How (not) to vote

Sitting in front of his audience rather than to preach from the pulpit, Phil Kniss, lead pastor of Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA., told the congregation he changed his position because he "was preaching on politics." He referenced Jesus' conversation with Pontius Pilate as found in John 18 to say that Jesus entered the political discourse of his time "but not on the empire's terms." Rather than fight for his position, Jesus articulated a "radical love ethic" over force. In calling 21st Christians to engage the powers through voting, Kniss asked if we, as followers of Jesus could agree on one thing: "Let me propose to you to make one solid, baseline commitment, going into November: that our loyalty to the Kingdom of Gold will always come first, before any political party's agenda and before any party's candidate."