In case you haven’t noticed [like you could miss it], 2008 is a presidential election year in the United States. The candidates are pouring out the money and the time and the rhetoric to get elected to the most powerful position in the world. As I listened to their ideas and their beliefs, I began to have an unusual thought [as often is my way] about the election. What if Jesus were a candidate for president? What would His stand be on the key issues of the day? Let’s use our imagination and consider Christ’s campaign for president of the United States of America.
HEALTH CARE
One of the key issues in this election is the sad state of health care in America. Among the major problems is the lack of health insurance coverage. Another is the unprecedented, outrageous cost of health care. There are many reasons sited for this crisis, but anyone can see that the bottom-line culprit is greed. America is the richest country in the world with the most advanced medical technology, yet almost half of our citizens do not have full access to health care. What would Jesus do if He were president? Consider Luke 10:30-36, the parable of the Good Samaritan. The wounded man was ignored by the priest and the Levite. Let’s say they represent the factions that would inhibit our citizens’ access to health care. The Samaritan did all he could to help the wounded man. Jesus would see that all had full access to health care simply because it is the righteous thing to do. Perhaps Jesus would introduce the “Good Samaritan American Health Plan.” Remember these words from Jesus, “I was sick and you looked after me. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” [Matthew 25:36, 40]
ABORTION
The abortion issue has been a hot political item for decades. There are those who think that freedom of choice should include a woman’s right to end her pregnancy whenever she chooses. The right-for-life folks believe that a fetus is a human life with all the rights of any human. Where would Jesus stand on this issue? It is written in Psalm 13-16, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Every life is a miracle created by God – no mistakes. How do you think Jesus would feel about abortion?
ILLEGAL ALIENS
Illegal immigration is another hot topic for the candidates. Many Americans are very concerned about the influx of unregistered, uncounted people from other countries, especially Mexico. How do you think Jesus would address this issue? Would He turn to scriptures such as Psalm 146:9? “The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” Or would he refer to Exodus 22:21, “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.” Or perhaps Jesus would remind us of His words recorded in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Jesus looks beyond the economic, sociological aspects of life. Jesus thinks from a pure heart. How would He want the aliens treated?
IRAQ AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM
This issue might well be one of the toughest for Jesus. Jesus taught to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies. After 9/11, it would seem impossible to follow that way of thinking. Perhaps Jesus would quote Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Don’t you imagine that Jesus would call our nation to pray for peace - to pray for our enemies to change their hearts and let go of their hatred? He would teach that if every American would fall on their face before God and sincerely give their hearts to Him, there would be no danger of harm coming to our nation. Would modern America ever do that?
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
One of the saddest phenomenons to plague our nation is pornography, including the Internet. Under the cover of freedom of speech, porn peddlers invade cyberspace with their filth. The most repulsive is child porn. Where would Jesus stand on child pornography? He said, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” [Matthew 18:6] Would Jesus allow any of this? Would he believe that there could be any part of any law that would justify such sin? Perhaps Jesus would quote Ezekiel in His campaign, “Therefore say to the house of Israel: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images?’”
If Jesus were running for president, I imagine His campaign speeches would all contain scriptures from the Holy Word of God. As I imagine Jesus for president and His stand on these and other predominant issues, I have the sickening feeling that Jesus probably could not win this election. His ideas would seem archaic to most of our citizens - sadly, including some Christians. He would ask hospitals and doctors to offer health care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. He would ask every pregnant woman to have her baby and take care of it. He would ask that all people, regardless of race or citizenship, be accepted and loved. He would encourage us to love our enemies, to forgive them and embrace them. He would command us to stop all pornography and unrighteous behavior. If Jesus were running for president of the United States of America he would boldly and unashamedly reveal all the sin and corruption in our nation and in our government. He would never allow any powerful, wealthy faction to influence His stand on any issue. Everything He proposed would be entirely for the welfare and integrity of each individual: no hidden agendas – only truth.
Christians know that the day will come when Jesus will rule over the New Earth. Revelation 21:5, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new.’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Jesus describes how the New World will be. His description of the New Earth shows us how things will be when He is in control. The best we can hope for in the meantime is to live for Him and encourage others to do the same. Jesus for president? It is a flight of fantasy, I know, but it may encourage us to more prayerfully consider whom we vote for in this election. Righteousness is still the best policy, is it not?
Pray for guidance, then vote.
Author Resource:-
Dr. Sam Smith writes a weekly column for the Jacksonville Daily Progress in Jacksonville, Texas. He was a second place winner of the 2006 Amy Writing Foundation Christian Writers' contest.
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