I just read a great article by Georgetown professor, Paul D. Miller, in “Dispatch Faith,” August 18, 2024. He asked, “Can’t we vote our values?”

Here are some of his thoughts, plus some of my own.

For those who want Christian nationalism, Miller mused about Christian values. “Christians should work for peace, justice and flourishing…and these are definitely Christian values. We should “seek the welfare of the city” (Jer. 29:7) and we should do justice (Micah 6:8).” We need to make sure our values don’t discriminate against someone else. We need to vote for the good of all people, not just ourselves.

(Sometimes, I think Christian nationalism isn’t such a bad idea. A Christian nation would take care of its poor (even though that might mean tax hikes), honor the foreigners in its midst, elevate others above self, etc. These are also definitely Christian values. However, I don’t think that’s what the Christian nationalist crowd has in mind. Furthermore, I think Christian nationalism violates the Golden Rule. How many Christians would be okay with Islamic nationalism? Posting the Quran in classrooms? If we want to treat others the way we want to be treated, we need to honor freedom of religion and separation of church and state.)

Well, to the same point, Miller suggested we need to discern what is the domain of the Church and what is the domain of government. He said an interesting thing. “We must protect the church’s prerogative to be the representative of Christ on earth. (But mixing church and state) amounts to “outsourcing the church’s prerogative to Caesar.” 

Can we legislate morality…or is that the church’s domain? Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) When Jesus’s followers wanted him to set up an earthly kingdom, he declined.

Miller also made an interesting observation about the Ten Commandments. The first four regulate the relationship between God and man; have no other gods, don’t worship idols, don’t take God’s name in vain, honor the sabbath. Commandments 5-10 regulate the relationships between and among humans: honor your parents, don’t murder, lie, steal, commit adultery, or envy.

The First Table (1-4) is outside the jurisdiction of civil government but the Second Table (5-10) is fully within it. It expresses a universal natural law upon which every religion, philosophy, and civilization in history has agreed. “Post the Second Table anywhere and everywhere, but keep your government hands off the First Table,” Miller argues. “Posting it is tantamount to an establishment of religion.” 

We think our values are the right values, or we wouldn’t have them in the first place. But in practicality, humans value all kinds of not-so-good things. Maybe it’s time to pull out this measuring stick as we think of our own values and those of the people we follow. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Phil. 4:8) 

I value truth, honesty, integrity, compassion, cooperation, humility, excellence, on and on. You probably do too. Can we vote our values? We sure can.