Faith in Action: A Prophetic Christian Voice on the Presidential Election

by Marlon Millner 

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
2 Kings 7:3

In the coming days, the United States faces one of the most important elections in its history. This election -- for many Christians -- will determine the importance of the role of faith in public life. We have set before us life and death and we need to make good choices if we are to live to live again. Christians have been asked to vote the Bible, to vote our values. We, as leaders in Christian churches wish to echo the convictions to be Christians in this hour. We seek to thwart those who would manipulate our vote from any source, or convince Christians that we are one-issue voters if that issue is not Christ himself.

We believe the narrative of the prophet Elisha is instructive to us in this hour about how we should prayerfully and spiritually consider this election. The Christian voice will not always been a welcome voice, even though we can rightly take the risk to speak for God. (2 Kings 7:1) The story of the prophet Elisha suggests that people who claim to hear God's voice, and be lead by his Spirit can have a place in public life, but that place often results in a voice that cannot be captured by any one issue or party.

We believe:

1) The prophetic Christian voice often does not support war, even when military expertise would suggest it is the logical outcome. The Biblical evidence suggests daring to trust God often makes war untenable. The prophetic Christian voice is not a naive pacifism, but a risk-taking faith, daring to believe it is not by power or might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. We believe the best hope for peace is authentic Christian witness, not war. (Zec. 4:6; 2 Kings 6:20-23)

2) The prophetic Christian voice fights for the right-to-life unequivocally. And we recognize life is not merely being born biologically, but quality of life that the Spirit and ethics of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ demands. When poverty, oppression, fear and sexual immorality abound, and life's quality is vanquished, the right to have it is compromised. These issues must be addressed not only through laws, but through the ethics and economics of sustainable and renewable growth, and a culture of commitment and fidelity. (John 10:10; 2 Kings 6:26-30)

3) Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. But no political definition can ever convey the meaning of the covenantal and sacramental nature of Christian marriage. As prophetic Christian leaders in a country where about half of the marriages end in divorce, condemning and criminalizing sexual immorality will not be enough. Using biological litmus tests or constitutional amendments will not change hearts, minds, or sexual practices. Prophetic Christians must witness a renewed vision of mutual submission, and covenantal love toward God in marriage if our public proclamation is to carry prophetic weight. (Eph. 5:1-5, 21-33)

4) A holy life is not just personal holiness, but social holiness. A holy nation cares for the health and well being of the young and the old, the poor, the sick and the vulnerable. Our God is the God that heals, not reserved for a few, but made available to all. Godly care is not mere charity, but justice. Wealth is never to be held by, or returned to, a few, but to be shared by all. Churches lead the way, but never to the exclusion of the public, elected leadership and resources of our common nation. We continue to proclaim that Christians and non-Christians alike heed the call of holiness in personal lives and public policy. (Isaiah 58; 2 Kings 7: 9-16)

5) Our political leaders may be people of faith of various traditions, but often the ways of politics lead to challenge our Christian values, particularly if we do not repent when we make mistakes or are wrong. Christian steadfastness is not to be confused with self-righteous stubbornness. When this challenge occurs, not just in one area, but in any area, we speak out and recognize that the nation's leaders and people may often judge us harshly, as they did our Lord Jesus. It is at this time that our witness against war, for pro-life, for covenantal marriage, for healthcare and healing, for responsible and equitable economic growth is often challenged, because we too must face the demands of doubt, fear, and hate when our witness has not yet won the day. Yet our calling is to prophetically declare we are Spirit-led to declare the Lord's Day in our day. (Luke 4:18; 2 Kings 6:30-33)

In our story of the prophet Elisha, four sick and diseased persons became the instruments of God's power. We believe in human weakness, the Spirit's power is best expressed. As such, our hope, faith and love transcend mere territorial, national or ethnic interests. The city, the country to which we are called eclipses any notion of America as a city set upon a hill. We occupy until God comes and establishes in all the earth that beloved community, that place where God shall be all and in us all. Until that day we continue to speak prophetically and witness to a living faith, hope and love, with renewed passion that we do have an important voice in the public life of this nation. And we hope other prophetic Christians will exercise that faith responsibly in days, weeks, months and years ahead.

With renewed hope in America, but ultimate faith, hope and love in the Lord Jesus Christ.