I was walking in South Chicago to my internship at a book publishing company when a police car pulled up beside me.
“Miss, are you lost?” The officer called out.
If only he knew the irony of that question. I had felt lost all summer. Directionally – Emotionally – Mentally.
“No, I’m fine. My job is right around the corner.” I responded.
“Well, be careful! You shouldn’t be walking in this neighborhood, it isn’t safe.”
My internship was for the entire summer, so it wasn’t like I could just leave when I wanted. I had to take the bus and walk this route.
This was the only option.
When I was accepted into the Chicago Center Program, I had this idea of how my summer would go. I thought I would be living my best life in the city, dream job, new friends, and great food!
Turns out what I pictured was not my reality.
The city was way harder to adjust to coming from a small town and having different beliefs.
I felt alone.
One day our group went to Northalsted to hear someone talk about the pride parade that was happening the following week. Somehow, we got on the subject of Christianity. This was the first time I was surrounded by people openly rejecting Christians and God. As much as I wanted to speak up, I stood there frozen.
Someone walked out of the room upset and I wondered, “Could they be feeling the same pain as me?”
In this moment I felt ashamed. Ashamed that I couldn’t be brave and stand up for what I believe in and speak into their skewed perception of who God is.
After a few days, I realized that even though I didn’t speak up, my actions could speak for me.
When I took my mind off myself, I noticed there were other broken and hurting people living on my floor. I started to speak into their depression and loneliness, sharing how God has helped me through my challenging times and offered them hope.
This happened in 2010.
That time had completely slipped my mind, until the act of voting recently brought it back into focus. Did you know millions of Christians don’t vote? Regrettably, I used to be part of that statistic. To be honest, I had never cared about voting because it felt like both canidates were evil. I always thought, “God is on the throne, it doesn’t matter who is president.”
Until now.
Listening and educating myself on what each candidate represents, I felt the same emotion rising up within me, bringing me back to that office room in Chicago.
Your vote is your voice.
Why is it that Christians face criticism for bringing their faith into voting, but other religions don’t? I was nervous to even put this into words, fearing others’ opinions.
Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT
The fact is, theology has been brought into politics, so we can’t be silent. The truth of God has been traded as a lie.
“Politics matter because policy matters because people matter.” Allie Beth Stuckey.
As I reflect on my time in Chicago being “lost”, I realize that experience forced me to own my faith. It also made me see how broken the world was outside of my “Kansas bubble.” So many people need to hear that Jesus loves them- that they aren’t too broken for repair – that there is hope!
This election ask yourself, Which policy will enable evil more? Which policy will protect order?
It’s not wise to vote based off of a celebrity endorsement, a social media post, the media, what your family or friends say. Instead, read your Bible.
All I know to do is vote for the policies that will best keep my children safe while we are in our temporary home.
The world is not our home. Hebrews 13:14
A good sermon about Christianity and politics can be found directly below:
