Not Voting as Violence

Preach on Anthony!!! I also see what you are saying with people with disabilities and their families. All the people have one thing in common as far as I am concerned: people use them to get what the people in power want not what they really need which is, as far as I am concerned, full acceptance and inclusion into the community as people who are made in the full image of God.

I just recently attended a week-long series of lectures by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, who make the case that Jesus’ Kingdom of God is a way of taking about participatory eschatology. We’ve got to get involved in this world that God so loved for the emergence of God’s Kingdom to come to pass. Without us, God won’t; without God, we can’t.

While I grant my situation is not as dire as the black community’s has been in the past, nevertheless I can relate somewhat, having never been able to exercise the right to vote.

And again, my situation doesn’t quite compare because, given enough time and effort, I could a) move somewhere and eventually be able to vote there, such as Canada or b) attempt to get naturalized and gain citizenship.

Either way, it’s not going to be possible in time for election season. But I’m ok with that. While the ‘voting is violence’ concept is not the sole, or even primary reason why I wouldn’t vote it definitely factors in. But what is of even more concern is how the privilege and act of voting tends to sedate the populace and drain their energy for more productive pursuits. Things that genuinely COULD shake things up and generate change.

My best wishes go to you and others who feel the moral obligation towards voting. My only request is that your conscience does not demand that mine bow in submission to it.

I’ve been studying these issues myself, as I meander through Shane’s book “Jesus for President.” I lived 20+ years in Montgomery, Alabama and know the challenges well. I will be voting for the candidate that demonstrates a passion and an empathy for the impoverished in America and beyond. Until the civil of rights of “the least of these” comes to full fruit, we are all diminished. This was one of the best posts ever here, thanks—-namaste, Kel

Anthony, thank you for this reminder that voting is a right that has been hard won. I had considered not voting this year, but I think I will, although I’m still on the fence as to which candidate.

Today happens to be the 45th anniversary of MLK’s “I have a dream speech.” I remember attending an art installation at SITE Santa Fe, where I stood at a podium, which had the text of the speech flowing on a computer monitor. In front of me was an enormous video screen in the darkened room. As I read, and then preached the speech a projection of a crowd loomed before me. The artist had programmed it so that as I read with greater passion the audience reaction increased; you could see the tears in the eyes of those closest to me in the video and the applause and the shrieks as I hit the notes of the speech increasing to a crescendo at the close. When it was over, I wept uncontrollably as the power of the words and the audience reaction took me to a place of deep empathy and passion.
Interestingly, tonight Obama too must give what must and will be the most important speech of his life; I trust the words of MLK 45 years ago today will be on his heart as he celebrates the full fruit of Dr. King’s work.

Very good article. You have actually done a lot to help get me behind voting again. In defense of some of these “lighter hued” people who tell you not to vote…I can’t speak for everyone else, but I have been against voting because I didn’t see it making a difference. One of the reasons that it has made me so angry is, at least partially, for the reasons you listed above. So many people have given so much so that everyone would have an equal vote only to have those votes stolen, manipulated, and mis-counted by paperless voting machines, re-zoning of districts, and outright cheating.

But you have helped me see that in order to make it matter again, I have to participate…not strike a match to the whole thing (as is my temptation). So, I grudgingly vote, although I still get the distinct impression that I am peeing in the wind. In the same way that you are “postmodernally” suspicious of white people telling you not to vote, I am “postmodernally” suspicious of poly-ticks (from the greek meaning “many blood sucking parasites”) in general. But I believe that we are called to be engaged in the culture around us. This includes the messiness of poly-ticks as well. True, ultimately the Kingdom is what matters, and the rest will pass away. But God calls us to be engaged in the world around us in order to shine His light into all the corners.

Yes Brother you said it.. keep saying it. keep sayig it. As a honkey my people need to hear and hear again. do not be afraid to say it again and again, For unitl i see you as a man and do not register first the color of your face, We need to say it and say it again,
Our emergeny church is heavilly mixed group…. racial sexual orientaton and econimic base..I regret that the afro american church is to a gret extent the most segreated, i also understand it is a refuge

I pary for the day when we are aoo gray and all blind to color or race. and i feel the emergent church will lead us on to greener pastures for race sex, women rights voting rights etc Talking about it( which we do) changes thinks.

