Vote for Jesus-Really

I took this picture some election time ago on the back road from Clemson (SC) to Pendleton.

 To listen to some folk you would think we really are voting for Jesus. Not.

If we were voting for Jesus we would not be voting Democrat or Republican or staying at home. Jesus is for everyone.

If we were voting for Jesus we would vote for all those people fleeing hunger and poverty and fear remembering he said: "I was a stranger and you took me in."

If we were voting for Jesus we would remember when they tried to push the children away he shook his head and took them in his arms and told them this was the essence of his kingdom.

If we were voting for Jesus we would be voting for the one who called out a woman at the well and sent her away with dignity and purpose.

If we were voting for Jesus we would remember he stretched out his arms for everybody--every-body.

If we were voting for Jesus we would we would remember that "in Christ there is no south or north in him no east and west but one great fellowship of love throughout there whole, wide world."

If we were voting for Jesus we would make sure that every sick person would find care and love and hope in some doctor's office.

If we were voting for Jesus we would remember him saying: "Inasmuch as you do it to the stranger or the sick or the suffering"--we see his face.

If we were voting for Jesus we would know that John said that he loved the world--the world--so much that he sent his only son to all.

If we were voting for Jesus this country would not be divided by labels which create enemies and hatred of the other. We would reach out to everyone and nobody would be left out.

If we were voting for Jesus we would know that gays and transgenders and prisoners and the poor and the mentally ill and those suffering from drug addiction or any other addiction were important to him.

If we were voting for Jesus we would know he would never raise an American flag over his churches and never act as if voting for anyone is the will of God.

If we were voting for Jesus we would make sure that we, his people: "...would beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears into pruning hooks; and make sure nations would not lift up swords against nations, and we would learn war no more; but we would make sure that all would sit under their own vines, and under their own fig trees and no one --not a single one--would be afraid."

(Central window in the 16th Street Church, Birmingham, Al given by the people of Wales after the church bombing.)

--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com