I do not believe that voter fraud was widespread enough to justify invalidating the results of the 2020 presidential election. I also know a lot of morally earnest people, including many of my brothers and sisters in Christ, who do. We will no doubt continue to argue over the details, but in the meantime this situation raises a pastoral point I’d like to explore. One day the political tables might turn, after all, and I want to think through how to respond to a situation in which I believe my own interests are being defrauded.
In 1 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul is exasperated with Corinthian believers who are dragging each other to court (“and before unbelievers, at that!”). No matter who wins in court, the church loses. Preferable to providing such a spectacle to the unbelieving world is to simply accept the loss of one’s property and status: “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (v 7).
It’s obvious that expressing disagreement with the results of a presidential election isn’t the same thing as filling a lawsuit against another Christian. At the same time, Paul articulates a principle here that helps us think about how we express that kind of disagreement: our priority in all situations – even when fighting fraud – is to avoid damaging the reputation of Christ. At a minimum, this means doing one’s research carefully (and refraining from making strong statements before doing that research), and, even more importantly, to treat one’s opponents with respect.
Someone might counter, “The stakes are so high for the future of our country that we’re justified in dispensing with niceties. The enemy must be exposed and defeated.” This gets us into the question of where our ultimate loyalties lie as believers. Simply put, no matter how high the stakes are for the USA, the stakes for the kingdom of God are always higher. Nothing can make up for driving people away from Jesus with our behavior and attitude.
This is true even if we fancy ourselves to be fighting for the rights of the marginalized against the powerful. Giving into impulses to display scorn, fury, vindictiveness (and even, God forbid, physical violence) does no one any favors in the long term. There is simply no exception clause to “love your enemies.” In its infinite wisdom, Scripture urges us to never lose sight of the fact that our real enemy is Satan, who delights in sowing discord and hatred regardless of the cause.
Again, this little note is mostly for myself. One day I, too, will be furious at some perceived underhanded behavior on the part of my cultural opponents. I can only hope some brother or sister will love me enough to throw these words back in my face.