11/2/52

Would you want Jesus for President?

Scripture: James 1

Text: James 1: 5; "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him."

This is not the time, the place, nor the occasion for a political speech in the usually accepted meaning of political campaigning. We meet in church for worship and meditation in the presence of God. It is true that our thoughts and intent are focused this week on an election. And an election is so important to free people that everyone eligible should consider the issues, and the candidates, in the light of his convictions on what is right, and should vote. And Christian folk, of all people, should be concerned with the choices of citizenship.

In the midst of political campaigning we get fairly excited. It is not unusual to hear extreme statements made. I wonder if there is any merit or profit in trying to throw some light on the nature of governmental processes by trying to guess what a perfect personality would do as a candidate for office? Now and then someone who hasn’t a chance of being nominated or elected, will nonetheless make a statement of his own sincerely held convictions. Some weeks ago a man who felt that he had at least some of the answers, wrote a popular magazine article. He mentioned some objectives he would seek to achieve if he were suddenly to become President of the United States. "If I were President," he wrote, "I would advocate that the President’s term be limited to one term of six years. The American people do not realize it, but not long after a president takes office he must begin thinking about getting re-elected. If he is courageous he has about two effective, non-political years in office, following which almost every move he makes is influenced by the political effect it will have on certain key Senators, certain city bosses, and certain segments of the voting public. Needless to say this does not make for good government ----" says the writer.

Well, this is one point in the procedure one man believes he would follow, were he President of this nation for a while. He probably would have no chance of election, even should he have become a candidate. Now, in sober thought, would Jesus Himself have a chance of election, either? Would you want Him for our President?

Consider the matter of party affiliation. No one, today, has a real chance of being elected President unless he is active in, and approved by, one of the two leading political parties of the nation. An independent sometimes has a chance in a local election, here or there; but no independent has a practical chance in a national election. At least no independent ever gets elected to the Presidency. Would Jesus conform to the line of either of our parties, or to that of any third party yet seen? I doubt it. And if he wouldn’t, his chance of getting many votes would be slender indeed. There are those who have some experience, who evidently believe that a person’s being a Christian is not especially pertinent to vote-getting except in a fragmentary sense.

During the campaign for state offices in one of the midwestern states, the press agent for one of the candidates for governor of that state was asked by a curious reporter, "Do you think a politician should be a Christian?" The answer was No. "A politician should be either a Republican or a Democrat." [Lew Houseman, agent for Charles Taft]. If that should be a general view among any significant number of political workers, is it at all likely that the Christ himself, with all of the daring criticism Jesus showed of all parties, political or ecclesiastical, would be elected, or even nominated?

The only platform he commended to his disciples was absolute righteousness. The loyalty he held, above all other loyalties, was to his Heavenly Father. His fellow men seem to include all people of any party, or no party anywhere on the face of the earth, who can be encompassed by his encircling love.

What a platform that would be in America! Honesty? Righteousness? Love? Well, maybe! But do you not have, really, to be tough today to get ahead? How far does the "idealist" get? Isn’t it the "realist" who gets votes today?

When Albert Edward Day preached a sermon on this theme about four years ago, he concluded that Jesus couldn’t get elected that year. I doubt that He would get enough votes this year, either. I wonder if we church-going folk of the land, who sing, "bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all" would all cast our votes for him. Would we put it this way: "We think He is a mighty fine teacher, but He would hardly be an effective administrator. He really ought to stick to teaching and not get mixed up in politics"?

If so, could it mean that we really suspect that, if involved in our politics, He might discover all those points at which we are less than Christian? He might even tell us that we are sinners in some of the political moves to which we assent! Of course that is no way to be popular. But Jesus seems to have been careless of popularity even 1900 years ago.

Anyway, what chance would a candidate have who advocated attitudes like this: "You have heard it said, an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth in exact justice. But I say to you, don’t deal with evil just by resisting it. Do good to those who persecute you. Love your enemies." [Matthew 5: 38, 39, 44]

He even demonstrated his own belief by the way he handled his own followers. He declined to lead an insurrection against Rome even though common people would have followed him gladly, and though he himself said that he could call on legions of angels to help him. Could he not have had the other disciples get rid of the treacherous Judas? But he did not do these things. He chose a course that led right to his own betrayal and death. And he seems to have known that it would lead him there. But he went that way because he was sure it was God’s way. Are we voters really interested in God’s way?

Suppose that by some miracle, Jesus could get elected President. How would he get along in office? Would he be a popular President? Or would there be insistent voices crying for his impeachment? There were voices 1900 years ago that cried "crucify him, crucify him!" And they got their way!