Always insightful, Anthony. I’m glad for this counterpoint. I was mildly distressed by the following from one of your links: “If every one refused to vote (and participate in the polarization), and the president of the United States was elected by 10,000 people, how much change would this evoke in the State? How much power would be stripped to wage war?” This sounds like a high-falutin way of saying “What if they threw a war and nobody came?”

I must confess, I tend to vote for icons rather than actors—symbolically rather than pragmatically. I’m not naive enough to think that whoever achieves the office of president this year will live up to the rhetoric he uses to woo my vote, but to hope to send a message by achieving an oligarchical election seems similarly naive and essentially redundant: our presidents are already elected by the slightest majority of eligible voters. Instead I vote as an expression of how I want my country to appear for four years; I vote to decorate the bully pulpit.

The argument that voting distracts us from actual efforts at justice and mercy, I think, is misplaced. The vote is again symbolic, not symptomatic, of such abdication of our moral responsibility. It’s just a vote, after all; there’s four years between each one, plenty of time to figure out collectively how we can persistently follow God into mission.

Meanwhile, voting is elemental to democracy, so if we fancy ourselves democratic, we ought to at least act the part.

Sam (#8). I totally appreciate your sentiments.
And it is absolutely important not to judge a person based on their color, culture, or anything superficial. But a “gray” race, and “color blind” society would be so incredibly dull. God made us humans a diverse group. Each race, culture, etc, brings something to the table that God put there for a reason. There has to be a way to celebrate this diversity without putting one above the other. After all, a gray rainbow would not be very beautiful, but one color is not better than the next.

Hey Anthony,

It was just about a year and a half ago that I actually listened to a speech by MLK, Jr. for myself.

I group up in a republican atmosphere and Jesse Helms was king. Finally, in my 40’s, I am educating myself to the atrocities of our past, even recent, history.

Anthony, this has been a source of tension for me personally… vote, don’t vote… what do I do??

When I walked into the first cohort meeting, that was my first step away from the “patriarchal voices” that I’ve listened to all my life. I love Shane and think what he does is powerful. But, I have kids growing up in a racially divided, politically divided, religiously divided world. I don’t want them to close themselves off to what is going on in the country of their birth. And if I want them to think differently, before they get into their 40’s, I have to SHOW them what that looks like!

I’m voting! I changed my voter registration just so that I COULD vote for my chosen candidate in the primaries. I am excited by my candidate. I am hopeful… but we do have such a long way to go, don’t we?

I agree with you probably 100% Dave (#9). Voting is just the 1st step and leaves the rest of the responsibility upon the shoulders of our nation’s leader(s). Those of us interested in “real change” should do our part(s) in our own communities in the site of our children (future leaders of the world). Teaching/Leading by example to our own children and families will have the greater impact and influence on our future than political debates ever can. So much emphasis is put on voting, and well it should, but we can’t stop at the November vote every four years. Everyday can make a difference if we get off our rumps/couches and get outdoors and let this “Light” (Andrew, #7) shine for all to see. Thanks.

“When I hear them say, “I am not voting because I am a Christian,” I also hear the guttural cry of slaves in the cotton fields of Alabama praying for freedom from oppression.”

Hmmmm….I hear Christ saying this: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12

and this….

“But the Lord said to me, “Do not say ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I comand you.” Jeremiah 1:7

I believe that your words re voting are valid. Yes. VOTE! That’s easy…now! (“now”...aren’t we graced with and blessed by the “now” and the Christ-like shoulders that carried us to the “now”)!

But then GO FORTH and Do!

GO. It is a simple word, really. GO. We gotta figure out our GO!

That is where, I believe, the conversation needs to be shifted. To the GO!

PeaCE

I live in Denver and I am here during the Democratic National Convention. I live about 5 minutes from the Pepsi Center (the center of all the action) and have spent the last couple of days camped out on patios at restaurants and coffee shops watching the action and praying for God’s will and God’s light to be shown through all that was going on. Many times I have had the chance to share Christ through the conversations engaged in with other onlookers as together we discuss our views on the protest being made, the very thought that for once a Black Man will be nominated for president and so forth.

