I am a Christian and I am, without reservation, voting for Hillary Clinton for president. My spiritual views drive my political views â not vice versa. Clintonâs faith, and the values she espouses, derive from her life-long Methodism: service to others, uplifting the downtrodden. She has worked to better the lives of women, children and the poor â all of us â things that, I believe, via scripture and study, is what Christ would have us do. It is my belief that she is the most genuine and authentic Christian currently running for the presidency. Is Secretary Clinton completely altruistic? No, but then, nobody is. Is she a flawed human being? Yes, we all are, and this is where my support for Clinton as president strengthens. Clintonâs Christian views on being a flawed person in need of grace contrast sharply with the lack of humility displayed by Donald Trump, a man who has publically proclaimed he has never asked God for forgiveness. I personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who, while professing their Christianity, essentially shrugs his shoulders at one of the primary tenets (seeking forgiveness) of our supposed shared faith. For most of my adult life, I have attended Methodist churches, and I believe in my understanding of Wesleyan principles, beginning with âDo all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever canâ and I believe Clintonâs foundational basis of those principles in her public and private life. I also admire Hillary Clinton for the way she embodies another one of Christâs central teachings; to turn the other cheek. With all of the insults, attacks, and indignities she has publically endured for the past three decades of public life, she has done an exemplary job of moving forward, in direct contrast to her primary opponent, Mr. Trump, who has unabashedly and vociferously attacked anyone who has spoken out against him. Clinton has, by her public words and actions, shown love to her enemies, not hatred. Has she been able to accomplish this completely, in all situations? Certainly not. Again, as she understands, we all fall short. If a potential leader I am going to be voting for is going to state that they are a Christian, I expect them to adhere to behavior â words and actions â that reflect our shared faith. On most counts, in my estimation, Hilary Clinton tries her best to do just that on a daily basis. She favors forgiveness over vindictiveness She works to make life better for the least of us. Her faith is played out not in public pronouncements, but in ongoing, daily works. There is a strong social justice tradition in the Methodist church, and I believe that Hillary. Clintonâs foundational beliefs of equality for all and care for those less fortunate are indeed Christ like, and serve her well in her role as a public servant. I appreciate that she prays regularly, with a trusted group of pastors and lay people. Her personal, more private approach to faith differs sharply with many of the more vocal members of the Christian community, but I see Clintonâs approach as much more biblical â straight out of Matthew 6: 5-6 5âAnd when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.â This approach to Christian faith by those in the public eye is important to me; if you are going to espouse the views and claim the faith, you should practice it. Your vocal, angry pontificating and vilifying (especially of other Christians) is not at al helpful, and certainly, in my opinion, not Christ-like - in great contrast to what others of the faith might have you believe. I know a lot of Methodists: not one of them has implored me to vote for Clinton with the admonition that my soul is at stake should I not vote for her. Some will say that a candidateâs support of a certain issue is enough for them to vote against that person, but I cannot, in good conscience, agree with that approach: our nation is too diverse, our society and issues too complex, for me to base my support of a presidential candidate on a solitary issue. To those who say that her support of a womanâs right to choose is wrong, I can only say that, as Christians, our approach to issues of morality are rarely accomplished through legislative means. To those who say that her approach to immigration reform is wrong, I see nothing Christ-like in mass deportations and tearing apart families. To those who which to single out those of other faiths, I think first of the book of Exodus, and G-dâs words on âstrangers in a strange landâ. To those who say her support of Gay rights is wrong, I can only say, G-d created all of us â in his image. Is it at all Christian to devote so much time and energy to railing against the small percentage of the population that has abortions while ignoring the millions of Americans who live in poverty, the millions of children who are homeless, and hungry? I believe that Hilary Clintonâs faith-based approach to governance that is far more âwe and usâ than âthey and themâ is indeed the path we, as a nation and as people of faith, should be following. There are those Christians who will be angry with me and my support of a candidate they deem, for whatever reasons, to be very un-Christian. This will be my opportunity to practice turning the other cheek. âDo all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.â Prayerfully yours, Mark Lucker 11/05/16
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