10/21/2024
People are asking me many questions about my personal stance on the upcoming election in the USA. I have put together a 12-point guide titled: VOTE YOUR VALUES, NOT YOUR COLOR.
1. Humankind’s Shared Dignity
Genesis 1:26-28 emphasizes that all people are made in the image of God, regardless of race, and thus share inherent dignity and responsibility. Voting based on values affirms this divine image, rather than voting based solely on race or group identity.
2. Dominion with Responsibility
The mandate in Genesis to "have dominion" over the earth suggests stewardship, not exploitation. This applies to leadership and governance: voting for leaders whose policies reflect stewardship—whether of the environment, economy, or human life—aligns with biblical principles.
3. Replenishment and Sustainability
The failure to replenish the earth, as commanded, has led to consequences like climate change. Voting for policies that protect the environment is voting in line with the command in Genesis to “replenish the earth.” Global religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism echo this need for environmental care. For example, the Quran (6:141) emphasizes not being wasteful with resources.
"And He it is who produces gardens trellised and untrellised, and date palms, and crops of different shape and taste (its fruits and its seeds) and olives, and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in taste). Eat of their fruit when they ripen, but pay the due thereof (its Zakat) on the day of its harvest. And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not the wasteful." (Qur'an 6:141)
4. Judgment for Those Who Destroy the Earth
Revelation 11:18 warns that God will destroy those who destroy the earth. The current environmental crisis transcends race and borders. Voting for policies that address climate change and environmental justice upholds this biblical warning.
5. Aligning with Universal Values
While political groups might have racial affiliations, values transcend race. Major world religions, including Buddhism (which speaks about right action and compassion) and Islam (which stresses justice and charity), urge adherents to make decisions based on moral values, not ethnicity or tribalism.
6. Value of Life and Future Generations
Voting for policies that support pro-life principles, including care for unborn children and future generations, resonates with the command to “be fruitful and multiply.” If we neglect future generations by embracing ideologies that oppose family life, we are defying this divine instruction.
7. Rejecting Identity Politics
Voting by racial identity often encourages division. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, people should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Voting based on values rather than color promotes unity and a society based on principles of justice, equality, and dignity.
8. Fostering Economic Growth through Multiplication
The command to multiply suggests that economic policies fostering growth, opportunity, and entrepreneurship are aligned with biblical principles. For example, voting for policies that promote business growth and innovation reflects this aspect of biblical teaching.
9. Freedom and Individual Responsibility
In Islam, the concept of amanah (trust) emphasizes the individual's responsibility to act justly and make choices that benefit society. Similarly, in Christianity, Galatians 5:13 calls believers to use their freedom responsibly, which includes making voting decisions based on what is right, not on external pressures.
10. Accountability for Leadership
Matthew 25:14-30 (the Parable of the Talents) teaches the importance of using resources wisely and being accountable to God. Leaders and governments must be held accountable for their stewardship, and voting for values-based policies ensures this responsibility is maintained for the good of all.
11. The Global Impact of US Elections
The influence of US elections is felt worldwide, from climate policies to human rights. Therefore, the choice to vote based on values, not race, is a moral obligation that affects the global community, especially marginalized nations suffering from environmental degradation, as highlighted by the Paris Agreement.
12. Peace and Justice
Isaiah 1:17 urges believers to "seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." Voting for candidates who address systemic injustice and work for peace aligns with this biblical directive. It reflects a commitment to justice, regardless of racial or political affiliations.
Brothers and sisters across all racial and religious boundaries, the command to vote our values is both a spiritual and moral decision, not merely a political one. As a minister and African American, I choose to vote based on values grounded in scripture and universal truths rather than racial expectations, reflecting a higher calling. The Bible and global religious teachings inspire us to seek justice, practice stewardship, and pursue the common good when casting our votes.
So, go ahead and vote wisely!
I hope I’ve been able to answer your question. Please feel free to share your comments or ask any further questions.
Let brotherly love continue.