Last night after I got off work I rushed downtown on my bike (there is NO point trying to get around downtown Denver on anything else this week) to see the action as the delegates were leaving and heading to the parties. I stopped on a corner to hear a street band and watch the crowds go by. I wanted to look into the faces and see how they felt about the night. Everyone was alive with excitement and energy. But what caught my eye was that every time I saw a black man or woman pass they were filled with unspeakable joy. There was hope on their face, joy and truth in their eyes, peace and trust in their smile. Even the exhausted seemed to be walking like they were ten feet off the ground. It was almost as if they were saying to themselves, “Finally, we are free.” And I rejoiced! Finally, our actions reflect our beliefs. Glory to God for who He is and how He is working today. Today we are living in a (re) new(ed) world.

Thank you for this post. I was actually thinking about this very subject while I was in the shower today and was planning on blogging on it. Now I will still blog and link to this.

Anthony,
Thanks for the thoughtful words. I’ll try to give a thoughtful response to your post over at my blog(www.reclaimingthemission.com).com) in the next week.

Peace,
David Fitch

Ironic the way you cast history in your post. Very typical U.S.-Negro-Christian meta-narrative. My ‘light hued’, Christian ancestors who fought against slavery in this country (from the first day) would probably not appreciate your racism. Their suffering means what?

And now you take on people who see voting as … evil(?) Their push to not vote has nothing to do with your race. I would suggest it seems even silly to not use what means we’re given to influence society as-a-whole. Nonetheless, to couch it all in an ‘observation’ that they are all lighter hued is, effectively, nothing more than a continuation of a both your Negro-based and others “500-year-old, Christian-sanctioned theo-political meta-narrative of white supremacy.”

The irony is that if I’m offended by what you write because of my history and my ancestry, I’ll be labeled either racist or a continuation of the ‘white supremacy meta-narrative’ even though you are the one who has done the offending and the continuation of an ugly, meta-narrative.

If you are as bright as you are eloquent (which I honestly assume you are), then please stop offending those who were trying to help your ancestry (at great, physical expense) and stop continuing what you write you are fighting against!!

David

Wow. What a completely inappropriate item for the emergent site to send out. Racist? Who is the racist, I wonder? Painting “white Christians” as telling him not to vote? Yup. White Christians are a huge problem. All of them. In general. ALL OF US!

You might think about how many of us white Christians who view every confessing believer as a brother and sister in Christ might be DISHEARTENED by the slam you sent us this morning.

Do you really think it is a function of the emerging church, and this website in particular, to keep fanny race divisions?

Some days I think there really is no hope …

Reading Anthony’s message instilled hope in me, a white male, and did not diminish it. It’s amazing to see the dragon that is racism awaken when difference and color are addressed, and the disheartening is the response of white people who have yet to listen, yet to hear the experience of people of color in this country today. It would be foolish to think that some white people wouldn’t be offended and think the racist is Anthony, but it would be a shame if no other white people stepped in to say, “Listen, my white brothers and sisters, to the experience of Anthony and others. Taste some of the oppression that our non-white counterparts continue to face in this country.” May the experience of people of color in America become a reality to every white man and woman, even if it is only one person at a time.

Great post. I really appreciate the discussion.

I have this habit of being suspicious when ANY christians tell me what to do!

Is this really a race issue, or a christianity-historically-only- representing-and-reinforcing-the-rights-and-worldview-of-a-select-view?

What would Jesus say about some of the religious comments heard during this election campaign:

‘this generation…like children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.’

Everyone is much preoccupied with themself and their pound of flesh- even if it tears the heart from the body of Christ!

Think about the lessons in Matthew 5, all old grievances must make an end somewhere, peace begins with me first…in fact it’s the only peace I can guarantee.

I cannot pretend to understand a multifaceted issue such as this from the perspectives of those groups who have long been oppressed and denied gifts that so many of us have taken for granted so I will not try. But from my own perspective, I do not really believe that those who make philosophical or theological arguments for not participating in an American presidential election are intending this as a way to further oppress minorities and keep them from contributing to the conversation. So I must confess I do not read Hauerwas, MacIntyre, Fish, or Fitch as white men telling other races what to do.

Instead, I think all of them are calling us to recognize that the Church has an opportunity and an obligation to live out our faith in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in. I suspect that all of those white men would recognize and acknowledge that the American Christian heritage was made richer by the contributions of the faithful embodiment of Christianity as a communal way of life embodied in the black church, even in – or maybe, especially in—the midst of persecution.

