Voting in Amish Country

Brief reflections on political theology

I was recently in Lancaster County, PA for a weekend of peak fall foliage, antique markets, and local food (you know I had to get some Lebanon bologna!). For the uninitiated, Lancaster County is popularly known as the heart of Amish country. It’s also my family roots, as my Mennonite grandparents grew up farming nearby in southern Pennsylvania.

As you can imagine, the roadsides were overrun with lawn signs and political billboards. The Republican Party has made targeted appeals and canvassing campaigns to court Amish voters over the last six months in an effort to win votes from a relatively “untapped” electorate. Fewer than one in ten Amish voted in the past few presidential elections, but in a swing state every vote counts.

While browsing one market, I snapped a photo of this appeal written by “Elmer” to his fellow Amish. He lays out a case for voting and provides helpful information on how to vote, going so far as to offer rides to the polls. It’s the kind of civic engagement that I love to see, but it struck me as odd given the Anabaptist beliefs that the Amish and Mennonite follow. I love political theology and it explains much of politics in America, so I thought I’d share a quick thought. I’ll refer to Christians as “we”, since I am a Christian, but I’m glad you’re reading this if you are not sure about Jesus’ and his teachings. Maybe you just like political theology too!

Traditionally, the Amish and Mennonite Anabaptist tradition relies on a “two kingdoms” doctrine, in which people who are part of the kingdom of God leave the kingdom of the world completely behind. Christians and the church should be separated from the secular world (including politics) to maintain their witness as an alternative and holy community that is God’s means of redeeming the world. In practice, this means when leaders are evil, nations are warring, and culture does not reflect Christian values, that should not come as a surprise. Continue in faithfulness, the thinking goes; wading into politics risks compromising the credibility and purity of the church as a spiritual community set apart.

This leads Mennonites and Amish to practice nonresistance and conscientious objection in military service, abstain from voting or taking people to court, and reject many forms of modern technology in more conservative communities. In many ways, it’s all about preservation of good in the face of evil, which is reflected in the language of the flyer.

The author appeals to themes of good and evil, arguing that God allows Satan to install evil leaders when good people don’t stand up for what is right. He then references James 2 — “faith without works is dead.” James 2 is an oft-quoted passage for Christian doctrine on salvation, but here its used more as a call to action.

“Having moral values is great,” the argument goes. “But without any action on your part, you can’t expect good to prevail over evil. God gives us free will, but when we don’t use our free will to make moral choices, God steps back and leaves us to the consequences of our actions.” A similar argument is behind calls for Christians to build political and cultural power so they can take back the country for God.

But I don’t think James is emphasizing our personal agency to bring about a particular outcome through “works”, whether that outcome is righteousness or the protection of your faith and way of life. He is making a point about the link between belief and actions — your actions show whether you truly believe something. As philosopher and theologian Dallas Willard describes it, “Our actions reveal our beliefs 100% percent of the time.” In this case, how we engage in politics reveals what we believe about God.

To be clear, I believe Christians should vote and engage in politics, and I’m part of a group in Washington D.C. that promotes a healthier Christian political witness. While I can’t unpack all my political theology in a short post, I sincerely believe that Christians have so much to offer for the good of the public, not just the good of the church. Politics is the central way we organize power and resources in our communities, and as such it’s an area where we can love our neighbor, pass laws that protect the vulnerable, and build institutions that form character and incentivize healthy civic life.

But the subtle temptation for Christians engaging in politics is to believe that God’s kingdom is advanced primarily through human effort, strategy, and influence. To believe that we are primarily responsible for making God’s plans come to pass. And to believe that our ability to be faithful disciples of Jesus is impacted by the laws that govern us.

This is not a relativism that says, “because God is sovereign all candidates are equal and your choice is inconsequential.” This election has very concrete stakes, and I care very deeply what happens today. But as we enter a consequential Election Day, please remember that God’s kingdom is not advanced or hindered at the ballot box. It’s already here, all around us, and its leader is truly good.