How MUST Christians Vote?

Amy and I voted this week. Our family has spent hours and hours discussing the issues and weighing the options and I want to give you three things to consider as we approach the voting booths this month. 

First of all, we cannot vote fearfully. So many crazy, terrifying messages are being thrown around right now. Everything is the WORST! The propaganda of the election process CANNOT be the foundation for our decision. We cannot vote out of a fear of what MIGHT happen. Our choices cannot be based upon the hypothetical consequences presented to us by a political party. Christians, the Lord God IS our refuge and that means something about our lives (Psalm 46:1). We cannot vote out of a fear of what IS happening or what WILL happen (John 14:1). This vote won’t stop these things, it cannot (John 16:33). Finally, we cannot fear what others think of us. In the culture we live in right now, social media has made some people into political monsters. Christian, we MUST keep searching out the truth regardless of what others think, because we MUST fear the only One whose opinion really matters (Matthew 10:28). 

Second, we must vote faithfully. God is not evident in any of the presidential interactions that we have seen so far! Think about it – the Most High rules the kingdoms of men and He puts whomever He wants on the throne. If this is true then He HAS to be evident in the process of a so called ‘christian’ nation and yet He has been ignored. As Christians, we are to look at EVERYTHING in our lives though the lenses of our faith. God IS ruling this world according to HIS own purpose and plan. Whatever happens will happen because the Sovereign Lord of all creation has determined that it would happen. Therefore our vote must be cast in obedience to His Will as revealed in His Word. We play such a small part in this political process and we are often discouraged by the results that we can see. But, we can trust that God will certainly work everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We can trust the One who makes all decisions based upon what is ultimately right and just. This is the case for our political system – God will make things right. 

So, what if the candidates are ungodly, non-christian humans? What if we are trusting the Lord and not responding in fear but there is not a clear choice that reflects a good biblical candidate? That leads me to the final thing. We must vote fruitfully. We find ourselves right now faced with two candidates who are not reflecting orthodox Christian values in their own lives and their positions are not being presented from a biblical perspective. Bobby McCreery pointed me to this passage – Jeremiah 29:7 – “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” I believe that this passage provides a solid principle for thinking through this election cycle. We need to seek the welfare of the city where we have been sent. As Christians we have been commanded to love our neighbor (Mark 12:31) and to do good to everyone (Galatians 6:10). What candidate will benefit the country, my family, our community, and the church the most? When our mission interferes with the wickedness of this world, which candidate will guard our rights to proclaim the truth? Which candidate will not use the law enforcement arm of their government against political and ideological enemies? We have been called to proclaim Christ, speak the truth, testify to Christ, call others to repent, and praise the Lord. This is crucial to the outworking of the Gospel in the life of the church. Which candidate will work to maintain our freedom of speech? When it comes right down to is, we need to vote for the candidate that will give us the best opportunity to see the Gospel of God proclaimed to as many as possible. Soli Deo Gloria!