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Election season is upon us and there are some very important questions for all of us to consider. Does God's Word encourage Christians to vote? Are we being concerned and conscientious citizens if we choose not to vote? Are we aware that if we do not vote, the evil deeds of darkness will prevail in our country with very little opposition? There is an important reason why Christians are called to be salt and light (Mat. 5:13-16). Being salt means we must refuse to be morally neutral when important issues are at stake. Being light in a spiritually dark world means we must shine the truth of God’s Word into political conversations while courageously challenging ideas and opinions that contradict or oppose biblical truth.
What Is a Christian's Responsibility?
The apostle Paul urges us to pray for kings and those in authority so that people can live peaceful lives in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim. 2:1-4). As Christians we are to be model citizens, praying evangelistically and sharing the truth with everyone around us. Voting is a responsible and discerning way to live out biblical citizenship so that we can live peaceful lives. Let us never forget that every born-again Christian is an ambassador for the King of kings. We must seek to influence our government leaders who shape our laws on issues like justice, morality, family, safety, abortion, and religious freedom. If we don't vote for candidates and policies that best align with biblical values, our nation will continue to suffer dreadful consequences and put our religious freedom in jeopordy.
Does Our Faith Affect How We Live?
The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reported only 56% of self-identified Christians voted in the 2024 election. This means 44% of Christians did not vote. These alarming numbers raise an important consideration for Christians. Since our faith shapes our understanding of morality and justice, why are those convictions not motivating us to participate in elections? God’s Word calls His people to pursue holiness, seek justice, stand for righteousness, and to faithfully engage the culture and society in which He has placed us. Voting is understood by many Christians as a practical application of those exhortations. But we must do more than vote because our opposition to wicked and ungodly worldviews requires spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:4-5). We must be faithful to the Great Commission by proclaiming the Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God to convert enemies of God to children of God.
If Christians Do Not Influence Culture, Who Will?
When Christians abandon their cultural and civic responsibilities, we leave a vacuum that our adversaries will gladly fill. If we do not faithfully bring biblical truth and righteousness into the public square, our culture will suffer the consequences in our absence. Socialists, Communists, Muslims and idolators will shape the government, laws, moral standards, schools, families, and culture without us. Many Christians are too short sighted to see the potential calamity and the loss of our freedoms that this could cause. The systematic collapse of the once prosperous nation of Venezuela should be an urgent warning for us. Clearly, this is not a call for Christians to place their hope in political parties or government leaders because our hope is ultimately in Christ. Our citizenship is in heaven, and no election can affect or influence the kingdom of God (Phil. 3:20). But until Christ returns, Christians are called to be faithful ambassadors on earth while our King is in heaven.
How Should Our Faith Influence How We Vote?
As Christians, we must examine the candidates and their political party, think biblically, pray for wisdom and vote according to our conscience. Most Christians with biblical convictions cannot vote for a Democrat because of the Democratic platform. Their party platform explicitly supports protecting access to abortion and restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade. What protections? Surely not for the babies who are being butchered and surely not for the women whose health is being endangered. Senator Robert Kennedy's message at the Republican Convention in Dallas captured the importance of voting against a political platform that does not align with biblical values. Issues such as transgender medical interventions, justice, drug policies, border security, abortion access, marriage and religious freedom should also be evaluated through the lens of Scripture. Clearly, we cannot control the behavior and actions of our culture, however we can control how we fulfill the responsibilities God has entrusted to us.
Remember What Our King Has Left Us Here to Do
As a nation we have turned our back on God, who has blessed us so abundantly throughout our 250 years. Indeed, we do not deserve any more of His blessings. However, every Christian must not forget what our King has left us here to do. Pastors and church leaders need to encourage Christians to faithfully apply biblical truth to every area of our lives, including our responsibilities as citizens. Since God's Word repeatedly commands us to pursue justice, truth, righteousness and the good of others, we must encourage one another to take the privilege and responsibility of voting seriously. Let us study the issues, examine the candidates in light of biblical principles, pray for wisdom, and vote according to our conscience before God. We may disagree on specific issues, but we all agree that our ultimate hope is in God's sovereignty, not elections (Daniel 2:21). If you believe Christians should be encouraged to vote with biblical convictions, please share this message with your circle of influence! Let us "do everything for the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
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