Friends and the U.S. Election

Editor’s note: During this election season, when our political life in the United States seems especially contentious, Friends United Meeting has invited a variety of Friends to share their thoughts on how to navigate as a Quaker through these divided times. Our final entry is written by Michael Sherman, FUM’s coordinator for North American and Caribbean ministries.Here is a general summary of this series on Quakers and elections: Friends have an individual responsibility to act with integrity, which must be combined with the awareness that our actions impact the folks around us.  

I have looked, listened, discerned, and cast my vote for who I would like to be the next president of the United States of America.  I imagine most of you have done something similar.  For me the decision was not difficult.  The candidates present clear distinctions.  I hope you have done the same. I hope you have voted with the fullness of your heart, soul, mind, and body.  I also know we have not all come to the same conclusion.   I know we have all been invited to the party.  

Sunday will come around and we will gather for worship in our places with folks who saw the choice differently and voted according to their conscience.  It’s not a new reality.  My mind has been made up for months.  So, likely you were in worship this past Sunday with those same folks.  This is the work of loving community.  

The metaphor of clothing comes up in various places in Scripture. These aren’t references to the fabric we are supposed to be wearing, but rather references to behavior.  In Galatians 3, Paul says we should be clothing ourselves with Christ Jesus—knowing and relating to each other apart from various earthly divisions.  In Colossians 3, Paul suggests the clothing of Christ has to do with the attitude of our hearts: “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” [Col. 3:12] In the parable of the wedding feast from Matthew 22, Jesus himself talks about clothing.  

In this parable, a king is having difficulty getting people to show up for his party.   He can’t get the usual folks to show up, but the king has told his servants to fill the hall.  In verse 10 we read: “So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” The story ends with a man getting thrown out because he isn’t wearing wedding clothes. He is thrown out because he is unwilling to clothe himself with Christ.  He hasn’t put on wedding clothes. He’s still using common earthly divisions rather than sinking into the reality of the story Jesus is trying to tell. We are all invited to the party, but we are asked to behave as if we belong.  Let us clothe ourselves with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal. 5:22-23.] Accepting the invitation isn't just about whether we show up—it’s more about how we show up.  

How are you showing up?  

Michael Sherman
New Association of Friends

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