The "Official United Methodist 2006 Program Calendar," which lays on the pastor’s desk, indicates that November 7 is "Election Day." The calendar’s suggestion is that United Methodists who are Americans eligible to vote should know about, and participate in, Election Day. That is a very good suggestion.

In a recent conversation among clergy, the question was asked, "What does the Church have to say about politics and this Election Day?" Not surprisingly, this interesting question provoked some lively discussion.

On Pentecost XV, September 17, the sermon text was Proverbs 1:20-33. The sermon preached on this text at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church concerned wisdom and politics. It listed several political principles that might help guide Christians, as we prepare to vote, in considering political candidates and claims. For your continued consideration, those principles are listed and supplemented below.

First, the Kingdom of God should not to be identified with any political enterprise in this world. Of course, the early Church did not understand the Roman Empire to be the Kingdom of God. Likewise, the Church of our day should not equate the United States of America with God’s Kingdom. In addition, the United Nations, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party should never be identified with the Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is apart from this world, above this world, coming into this world. In the meantime, God’s Kingdom stands in judgment over the systems and organizations, nations and empires, and parties and movements of this world.

Second but related to the first, Christians oppose utopianism. The Church knows that people, flawed by original sin and actual sins, cannot create a perfect society. Utopia, according to the Church’s faith, will be divinely created when Jesus Christ returns in glory and establishes His perfect, total rule throughout this world. Therefore, Christians are highly skeptical of all claims and efforts that aim to create a perfect society here and now.

Third, Christians oppose cynicism toward citizenship and its responsibilities. We do not get frustrated by the political messiness and ugliness of our time (e.g., so-called "attack ads"), and leave political participation to others. "All politicians are corrupt" or "nothing will ever change" are not cynical charges against politics that we make. We stay engaged. We make political judgments. We cast our votes.

Fourth, Christians are not motivated by the politics of hatred. Christians do not hate President George W. Bush and the Republicans, nor do we hate Senator Harry Reid and the Democrats, nor do we hate those who practice hatred (and there are more than a few in both political parties). Engaging in serious political discussion with a civil tone and unwilling to distort the truth in such discussion, Christians offer a better way of participating in politics. (Furthermore, Christians believe that political candidates, operatives, and commentators who distort the truth in the public arena do a grave disservice to the democratic processes of our nation.)

Fifth, Christians have a duel citizenship: in the Kingdom of God and in a nation in this world. Our first, last, and ultimate allegiance is to God’s Kingdom, but there is a place for Christians to be loyal to our country. Knowing that "this world is not [our] home," we engage in political practices in our country for the good of our country (and others). Generally speaking and considering the alternatives, Christians (and others) can know that America is an imperfect force for good in this world. Since the 1960s some, on the political Left and on the political Right, believe that the United States is the greatest force for evil in the world today. We know that claim is highly questionable and probably false.

Sixth, American Christians, especially during times when our nation is involved in war, are acutely aware that God will judge us and our nation. The Church does not declare or wage war. At the same time, we recognize that, for moral reasons, some Christian citizens can and at times should vote for war, conduct war, fight in war -- for the sake of justice, peace, freedom, and order -- under God’s judgment. Christians make sad -- not happy, jubilant, triumphant -- soldiers, who responsibly accomplish their tasks in restraining the forces of chaos and destruction in this world.

And seventh, Christians are especially concerned about protecting, through political ways and means, the human dignity of "the least of these" (Matthew 25). Through political and other means, the Church seeks protection for those who cannot defend and speak for themselves -- including the unborn, the severely disabled, the chronically ill, the dying, and others who are at risk.