If Jesus were President today, I have no doubt that he would insist on honoring the principle that every individual has worth in the sight of God. He would insist on that worth regardless of class, creed or party. For when he died for mankind, it was for all people; not a select few. He sacrificed himself for Romans and Greek gentiles as well as for Jews; for Americans; Spaniards; Swedish, Russian, Swiss, Mexican and Chinese folk; for soldiers and civilians; for men, women, and children; for the God-fearing and the sinners -- for all people.

Of course, some of the things his way of living commends to people are embodied in the Constitution of the United States. It is good to know that the US Bureau of Standards has discovered a new method for preserving the original copy of the Constitution of the United States. When its sealed case is emptied of the air within the case, it is now filled with helium gas which is supposed to preserve the paper and writing for several more centuries than would be possible with air. This is a fine thing. This great document should be preserved for the careful scrutiny of succeeding generations of people. It is a true marvel of men’s thinking and an inspiration to millions.

But it is infinitely more important to live up to the principles and practices which the Constitution decrees. And it decrees certain basic freedoms of person, of press, of speech and of assembly for men who must accept these freedoms responsibly.

Would it bother people if each executive decision of Jesus as President, and each presidential message sent to Congress, faithfully reflected the constitutional principles and also his own insistent belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man? If he should remind Congress that its members must make all decisions on the basis of whether or not they are morally right rather than on whether they are expedient at the time, would the reminder be well-received by all the people?

We have witnessed with anxiety, and will doubtless continue to witness, the dissolution of the British Empire in our time. Probably the liquidation of that once-mighty empire has its spiritual roots in Britain’s own refusal, over the years, to treat her subject peoples with something like equality of person.

Though we of American are not an Empire -- we are a Republic --- we are not guiltless of an attitude of self-assumed superiority over many other folk. Of course if this be a sin, it is not confined to the English-speaking nations. But should Jesus, if he were President, make some prophetic remarks on our pride, would they be humbly and earnestly received?

At any rate, I have a notion he would point to every immoral action of our citizenry or of our body politic and say: "You can’t do that, either as individuals or as a nation. For God is still God, and either we do this His way, or we are ultimately defeated in all of our ways."

If Jesus were President, he would probably have two main planks in his platform. (1) The first would be the ten commandments of the ancient Jews from which he refused to subtract or change so much as the dotting of an "i" or the crossing of a "t." We are glad to tip our hats to that plank. But -- well, do we worship one God over all? Or do we do a certain amount of obeisance on the side to idols of greed for power, for substance, for personal or social influence? Is His day used for worship and refreshing renewal, or for self-indulgence and drunkenness? Are father and mother honored, cherished and cared for -- or abandoned to the state? Are children taught - by precept, by discussion, by example - the Ten Commandments in the home, or are they left to discover them -- maybe -- elsewhere? How careful are we not to steal? Do we even resist the temptation to "make a pile" or a "fast, easy buck" out of the common pool of man’s united efforts?

Would Jesus, looking over this country, smile with pleasure that we really lived up to His first plank pretty well. Or would he see a sorry mess and weep over us, as he wept over Jerusalem, saying: "O my children, what did you expect? What did you expect? If only you would understand the things that belong to your peace. You can’t violate God’s divine laws of righteousness and escape the consequences."

(2) His second plank might be the familiar ideas of the Sermon on the Mount --- or are they familiar enough? As President, would he not say, "be humble (not "humiliated," but devoid of worldly pride.) Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Be pure in your own heart. Pray often -- in fact live in the attitude of prayer. Ask God’s forgiveness, but ask also the freedom to be able to forgive someone else. Do not be over-anxious about your troubles. Don’t get concerned about storing up a lot of earthly treasure for yourself, but store up treasures of worthy deeds and attitudes for which you might be commended by loving fellows and a merciful God to heaven. Do not hate anyone."

It is a disturbing and penetrating question, this one that each of us might ask of himself this week: "Would I want Jesus for President?" -- really, would I; ----- would you?

Now this may have been a fanciful 20 minutes. It is if we go out saying: "Of course Jesus is not a candidate for President, so I don’t have to make up my mind about that choice." And yet is it so altogether fanciful? When the issues of this election campaign have been resolved by voters’ choice; when candidates have been named to office; do we not then have to shoulder our responsibility to be a nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all --- political winner and loser alike. Do we not still have to deal with our corporate sins, already committed, or tempted in our future?

Is it unreasonable -- or would it be spiritual good sense -- to go to the polls next Tuesday in the spiritual attitude of a soul kneeling humbly and faithfully before the altar of God’s righteousness. I hope every member of this congregation, who is a registered voter, will be there on Tuesday. And I hope not without a desire to choose as if Jesus were concerned. For He is!

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, November 2, 1952.