None of us should “forget” the tragic events of our own histories that created oppression, persecution and imbalanced relationships forged in the contexts of corrupted power. But, as Volf reminds us, we need to remember them redemptively. No vote, either for or against candidates in contemporary American politics can erase the sins of the past, especially when the politics of America have deep ties to a corrupted nature of rule. When we spend too much time thinking about which politician or political party offers us the best hope for a way forward it is easy to forget that we are invited to participate in a different body politic altogether.

I believe that many people much more intelligent than I could make great arguments why one particular candidate is a more faithful choice than the other and we could engage in those debates forever. Meanwhile we do not have to “remember” the sins of our past to see that even in our own moment of history there are millions of Christians around the world who are forbidden the opportunity to vote or even to gather together and worship our God together. These people do not fight against these oppressive regimes primarily by seeking democracy. Instead, risking their own lives against the corrupted nature of rule, they faithfully follow the way of the cross. Maybe in the end, our greatest sin will not be that we vote or do not vote but that we spend all of our “freedom” to debate things that only apply to American politics instead of living into a more excellent way.

Love this post…just love it. We can choose between better goods and better evils with our votes. We have a responsibility to try to make the best decision we can…and then deal with the consequences as best we can. Voting is not violence. At its best, it can be Kingdom living.

Hum…

The post and the responses have put me ill at easy. I have often been conflicted with the pull of white anabaptism theology to give up power (live out of control) and black theology to take up power (live into democracy).

And while this might seem a simple black and white issue (as in those with power telling those without power to give up power), it really is not that simple.

Historically, at the same time blacks were being shipped over the water from Africa to America is when Anabaptists where being drown under the water in Europe. Anabaptists were severely persecuted in Europe exactly because they didn’t fit in to the State sponsored church model which most of Protestantism fell into.

I seems, Anthony, the heart of you post is that the dignity of Blacks is recognized in the ability to vote, and to take that vote away is to again strip away that dignity as a human being. I think recognition is essential, and symbols of that recognition are very important (i.e. the ability to vote). I also that that the symbol of a Black president or a women president would be profound.

But for me the question concerns how the white and black church have been and increasingly are co-opted by consumer America, and that American politics live off consumer America (and whatever we might think of Imperial America, it also is driven by consumer America). Can a political vote really effect consumer America?

I want to thank everyone for their thoughtful comments. Forgive me if I do not address everyperson who responded. But I do want to make a couple of points:

1. I do not believe that ‘voting’ is the only way to invigorate our democracy. I purposely singled out the practice of voting because many people in our country are about to head to the ballot box and a growing number of Christians are finding it their gospel-duty not to based upon very good theological reasons. My point was to simply ask if they’ve considered their social location when making these judgments. Because to make the suggestion that voting is a way to continue to feed the Beast counters much of American history from a “people’s history” to borrow from Howard Zinn.

2. I understand Volf’s point about remembering the wounds of the past. But from my location much of the past still affects present inequities. A third of African-americans live in poverty. Way more than any other group in our society. How do you understand that? Some suggest that this is a legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and the continued legacy of racial inequality in our society. Or is it the simple moral failings of less than rugged individuals? This reality of racial inequity is not something lying down in the past. It has a ugly present as well. And those that would suggest that voting is an evil of sorts would do well to listen to minority voices on this subject. Its not enough to think of voting within the theological cul-de-sac of a Hauerwas (and no…i do not believe hauerwas to be a sectarian fideistic tribalist), Yoder, or peace church traditions. There are other voices worth considering when such an important practice is in que, voting. What I’m beginning to hear from many young white evangelical christians reading Resident Aliens and Politics of Jesus-like reflections is that they come in concert with the cynicism accompanying our cultural moment. I just want them to peek outside the doors of the peace church/anabaptistic traditions for just a moment and listen to the voices of the martyrs of another hue. That’s all.

The issue of race is a complex issue. Which I won’t venture to delve in to deeply here. Too often in spaces like this the mood does not lend itself to the openness and vulnerability necessary to trespass that subject.

Geoff,

Good question. I direct you to Cornel West’s treatment of Constantinian Christianity in his latest book “Democracy Matters”. On the one hand he recognizes the virtue of the prophetic critique of Hauerwas and Radical Orthodoxy (Milbank) offered to North American Christianity’s complicity to imperial schemes. But offers this critique of this anabaptist critique: that it doesn’t deeply indwell and appreciate the deep wells of a democratic insurgency and the relative goods it has produced. That’s why in church groups that ‘live deeply into democracy’ would be puzzled by a Hauerwas and his critique of procedural democracy.

