Love Your Neighbor with Your Vote

By Stephen Reeves

We don’t need to remind you that today is election day, but as an organization committed to pursuing justice, we know elections have consequences.

Most likely you have already voted, but if not, let us urge you to love your neighbor with your vote. Rather than wondering how policies might personally benefit ourselves, or how our particular viewpoints might be advanced, perhaps we should consider if those we elect will promote policies that feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, welcome the stranger, comfort the prisoner or care for the widow or orphan.

The answer is not always simple, but I believe as a Christian this is where our politics should start.

This election, instead of voting for yourself, vote for the kids in underfunded schools, vote for desperate migrants making a dangerous journey north seeking asylum, vote for the food insecure, vote for those living paycheck to paycheck trying to make ends meet for their family.

You may be filled with anxiety today. Please, take a deep breath and remember that our allegiance is not to a politician or a party. No matter the outcome, our ultimate hope is not in the powers and principalities of this world. No matter the outcome, our call is still the same - to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

While it might be a good time to remember that God is in control, our choices have consequences. We cannot pretend the outcomes are equal, nor dismiss grave concerns with trite platitudes.

No matter who wins, our work continues. It will not look the same, but when you commit to loving your neighbor with compassion and justice, when you pay attention to the marginalized and and neglected voices that Jesus so loved, one election won’t end the work.

No matter the outcome, we don't get to quit. We cannot grow so cynical that we wrap ourselves up in privilege, opt out, and stay home. We cannot give in to despair. We also can't expect that if the candidate we prefer wins, there is nothing more we should do.

So tomorrow and in the days to come, commit to the long journey of practicing compassion and pursuing justice. We commit to promoting peace and know we may all need a little patience. In the days ahead we will need each other.

Today, we pray for peace. We pray for a clear, uncontested outcome. We pray for a renewed faith in democracy.

We hope that you vote, and do so motivated by love and hope, not fear, hate and anxiety.

If you’ve not yet voted here are a few good resources -

Presidential Immigration issue comparison from the National Immigration Forum.

Harris and Trump Issue Comparison by Reuters

Personalized Voter’s Guide by Vote411 and League of Women Voters