Exilic Voting
If I ever get a tattoo, it will be like my Egyptian pal, Amir’s—a small Coptic cross under his right wrist. Amir and fellow Christians tattoo their wrists to identify one another, a small minority group in a Muslim majority culture.
As a minority Amir knows a Christian president will likely never lead Egypt. With no expectations other than a Muslim president, Amir must then vote based on factors other than a candidate’s religious identity.
Today American evangelical voters find themselves in a similar situation as Egyptian Christians.
Fewer and fewer candidates for office in America represent the confessional or ethical positions of Bible-based believers. Therefore, they have to find imperfect candidates who most represent their political interests and desires.
The overwhelming support of evangelical Christians for President Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections seems hypocritical to many. People question the commitment of those Christians who align themselves with a man described by evangelical activist Shane Claiborne as “morally disqualified.” The American media, most of all, harp on this supposed hypocrisy.
I’m not advocating or defending someone’s support of Trump for president. Truly, I’m not. Rather, a larger phenomenon is occurring with American evangelicals that goes far beyond Trump’s candidacy. It isn’t so much about Donald Trump for his Christian supporters as it is the emergence of exilic voting.
What is exilic voting?
We have the Biblical accounts of the Israelites as exiles in Egypt, and later in Babylon. They were far from home, in a hostile culture, and feeling the effects as a minority people group. The Israelites were exiles in these two eras.
The experience as an exile metaphorically parallels the Christian experience in a pluralistic America. No longer does a candidate’s personal morals necessarily reflect the societal norm.
Rather, exiled evangelicals, like the Copts of Egypt, vote for causes, issues, and specific policies that represent their concerns and political agenda, no matter which candidate it may be. Evangelicals support Trump for his positions and his agenda, not his morals.
An exilic mindset:
Holds a ‘bottom-up’ perspective
Forms unique (compromising?) coalitions for shared causes
Can’t assume to be understood or accepted
Can’t wait for the ideal candidate representing their morals to come along
David Brooks, New York Times columnist, wrote recently, “Christians are now learning how to become an exiled minority.”
Exilic voting is the evangelical’s approach to elections in the 21st century. We vote today, not as those at the center of society, but as a minority. And so our voting isn’t for the perfect candidate or the one who most reflects us. He or she will likely never be able to win.
Just as Amir votes for the Muslim candidate who seeks his interests, Christians today are voting for the imperfect candidate who they think represents their political interests the most. Exilic voting is an approach to the polls that will continue far beyond this election cycle.
Go forth and vote, exile!