As far as the narrative of consumerism or free market fundamentalism I think we can find common ground there as a way to proceed with collective kingdom struggle.

Black dignity and voting? Good question. “our” dignity is not tied into the right to vote but since we have helped build this country. How much slave labor was used to build the great centers of cultural capital our present day (Havard, Yale, Oxford)? Follow the money. The point is the we have contributed greatly to this society and the vote was one among many ways that recognized our already given gifts. Talk to black pastors in your locale about this subject. They’d probably have better reasons and stories than I.

Much of black political and theological thought recognizes that the ‘vote’ is a small piece of the puzzle. But it was a hard won piece. I have family members still alive who were turned away at the polls. They recount armed white men standing by the ballot box. It is with this history that I do not easily relinquish the gift of the vote. Talk to some of your friends that worship in historically oppressed communities. Indwell their world a bit. What are they saying about the anabaptistic option? Have you asked them?

As a white male non-voting guy, I welcome this conversation. Thank you, Anthony for raising such excellent issues and putting the anabaptistic non-voting stance in tension with the struggles of Black voters.

I particularly appreciate the previous two comments—between Anthony and Geoff and would love to sit in a room and listen to the two of you discuss this further. Especially because I know that both of you have so much theological common ground and are really grappling with the same sorts of questions from different vantage points.

Warm Regards,

Mark

Thanks for the article, Anthony—as a white male planning not to vote, yours is a welcome perspective and good corrective. My only question has to do with the way you argue your point; you don’t seem to reference what the church is called to in order to be faithful, or the Bible, or really anything else except historic racial oppression and the fight to be given the right to vote. If the question is whether or not the church, as God’s faithful people, ought to vote, those factors should be discussed, but how can they be decisive? For example, if we believe that no confessing Christian can hold an office in the State in which he or she pledges allegiance to a country/flag/constitution, or makes the decision to go to war, how can we vote for Obama or McCain—both of whom are professing Christians?

Anyway, great article, I look forward to reading more.

Mark,

I’d love to fellowship with you brothers over this very important topic. Possible conference? I really do appreciate your understanding of the vote and diasporic history of black folks. Many don’t try to understand or care to understand. I do believe that it is a history that all North American Christians should wrestle with. It is a history that has shaped both the black and white churches in our country.

Brad,

You have asked some very good questions. I believe the role of the church in our modern democratic empire is that of a Christ-centered love for both our neighbors and enemies. The church, to quote Lesslie Newbigin, is to be a sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God in our present moment. It is to give witness to the love, justice, and mercy of God in an alternative body politic called ‘church’. This is the role of the church in our North American context, I believe. But how does that look in a modern democracy like America? We could consult the Radical Reformation, Patristics, Anabaptists, Mennonites, prophetic Black Christianity, etc.. as a faithful traditions to glean from in our quest to be faithful to the gospel of the kingdom. But how do we do this in our time. We can look to Augustine and Tertullian but they didn’t live in a modern Democracy. Maybe there’s a much needed church council among prophetic Christian traditions What do you think?

As far as a Christian running for President. Well…I’m not voting for the president because he professes to be a Christian. Many men professed to be Christian in history and have perpetuated the most dastardly of deeds against humanity. I want to know what you are going to do for the least of these. How you are going to make this society ‘less’ violent than it previously was. I look at democratic engagement in piecemeal fashion. We have to find creative ways to bring life to our democracy, as Christians, without falling into the trap of idolatry.

Mark and Anthony,

I also would love to sit down and have some great conversation around these themes.

For me, one of the most important conversations yet to be had in the emerging church is this one touched on here. How exactly does the church engage politics (at the local level, at the national level, through voting, through grassroots action, how should we influence power in washingto, d.c., should we at all, etc). It seems that all we’ve had are comments from afar from ‘experts’ which polarize rather than enter into actual dialogue.

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. It touches on topics that are close to me … especially the Christian Divide. thanks

As always it is wonderful to hear Anthony’s perspective, especially for me not growing up here or learning the history in school. Those labeling him a racist need to actually read his article and then other of his writings (and possibly, you know, talk to him) before presuming to judge his heart.

