Faith of a Candidate?

The Election, Your Spirituality, & the Soul of our Nation #9

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I’ve always been intrigued by the way a candidate’s personal faith matters in an election – or doesn’t. Martin Luther famously (and surprisingly) said (back in the 16th century!) “I would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian.” Would Christians today prefer a wise Muslim to a foolish Christian?

There was a great moment in one of John Kennedy’s congressional campaigns. Jackie was asked about her husband being a Roman Catholic (which worried people in the late 50s). She responded, “It’s so unfair to question Jack for being a Catholic. He’s such a poor Catholic.”

Jimmy Carter was a great Southern Baptist. Mitt Romney was a great Mormon. But my sense is that most candidates, while sporting some faith badge, are a bit thin in their life of faith. Sure, a candidate can claim to be a member of a given denomination. But is he or she serious about it? The difference between a church member, who shows up erratically and isn’t otherwise engaged, and one who is engaged in Bible study, striving for holiness of heart, and committed to constant service is huge. Most politicians fall in the former category, don’t they?

We can see how this question is important, not just during election season, and not just for candidates, but for all of us. Is your life of faith thin, pasted on the outside of an otherwise worldly life? or robust, meaningfully transformed by God’s Spirit?

We’ve been subjected over many years to politicians trotting out a faith statement or two, or materializing in worship services (when not normally in the habit!) to try to establish credibility with people of faith. Isn’t this what the 10 Commandments mean by “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain”?

Thomas Jefferson, battered by criticism he didn’t go to church or believe in Christ, dashed off a book, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth – mind you, with all the miracles, resurrection and claims of divinity expunged! During election season, local candidates call me to ask to speak in church, although I’ve not seen them there or in any church regularly. I know I could do without Donald Trump hawking the God Bless the USA Bible. It’s not that he doesn’t exhibit much familiarity with its contents (although he may be more familiar than he lets on…); it’s just a pretty blatant violation of the separation of church and state (and I’m joined in this viewpoint by a host of very conservative, evangelical Republican pastors).

Of course, the candidates aren’t alone: churches get into bed with candidates, and we wind up with Republican churches and Democratic churches propping up their guy as a great believer and God’s clear choice. Strong faith in a candidate, when the faith of the candidate looks flimsy. Shameful stuff.

I find that I am interested in the faith story of a candidate. Did he grow up going to church? What kind? What lessons has she carried into her political life? If the candidate says “I’m Christian,” I want to weigh how robust that faith might be. And it’s actually measurable. There are dispositions, like humility, generosity, patience, kindness, and wisdom that give evidence of the Spirit’s presence. There are habits and actions, like going to church, or serving the needy with regularity, not just for a photo-op. If you say you’re Christian, what have you done for the least, the lost, the hungry, the despised, the outcasts – whom Jesus clearly told us to attend to and even sacrifice for?

These things would matter to me, for they speak into values and thus policies, and also to the inward spiritual mettle sorely needed in times of crisis.

The Rev. James C. Howell is senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. This post is republished with the author's permission from his election series on his blog.