Don’t Vote
Our national Election Day has passed. Candidates have won and lost. But we continue to vote beyond formal elections.
We cast votes daily outside the context of elections. It is a natural part of our economic activity to spend money on what we want and not spend money on that which we don’t want. In essence, we cast votes of approval or disapproval. If enough people express approval, a product or service thrives. If enough withhold approval, a product or service may disappear.
Our human nature may cause us to carry this economic voting to the church. Dissatisfaction with music, liturgy, the clergy, vestry decisions, actions by the diocese and national church, and myriad other considerations may cause us to vote negatively with our checkbook. That violates the principles of God’s economy.
In God’s economy, we tithe in thanksgiving for God’s abundant and gracious provision for our needs. Whether we are happy or unhappy with the church has no bearing on our relationship with God. He is still God. He still provides abundantly and graciously. And we still need to give in thanksgiving.
One of the ironies of forcing the secular model of voting with our checkbook on the church is that expressing disapproval, voting, by withholding financial support forces the church to cut back. This may come as a reduction in staff, maintenance, services, or any number of other budget items. This causes further discontent, which can lead to further expressions of disapproval by withholding even more financial support.
The Right Reverend Vincent K. Pettit once related to me a situation where someone was withholding their pledge to their parish church out of displeasure with the vestry. His advice to them was to continue to give generously to God’s work through their church and to let God be the one to deal with the vestry.
The Bishop’s counsel is applicable whether it be our vestry, the diocese, the Presiding Bishop, the Diocese of New Hampshire, or whoever or whatever within the church may cause us discomfort. God will be the ultimate judge.
