Election Day and The Lesser of Two Weevils

Four years ago, when many Christians were first considering whether or how they could justify voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, I wrote an article at The Federalist addressing the vote: “9 Reasons Christians Don’t Need to Vote for the Lesser of Evils.” I revisited that article this week, given the considerable back and forth over John Piper’s recent article on the 2020 election: “Policies, Persons, and Paths to Ruin.”

What obligations do Christians have in the voting booth?

A common assumption behind all of these arguments is that Christians have a duty to vote, and that the failure to exercise this duty makes one responsible for the results. Not voting, or voting for a third-party candidate, is morally equivalent to positively voting for the other team. (Footnote: Christians in Germany could have stopped Hitler’s rise if they weren’t so submissive.)

This argument fails to grasp that the morality of a Christian’s vote is upstream of “Clinton versus Trump.” While the New Testament doesn’t directly address the question of how a Christian should vote, it does nonetheless present a uniquely Christian approach to civic engagement. Over the coming weeks, as we make our long, slow march to the polls, Christians should take this opportunity to reflect upon their unique callings in this world, and the deeper meaning and morality of the act of voting.

To wit, here are a few theological reflections on Christian duty at the ballot box, and why we need not vote for the lesser of evils.

This article isn’t a rejoinder to Piper, nor is it an affirmation of his views. But I do think it is interesting to see two different approaches to Christians and the state and our engagement in politics.

One key difference is perhaps a different view of Christian Liberty:

As a pastor, I often emphasize this “Christian liberty” in matters where God’s word is silent, such as voting. Christians are free to wrestle with their consciences in this matter, yet as a minister of God’s word, I have no authority to bind their conscience, other than to urge them to walk in love, which “does no wrong.”

Christian liberty keeps us humble. It reminds us there isn’t necessarily a proper “Christian way” to do everything. Our duties as followers of Christ are specific, limited, and mostly local. Very often, the way of love is the way of not doing harm.

Christian leaders should recapture the humility and wisdom of Christian liberty before they give counsel on how to vote.

God calls us to faithfulness as citizens, but our primary duty is submitting to those rulers God puts in charge. All authority is from him. This should be a great comfort as we face the great unknowns of the coming days (and weeks?):

The Bible tells us God used revolutions, poisonous mushrooms, and loyal secretaries to get his man (or woman) in office. The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians living in the eternal city during Nero’s reign, telling them that “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

God is in charge. Today in America, he uses votes. It might seem more civilized to us, but it is no different. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

God is in charge. Praise God.

(You can read the entire article at The Federalist.)

On a lighter note, the “lesser of two evils” always reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite literary works, Patrick O’Brian Aubrey-Maturin series of novels (which was well-captured on screen in the movie, Master and Commander):

“Two weevils crept from the crumbs. 'You see those weevils, Stephen?' said Jack solemnly.
I do.'
Which would you choose?'
There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.'
But suppose you had to choose?'
Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.'
There I have you,' cried Jack. 'You are bit - you are completely dished. Don't you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!”

Whether in the British Navy, or in the voting booth, remember that you need not always choose the lesser of two weevils.