft on crime and who oppose government’s efforts to protect the lives of innocent children in the womb are at odds with the biblical mandates for government.

Len Munsil is an attorney and President of The Center for Arizona Policy (www.azpolicy.org).