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There was a convention this week. It convened those who shared one thing in common: Their political conversion story. After learning from secret sources about President Obama’s hidden plans to destroy America (via an email forward), they each had freed the Leftward blinders from their eyes and come to faith in the GOP.
Across the street, another convention ensued. Young political activists extolled their Millennial peers to remain above the political fray, to avoid the erroneous missteps of their overzealous parents. Their convention advocated for things that mattered. Justice and compassion were the only planks in their platform. “Jesus wasn’t a Democrat or a Republican,” they chanted with fervor.
The problem with this scenario is that nobody showed up for either convention. Imprudent conviction and aimless civility fall prey to the same captor: Neither works.

“People these days who are civil often lack strong convictions, and people with strong religious convictions often are not very civil. What we need is convicted civility.” – Richard Mouw (quoting Martin Marty)

You’ve seen how this works. A friend posts a sharply divisive comment. Annoyed, a bunch of other people post stuff about how they’re not going to lower themselves to cyberspace politics. Or, at a party, a friend creates an awkward silence by claiming Jesus couldn’t be a Republican because Republicans are indifferent about poverty. And the cool kids scoff and walk away, elevating themselves above the partisan nonsense.

Conviction.
This election matters, even in spite of its shortcomings. Yes: Both candidates grossly exaggerate their own successes and their opponents’ shortcomings, Yes: Fox News and MSNBC parrot their biases. Yes: It is Jesus, not political parties, that saves. But, political hermitry does nothing to advance what is good and right in our country, nor does it help soothe our imperfect political system.
Our country needs Christians to engage politically. We should care enough to not abstain. Abstention plagues my generation. When we shirk our responsibilities as citizens, we purport a spiritual reclusion that is anything but biblical. From Joseph to Daniel to Nehemiah, our faith heroes were beacons of conviction, serving within regimes far more corrupt than our own. Christians should care enough to demonstrate and proclaim our convictions by learning, discussing and voting. And we must extol civility while we do.
Civility.
Anger doesn’t compel. Condescension pushes your ideological counterparts farther away. Remember how you’ve never met any political converts who switched sides because of your sarcasm-laden Facebook posts? It’s akin to a boat race where you simultaneously throttle and shoot holes in the hull of your vessel.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve had two conversations with friends about their own political journeys. Both had journeyed from one side of the political spectrum to the other. And it wasn’t because of email forwards or absentee citizens who locked their principles in purposeless privacy. They changed because their friends cared enough to share their convictions with earnestness and charity. They are now both active politically, thoughtfully advocating for issues they understand and care about deeply.
There is an ideological divide in this election. President Obama and Governor Romney lead differently and uplift certain values above others. They hold different opinions on the role of federal government and on how to address our financial solvency. From abortion to marriage to entitlements to foreign policy to taxation: This vote matters. And it should especially matter to us. Christians: Our faith in Christ demands we lead by exuding firm conviction and by modeling remarkable civility.
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