Vote Like Wesley

Last updated on: November 2, 2020 at 11:32 am by C. Don Jones

Vote Like Wesley 2020-11-02T11:32:02-06:00 C. Don Jones

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United Methodists vote in ways pollsters hate. We are not so much bound by a central doctrinal formula as we are by a sense of Christian practice of grace and good deeds. It is the reason we vote differently on many issues. Recently, a non-Methodist Christian friend asked me about the “United Methodist position” on capital punishment. I responded with a direct quote from The United Methodist Book of Discipline 2016. I began musing on this and other positions. We don’t vote based on these positions.

Wesley And Revolution

Most lay members of our denomination are surprised to learn that John Wesley opposed the American Revolution. He remained a Tory all of his life. He was a loyal subject to the British monarchs of his day. Wesley held varying opinions about which Kings were better than others. But he remained loyal to the idea of a “Christian Kingdom.”

John Wesley and the Methodist movement caused many social improvements in England including ending the slave trade, public education, improving working conditions, and public health. The British Labour Party – a social-democratic party owes its existence to John Wesley more than Karl Marx. Wesley the Conservative Monarchist has a very interesting legacy.

American Methodists

American Methodism has a mixed history because of the American revolution. Most Methodist leaders were loyalists. When the American states prevailed the Methodist societies in America were leaderless. Anglican churches were too. If Samuel Seabury, organizer of the Episcopalians, and Thomas Coke, Methodist organizer, had arrived on the same ship, our history would have been different. But history took a different turn.

American Methodists decided to vote on everything. And yet, we have never spoken with one voice. We have opposed slavery and supported it. We supported Prohibition and its appeal. American Methodism claims Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush.

Methodists Vote

The United Methodist Church holds a vote on every issue. Most of the time there is no controversy. But the issues that are controversial are interesting because these issues have nothing to do with religious belief or practice. They are more about secular politics. The controversies are about which political candidate or party members intend to vote for.

This holds true for most Christians living in The United States. Despite all claims of how people’s religious faith informs their politics, it is not true. The converse is. People’s politics informs their religious claims. Consider the fact that the majority of United Methodists in the US are in the Southeastern and Southcentral Jurisdictions of the UMC. If the positions taken by The General Conference of The United Methodist Church were followed, the politics of these churches and their members would be left of center.

Terry Mattingly observed to me in a personal conversation that the agencies of the UMC were run by liberals while conservatives are in the churches. He predicted prior to The Special Called General Conference of February 2019 that “all hell will break loose.” And it did.

Voting Against Sin

I often hear people say that one sin is no worse than another. The Old Testament does not make that claim. St. James argues a violation of one law is a violation of the whole law. It is accurate. But his argument is about showing partiality verses showing mercy. I see many people making a claim that one or two moral issues are political and social deal-breakers. But, decisions are being about who is “inside” and who is “outside.” Where I live most liberals do not attend church. A lot of the liberals do not believe they are welcome in church. The truth is most conservatives don’t attend either. Political ideology is not being mixed with religion. Political ideology is being disguised as religion. It is a sad state. And it can only destroy the church in the long run.

Christians claiming they are voting “against sin” are voting for separation of people. Our political divisions resemble sports rivalries. And too many people do not see the difference between the two. Did your win over the other team bring satisfaction? Was it worth the injuries? Is it worth the name calling? Is it right to claim what is unfair to you is fair when being done to someone else? How much of your identity as a person of faith is tied up in your team?

The Answers

The win brings momentary aggrandizement. The injuries are not going away soon. I recall a saying, “Do unto others what you would have done unto you.”

The last question remains. My identity as a Christian is more about what Jesus did and said. Acts begins there. And so should we.

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