As We Head To The Polls, Let’s Focus On Peace

Last night, as I was perusing my Facebook feed, I came across a friendly little reminder from someone I know: A Christian worldview demands a vote for Trump! Vote Trump or God will judge you!

Heh.

Heh heh.

Okay, let’s be clear: I’m not worried about the status of my soul if I vote for Hillary. I will happily — joyfully, really — vote for the first woman president today. I’ll bring the picture of my great-grandmother, who was a suffragette, and I’ll bring my children, so they can participate in this momentous event, because, as my eight-year old son said the other day, “This really is a historic election. We’ll either have the first woman president or the first orange one.”

Whenever people start talking about programming my world view — Christian or otherwise — things start to feel a little creepy. But seriously? Eternal damnation because I’m choosing to vote for a woman who I believe will do more to care for the poor, the sick, the outcast? You know — the one who’s not a potential child rapist? I don’t think that’s sending me to hell. If there even is a hell.

In fact, I think that idea is just some really messed up theology.

But here’s the thing — and it’s more important than anything anyone has ever said about this election. Tomorrow morning, you and I are going to wake up and have to live together on this planet. Let’s agree to do it peacefully, with the love of Jesus.

Because even if you vote for Trump, I don’t think Jesus loves you any less. And if you vote for Trump, I am here to tell you that Jesus is still crazy mad in love with me, too, even if you think I’m going to hell in a hand basket, as my gram used to say.

In fact, and I’ve been saying this all along, Jesus even loves Donald Trump. Even if that fact annoys me (and I confess it does — I’m not proud), it’s still true. The wide open arms of Jesus on the cross include Donald Trump in the great big bear hug Jesus gave the world.

It’s not up to me to say any different. And it’s not up to anyone else to decide how Jesus will judge me. Trust me when I say that Jesus is the main reason I’m not voting out of fear but rather out of hope.

So tomorrow, regardless of who wins, Jesus is ultimately King. He is the ruler of my heart. And because of that, I may not like Donald Trump, but I will love him, and all of his supporters.  I commit to being an agent of shalom on this earth, a doer of good things, the salt and light in a world enmeshed in darkness. Regardless of who wins this election today, it’s our job to hold them accountable.

But more importantly, it’s our job as Christians to love the world.