I've had people question my faith before because I have chosen to vote for a Democrat in the past. Here's my thing: there are many, many more issues beyond pro-life/pro-choice and gay marriage when it comes to running our country. (Btw, the gay marriage thing is over, let's move on please. Y'all know there is still a very active sex trade in America, right?)
So thinking on that- being a Christian (specifically Baptist) and voting for Bernie Sanders- here is some of my reasoning, with my faith in mind:
(These are short, rambling summaries of my thoughts. To read fully on Bernie's stances and plans, go to berniesanders.com/issues.)
* A living wage/expanding medicare- If you see yourself labeling the millions of people living below the poverty line as lazy, stupid, or greedy- I would encourage you to check your heart a bit. Bernie's bigger plans to redistribute wealth are not about stealing away things you've worked hard for, it's about giving everyone that same opportunity to work hard for decent living. Every American deserves a fair chance at their American dream. Jesus said love. Jesus said grace. Jesus said mercy. Jesus said-
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35 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, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
-Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV)
* Combatting climate change- If you deny climate change as a scientific fact, I suggest you move on. As Obi-Wan would say, "This is not the blog you're looking for." God clearly put us in charge of this beautiful planet (Genesis 1) and I very much worry what we're leaving for our children and their children to deal with. I believe investing in our earth is the smartest way to invest in our future. There have also been credible links established between climate change and the rise of ISIS. Beyond the creation story, I love what God says to Noah after the flood-
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
-Genesis 9:1-3 (ESV)
It's all been delivered into our hands. Are we taking care of it the way God hopes for?
* Racial Justice/Fair & Humane Immigration Policies- Every American - no matter race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status - deserves the same amount of dignity and humanity. That is not currently the case in our country. My black and hispanic friends experience racism on an almost DAILY basis. (This is indisputable to me- I have witnessed it.) It is still very deeply ingrained into the fabric of our country. (If you are a white Christian who believes this to not be the case, I would urge you to listen or watch any of Matt Chandler's sermons on racial reconciliation. And I would also urge you to just google some basic statistics.)
When I see a policeman or woman, I automatically feel safe in knowing that help is nearby. Bernie's policies want to make it so that all Americans will be afforded that same right. I also support his prison reforms in ending the prisons for profit system and lessening the punishment for nonviolent offenders (grace and mercy, guys).
This support goes hand in hand with his stances on immigration. (Reminder: about two thousand years ago, there was a brown-skinned couple containing a wife that had become pregnant out-of-wedlock who gave birth to a brown-skinned baby...who was Jesus. This beautiful brown-skinned, not-at-all nuclear family then very quickly became refugees.) The thought of closing our borders to refugees fleeing from the greatest evil on earth makes me incredibly sad. The thought of labeling all Muslims as terrorists (or god forbid imposing a database and ID system???) is beyond dangerous and very much playing into the pattern of fear that ISIS desperately wants. Some verses on our equality in God's eyes that I love-
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
-Acts 10:34-35 (ESV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
Just a few overviews of my thoughts. I believe it's important to not make gods of any political candidate. You cannot rest your hopes and dreams on any man. I do believe God can use Bernie Sanders for good in America and the world.
If you are an undecided Christian voter, I would just urge you to read this one last piece- because Donald Trump scares me more than anything.
To God's guiding hand.