I hadn’t heard voting is violence. I have read Shane Claiborne and took from that not to put my trust in politicians and the empires of this world to eliminate injustice and establish the Kingdom of God. I do wish to point out that while choosing not to vote himself at one point he and others went to illegal aliens and asked them how they would like the group’s votes cast, giving their votes to people without one. I also noticed that the person writing the blog you linked to is going to vote and that Dr. Hauerwas, who’s opinions he was commenting on, appears to be planning to vote. Are we being told not to vote or just asked to think about what we’re doing and whether we’re hanging all our expectations on a change of government?

Being politically cynical I have a lot of sympathy with the call to not vote. However I also realize that the people who are likely to listen to that call are also the ones likely to “go”. Them not voting is not going to suddenly release a wave of missional christians into the world.

I can’t vote here and it’s mandatory in Australia so I’ll have to at least show up if I’m living there. And I will probably vote, not with any great hope of change but with the idea of damage control.

I hear Anthony calling for me to be aware that the decision whether to vote is not based on the same ideas (or narrative) for everyone. That if I choose to reject voting in elections I should be aware that my decision is based on giving up something I don’t place much value on and that this might not be the case for the people around me, whether they be darker skinned, new citizens, or women who may also feel like they have been, and continue to be, treated unequally. That until I do consider these things my words and actions around this issue may not be loving. As always I hear from Anthony a call to open my eyes and ears and heart to the people around me. Thank you (again) for that reminder brother.

Anthony,

Thanks so much for responding. I especially appreciate the powerful idea of a prophetic council of churches coming together to make decisions (or at least have conversations) about these things.

I don’t think I made my point fully, though. Both McCain and Obama are confessing Christians who have directly stated their intentions to order military action against other groups, individuals, and even nations if certain situations arise. Regardless of their differing temperaments on what kinds of situations would cause them to make that decision, they have been been unequivocal. Similarly, as President, they would have to swear on the Bible their allegiance to defend the Constitution (which is short for “kill enemies of America”).

My concern is that it is simply not an available option for faithful Christians to choose to hold such an office. These are men called by the church, called by Jesus, to love their enemies and to have no other allegiance than to the kingdom of God. First, how can they faithfully occupy such an office? Second, how can another Christian serving as President of the U.S. help the notion, so prevalent in the world, that America is a Christian nation? If Obama were to react to further terrorist attacks on America with military action in the Middle East, he would still be a Christian man ordering war in the name of America! For all the arguments in favor of voting for him, or in general, in light of these facts, I cannot see it as a proper act of faithful Christian discipleship.

Thanks again for your stimulating article and generous responses.

First what an exciting and historical time to be living in. Though I have been a McCain supporter since 2000, I was amazed at how watching Barack Obama receive the nomination from his party brought tears of joy to my eyes to have lived to see this day. How fitting that it should be on the annviversary of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

Yet, in the context of this article I noted two interesting phrases that I would like to put side by side.

The first of those was: “I live with a tragic history that remembers the failure of churches to be more determined by color than baptism.” Yes, that was a tragic time, and even with the excitement of what we are seeing today, we all know there is yet more progress to be made. Black, white, brown, we need to begin to see our oneness in Christ more than the color of one’s skin. We are all baptized into into one Christ. There never was an excuse for those in the church who looked at color rather than our oneness in Christ. Such behaviors are and have always been antithetical to what it means to be the body of Christ. The church is, or at least should be, better than that. We all should be.

So, in light of that understanding of our oneness in Christ because we share “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), I was surprised to read this other line: “The history of my people is a sojourn into recognized dignity.”

What/who exactly does Anthony Smith (a.k.a. Postmodern Negro) mean by “my people”? In the context of this article, I fear he might by “my people” mean “black” people.

My joy at seeing Obama’s nomination was the hope that we are moving beyond seeing color of skin as an issue in our society. I don’t know if Mr. Smith includes me among “his” people or not. I am white. I hope he isn’t implying that the color of my skin means I can’t rejoice in the things he rejoices in. Does color still divide us?

2000 years have passed since Paul told us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The sins of history not withstanding, that is how I see “my people”.

I don’t want to disagree with the power of voting, the right to vote is a privilege everyone deserves. But now that most of us have the right, it’s scary for me to imagine how many people vote out of ignorance. Is merely voting the issue that matters, even if the person voting knows little to nothing about the candidates?

Thanks Anthony,

While I’ve only dabbled in Emergent/Anabaptist blog conversation, I’ve alawys felt this was a topic largely and woefully underdeveloped.

