We find ourselves today on the brink of arguably the most contentious and divisive presidential elections our country has ever seen. There’s no question that our faith must affect our voting, so how is the Christian to sort through the dynamics and ethics of voting?
As was stated in an earlier blog, we must remember that first of all we are citizens of heaven. By God's amazing sovereign appointment, we are also citizens of this free country. As such, we have civic responsibilities and need to know how to fulfill those in a way that honors God. Basic to our understanding of Christian responsibility is the fact that we are called to love, yes, even the unlovely (Matthew 5:44-45), to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1), and to show gratitude to God for all things under His sovereign rule (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Jeremiah 29:7 is one of my “go to” passages when wrestling with voting issues. This is part of a letter Jeremiah sent to the exiles in Babylon sometime after the second stage of captivity and before the total destruction of Jerusalem. Babylon was a pagan, idolatrous, violent, wicked nation but notice God’s instructions through Jeremiah. “Seek the welfare of the city where I HAVE SENT you ...and pray on its behalf.” Notice what Jeremiah does NOT say. He doesn’t mention converting Babylon or Nebuchadnezzar to God.
We live in a pagan nation whether we like to see it that way or not. We are called to pray for our leaders. Since we have the amazing privilege of the freedom to vote for our leaders, it seems to me that this is part of seeking the welfare of our country.
So how do we deal with the knotty issue of voting as we exercise our civic responsibility? One thing we might consider is the character of the candidate. We need to keep in mind that in this fallen world, there are no candidates without sin. In addition, we do not have all the information. One candidate may be openly flawed, while another may be involved in subtle or hidden sin. Depending on which media outlet we pay attention to, the results may differ. Augustine called this the burden of judgment, that whatever our opinion, in the end we’re relying on our private judgment based on incomplete information.
Further, while the Bible gives clear qualifications for church leadership, it does not give similar qualifications for civic leadership. We should not make the mistake of trying to put sacred obligations that refer to the church onto secular matters that relate to our nation.
So how DO we decide? I would suggest we again look to Scripture for help. We are called to love. How do we best love our fellow-citizens, believers and unbelievers, those we agree with and those we disagree with? In this election cycle, we have the unique opportunity to evaluate each candidate by the record of what they've done in the past and how that record enables or discourages the flourishing of the general public. Their records are factual and open to the public. What they have done, voted for, and accomplished are easily researched at government websites. I would seriously hesitate to rely on what they SAY they'll do as much as look at what they already have done. Most candidates will SAY whatever they think the electorate wants to hear. I would suggest that on our priority list evaluating the record, or policy, of a candidate, we must look for a platform that supports the values God makes explicit. It is clear that His first priority is the intrinsic value of human life, made in His image (Genesis 9:6). In my view, marriage, family, economic systems that enable heads of families to supply basic needs, and safety are all values that God speaks clearly about in His Word. Under the economy, we might put help for the poor, immigration and others, but we need to make sure we’re not asking government to do the church’s job. In my view, upholding these values is what loving my neighbor means, on a national scale. Some might disagree on the order of the various issues God would highlight.
So, Christian, take your civic responsibility to vote seriously, prayerfully consider the issues, and vote responsibly. Yes, some may be tempted to sit out or vote for a candidate that has no actual chance of winning. If that's you, make sure your thinking and conscience are grounded in God's word, not simply frustration and pessimism. Your vote (of which we are stewards) really can make a difference and affect the outcome.
If God directed the Israelite exiles to seek the welfare of their city, would He not want us to take seriously our freedom to vote and vote with care and vigilance?
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