Jim Coppoc.

Every couple years about this time, I am asked for counsel. There’s an election coming up – who should we vote for? And every couple years, I refuse to give a straight answer.

The truth is that we have no idea how Jesus would behave in a democracy, because there weren’t any in his time and place. We do know that Jesus believed faith and government should be separate things (“render unto Caesar”). We know that Jesus wasn’t interested in political office of his own (John 6:15). We even know what Jesus thought made a good leader (see Matthew 20:25-28). But we don’t know how – or even if – Jesus would have voted.

When I became a pastor, I gave up my party affiliation. I changed my registration to “Independent.” I did it for the freedom. I didn’t want any sort of party loyalty to interfere with my loyalty to God, and the people I serve. I don’t believe pastors have any place in partisan politics. So now, instead of speaking about candidates, I speak to issues.

If immigration is the most important issue to you, you can find God’s word laid out in places like Leviticus 19:33-34 or Matthew 25:35. If the environment is your thing, consider the duty of care placed on humankind in Genesis 1 and 2. If you are worried about war, look for guidance in places like Numbers 35:33-34 or Matthew 26:52. If you want to know what Jesus thought about gender and sexual minorities, try Matthew 19:11-12.

We are given pretty explicit instructions throughout the Bible on how to treat others, and how we will be judged when our time comes. My go-to passage is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats at Matthew 25:31-46, in which Jesus tells us pretty explicitly that everything we do to or for another person, we are doing to or for God.

If you meet a pastor who tries to tell you who to vote for, run. If you meet a pastor who ignores the actual Bible in discerning the big issues, also run. As Christians, our main obligation is to find ways to love and serve others as best we can. Everything else, as Jesus so famously said (Matthew 22:34-39), hangs on these.

Jim Coppoc serves Ripley United Church of Christ at 400 S. Main Street in Traer. You can find Jim online at www.facebook.com/jim.at.ripley.