One part of this that concerns me greatly is that the North American Church as a whole (largely led by non-minority leadership) has only slowly begun to provide the kind of alternative to State participation that should be a given in the life of the Church. The question is, can North American minorities find in the Church here a place where their “citizenship” counts for more than it does to the US State? Can minorities in the Church participate at such an equal level that they too can be part of the “cornerstone the builders rejected”? I think the answer is at best unclear. And that reality is one reason why minorities continue to invest great hope in the state society, rather than in the community of Jesus followers. How can we tell the marginalized and vulnerable to trade in for Kingdom citizenship, if the practices, forms and structures of that Kingdom community have(at least in the history of the American Church) effectively denied their passport. I’m not saying this has taken place uniformly, nor am I discounting the movements for change that have arisen in the North American Church, but I’m saying we have a long way to go, and we need to start living the Kingdom we preach. I’m eager to see this conversation continue

Anthony thanks for putting this point out there and making your views heard. I’m glad to see a fresh perspective on this issue, I for one think there’s been a lot of talk about this issue in the blogosphere, and so much of it has been based on not voting. Personally this has been a surprise to me. You mean all these culturally connected postmodern Christians are suggesting political withdrawl? Is that the best we can do? And isn’t it a bit inconsistent with the rest of the message we’ve been putting out about being missional in our society, etc?

One surprising thing to me is that we really think God cannot work through American politics (or politicians) anymore (as though politicians are more corrupt than the leaders of anything else, including the church). Many of us on the left(ish) side of Christianity have reacted so totally against Bush that we find it hard to imagine God being at work in America in this way. It really seems to come down to an oversimplification of the terms: if you vote you support constantianism. It’s similar to an overused pacifist critique (which drives me up a wall) if you’re a pacifist you support terrorism. Both are misrepresentations.

As a missiologist, I still cling to the idea that the missio Dei is happening whether or not the church joins in. Maybe this is my whole problem? But in my view, if a war is ended and lives are spared, I think that’s one for the kingdom. If those who are in need are given what they need I think that’s a reflection of goodness taking place, and “every good gift…”

My point is that we can celebrate the little things that happen politically without endorsing the whole enterprise. I can see God at work in another religion and it’s adherents and I can celebrate that work, but that doesn’t mean I endorse that religion indiscriminately.

Geoff wrote:

“I have often been conflicted with the pull of white anabaptism theology to give up power (live out of control) and black theology to take up power (live into democracy).”

As a Quaker I’d like to argue that our tradition has sought to live in that balance, maybe that’s why they wore gray for so long! :) But in all seriousness, a fully apophatic/kataphatic spirituality (of which Quakerism has sought to embody) lives in the place of both surrender and resistance and has a narrative to illustrate the point.

Thanks for challenging our current views on the matter.

Anthony, thank you for sharing your history with us. I do not agree with some that you are perpetuating the racism you speak of. Rather, you are telling the story you find yourself in. And it is a story many find themselves in. It is valid because it is yours. You have a testimony that incites in you a passion for voting, the way someone else’s testimony gives them passion for particular things. And I thank you for sharing this passion with us. I also thank you for sharing the painful parts of your story, because we must not forget our collective history – good and bad.

After reading your post I watched “The Color Purple” for the first time ever. It just wrenches my heart to know the atrocities suffered by our black brothers and sisters. Also of the millions of people, especially children, who suffer worldwide from many, many evils today. There are better things to do than argue about Anthony’s delivery- whether it was too racial, or did not talk about the Bible enough, or whatever problem one might have with someone else’s experiences…. The fact is, there are people suffering the same and worse than our black ancestors, and if we can unite over the internet to discuss people’s methods of sharing their hearts, then surely we can unite for the greater good of those in need today. It’s what Jesus did, and what He calls us to continue to do. And since a lot of that call can be answered in the polling booth, it is a timely and relevent message Anthony brings to us today.

I was exposed to the idea of Christians not voting in college through the Anabaptist and Catholic Worker influence on Jesus Radicals. It helped me do two things: seek greater loyalty to Christ than America, and better understand the sins of America. I wrestled with ideas of Christian anarchy, but ultimately chose to love and repent more.

