Four Biblical Reasons Why Christians Should Vote (repeat)
[Note: we published this article two years ago, just before the last USA national election. Since today is election day in the USA, we republish it today as a reminder to our readers eligible to vote in the election. If you have not yet voted, we urge you to get out and vote. – Ed.]
There is an election today. Did you notice? We know that our hope is not based upon human governments. Revival will not spread by means of elections. This nation needs God, not just better politicians. But let’s lay all that aside for a moment. Not one of those factors is a justification for abandoning the voting booth. Christians not only should vote, they must. Here are four biblical reasons why.
- Because you are the authority.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God. “ (Romans 13:1) For 1800 years, Christians had to discern how best to submit obediently to pagan and sometimes nominally Christian governments while not compromising their consciences before God. The Romans believers were facing very difficult decisions at the time Paul wrote to them. Obedience came at great sacrifice for many of these precious souls. With the advent of our Constitutional Republic, we have a different dilemma. We live in a government “Of the People.” We are now both the subjects AND the rulers through the compilation of our independent votes.
You, we, everyone is now the “higher power” of Romans 13. Because of that we now must fulfill the responsibilities of the higher power in the passage. We must, through our votes bring justice to those who do evil, and protection for everyone else.
- Because divinely bestowed responsibilities must not be ignored.
God chose Moses in the backside of the desert at the burning bush. He laid upon Moses a responsibility that I am sure Moses, at times, would have preferred be given to someone else. When God lays a responsibility on your shoulders you must carry it. The responsibility of governing through the vote has been laid upon every American citizen, including Christians. To walk away from that responsibility is to walk away from a divinely appointed stewardship. There is no other way to describe it except as neglect or disobedience. “There is no power but of God.”
- Because God will hold you accountable for your vote regardless of its impact on an election outcome.
God does not hold individual believers responsible for election results, he holds them responsible for what they do with the responsibility they have. Jesus explained this in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Varying servants were given varying talents–some more than others. The Master did not hold any servant responsible for what others did, only for what that specific servant did with the responsibility laid upon him. “Burying the talent” which is essentially wasting it, was met with anger from the Master.
- Because hard decisions are no excuse for inaction.
Christians often find themselves faced with difficult decisions at election time. Choosing the “lesser of two evils” does not seem like a Christian thing to do. This dilemma is not new. It is not new in the voting booth. Believers since the founding of this country have faced difficult choices. Even greater still, making difficult choices is one of the uncomfortable realities of leadership. I am sure that King David was not comfortable living among the Philistines while running from Saul. Joseph likely did not find living among the pagan pleasures of Egypt a spiritually satisfying experience. Esther’s choices were not all that appealing either. There are some times you have to make a choice anyway. Not all Christians will make the same choices in elections but we must choose, even when the options are unsatisfactorily limited. God has, in his own Providence, allowed the choices before us in any given election. Our responsibility is to choose the candidate (or ballot proposition or whatever) that will best accomplish the purpose that God has designed for human government—to be a terror to those who do evil and protect those that do good.
May God bless you and give you wisdom as you vote today.
Dr. Kevin Schaal serves as the pastor of Northwest Valley Baptist Church in Glendale, Arizona and as the President of the FBFI.