WWJE: Who Would Jesus Elect?
Preview: Jesus’ five criteria for his followers—applicable to candidates for office
January 2024
“Ever since President Jimmy Carter’s 1976 profession that he was born again, voters have expected a faith narrative,” reports sociologist Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. “More and more candidates are going to find out that Americans are going to want them to say something about their faith and how that affects their life,”
And so, the major 2024 presidential candidates–in alphabetical order–are on record as . . .
Joe Biden: Catholic
Chris Christie: Catholic
Ron DeSantis: Catholic
Nikki Haley: non-denominational Christian
Robert Kennedy Jr.: Catholic
Vivek Ramaswamy: Hindu
Donald Trump: non-denominational Christan
So, WWJE? Who would Jesus elect? It’s not an easy question.
First, Jesus would warn against “people [who] honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is actually living out Jesus’ teachings. He commands not to “judge” but in the same chapter he commands us to be good jurors (Matthew 7:15-23).
Read their books. Read their socials. Google their names. What kind of marriage(s) do they have? What have they voted for or against? What kinds of businesses do they invest in? Have Christian principles guided their behavior?
Second, Jesus would warn against those who parade their faith for personal—and political—gain.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).
Check out their church attendance. Are they “CE” Christians? (Christmas and Easter Christians?) Are they endorsed by their pastors? Can they quote one Bible verse?
Third, Jesus would ask, what’s your record on issues that are important to Me?
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. . . . Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:35-36, 40).
Notice that Jesus goes beyond a few “Christian” issues!
Again, look at their campaign sites? What is there position on poverty? On welcoming strangers? On abortion? On healthcare? Jesus is clear that the way we treat “the least of these” is a salvation issue, so it would be really important to him in the voting booth. (For theological “gnat strainers,” Jesus is not teaching salvation by works, but is teaching that if one is saved, their fruit will demonstrate it.)
Fourth, Jesus would evaluate a candidate by their competency.
Several of Jesus’ parable involve good and bad stewards, honest and dishonest managers. And if they weren’t competent, the supervisor would “cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there [would] be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
A denominational leader warns, “A Christian bozo is still a bozo!” Don’t vote for someone simply he or she appears to be a great Christian. Are they a great leader? Can they get things done? Can they manage this country?
So ask yourself, who do you want guiding the economy? Negotiating deals with foreign friends or enemies? With his or her finger on the nuclear button?
And, fifth, Jesus would probably evaluate how the candidates treat each other based on his “love your enemies; bless those who persecute you,” “turn the other cheek” commands. What do the candidates say about each other?
For instance, candidates from both parties—and not just the one who you’re thinking of—have called each other in previous campaigns, in alphabetical order: [expletive deleted], baby, bigoted, bimbo, Canadian, clown, clueless, contentious, a disgrace, disingenuous, Facist, idiot, irresponsible, liar, light-weight, loser, low-energy, jerk, maniac, misogynist, moron, New Yorker, pathological liar, [expletive deleted], reckless, stupid, unattractive, unhinged, un-serious, weak and xenophobic.
Name-calling has been around in American politics at least since Thomas Paine called George Washington a “hypocrite,” “apostate,” and “an impostor.” But I can’t remember a campaign cycle like this where a candidate called an opponent a female body part!
So, don’t support someone simply because he or she spouts spiritual sound bytes.
Many candidates are counting on gullible and uninformed Christians to blindly follow like sheep! I call them “sheepangelicals.”
Instead, follow Christ’s warning as you carefully and prayerfully evaluate the candidates: “Be as shrewd as snakes.” You know the candidates will be!
Copyright © 2004, 2016, 2024 James N. Watkins
Photoshopping by James N. Watkins
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