For me to abstain from voting and be consistent, I would also need to be like the Omish and totally retreat from the world (which I don’t think we should do anyway). You see, I believe nearly all of our actions are tied to sin in some form or another. I contribute to climate change when I drive, I perpetuate consumerism when I shop, I support companies who exploit their workers, and I support wars with my taxes.

That’s not to say I won’t try to do my best to live into the Kingdom. However at the moment, voting is the lesser of two evils for me.

Peace,
Karl

Those in power are always confronted and tempted with the same hard decisions that leaders have been facing for thousands of years….whether black, white, asian, or hispanic. Abuse of power is something that is characteristic of those in power…not the specific race or ethnic group that is in power. I would just encourage everyone who is trying to attain more power, or “freedom”, in a particular society to do so with an understanding that power and freedom tempt all and that replacing little pieces in a broken puzzle will not solve the overall discontent that one feels towards their state in this world.

Dear Anthony,

In your blog you wrote, “When I hear them say, ‘Voting is one more means to be about the business of Empire,’ I also hear the voice of an assassinated prophet say, ‘We must have our freedom now. We must have the right to vote. We must have equal protection of the law.’” My question is… What’s wrong with regarding the right to vote (or right not to vote) as a way to be about the business of Jesus and to advance His cause and Kingdom? To me, as long as a person is exercising or abstaining from his/her right to vote in an informed manner, and not out of ignorance, then not only does that person have the right to offer input or critique into our nation’s condition, but they are also doing their part to influence our culture for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is a comment I made on Revolution in Jesusland. It seems to fit with this conversation as well.

Hi Zach,

Have you considered Wendell Berry’s essay In Distrust of Movements? I think you might like what he has to say, as well as be challenged by his suspicion.

Like Berry, I am suspicious of anything abstract or mass-produced. And abstraction seems to follow most (if not all) centralized efforts toward change. On the other hand, I really like the interpretation of Luke 10 you present. But does the message in Luke 10 have to translate into something “mass”—keeping in mind the modern day use of the term? For Jesus (and his revolutionary cohorts after the resurrection), their movement seemed to maintain its particularity and “human scale” in the face of imperial virtues such as efficiency and growth. Nationalized or globalized movements, predictably, too often lack embodiment. They too easily fall into dualisms and unloving scandal.

For a community of resistance to be formed by something/someone other than the purveyors of imperial dreams, power and scale need to be re-addressed. By contrasting its “mass”-soaked imagination with the language and metaphors consistent in the biblical prophets, a particular shape and culture should emerge which opposes the abstract tendency of global thinking. To say it differently, a prophetic imagination for our 21st century context may mean living a locally embodied alternative. And it may fail to reach large campaigns promoting “big Ideas” and yet I believe it is a necessary (and deeply satisfying) way.

as a white dude, I laughed when I read anthony’s statement about being suspicious. he should be. we don’t have a great track record. and never underestimate the privileged and educated for coming up with ideas that anyone who has suffered injustice see threw. Only the privileged and spoiled, which I myself have been most of my life, would not vote. Get pulled out of a car by a cop for DWB (driving while black). Try to make sure your kid with a disability gets a fair shake. and suddenly you will realize that not voting makes as much sense as burning money. the big question is not “do I vote” but “how much time and effort do I put into the political realm?” You could spend all of 5 hours reading the various positions of who is running for office and quietly pull the levers. Or you could spend 100 hours and as much money as you can afford to try and sway the elected officials. Jesus talked about people bugging judges til they got justice. he spoke of using dishonest wealth. To even live in america in an air-conditioned home simply by accident of birth is “dishonest wealth” compared to the 1 billion poorest. That does not mean the AC is bad. It means you better live your life in light of the 1 billion who don’t got food, let alone AC. vote!

Thanks for the post. I fear that not voting is treated as being apathetic, which is not something a Christian should be.

What I respond to is the limitation of choices. The post speaks to an important aspect of it.

I am also concerned about another aspect of it. We keep being told that we must choose between the candidates who espouse priority for wars and preparations for wars (both McCain & Obama do, in almost identical positions) and represent corporate interests who oppress the poor.

I can not vote for the Republicans or Democrats in good conscience. But at least in most jurisdictions, there are other options if not on the ballot through writing in. I insist on voting, but rarely vote for duopoly candidates.

I am saddened that some EC leaders have fallen victim to a form of Constantinianism where they feel they must cast their lot with one of the establishment parties. I believe the church should play a prophetic role, not a power broker role.