A common question I've heard a lot this election cycle is "Should Christians Vote?
Many born-again believers are divided on whether they should vote. In the last presidential election, over 15 million Christians were not even registered to vote, and 25 million registered Christians did not vote according to statistics. The most common reason not to vote I hear is, “I don’t like either candidate, so I’m not going to vote for either one.” But I think from scripture, we can make a pretty compelling argument that, as born-again Americans, we should vote.
And listen, I get it. I don’t like either candidate we have as an option for president, nor do I like our choices for many of our state and local elections. And I think, in large part, we are where we are and have the candidates that we have because so many of us refuse to vote.
In the family, the father is the spiritual authority. In the church, the elders serve as the spiritual authority. In our nation, citizens select and elect representatives. When Christians do not vote, they surrender their leadership to potentially ungodly leaders. Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan."
We need to understand what a vote is and what a vote is not.
Your Vote is Not a Valentine
Your vote is not about picking your latest crush or best friend. It’s about choosing who you believe will lead best. Policies last a lifetime, and an elected president makes over 4,000 positional appointments during their time in office. These appointments can have long-lasting impacts on the nation.
Your Ballot is Not a Bulletin
Not voting is not a statement or a message. The only message read on election night is who wins. The goal of voting is not to make a point but to make a difference. You are not selecting a Savior; you are choosing a leader who can be used by God to do good things.
In Scripture we find three types of political leaders that can serve as a guide for what type of leader we should elect to lead our country/
King Josiah: A Righteous Leader
King Josiah was a righteous man who promoted righteous things. He repaired the temple, found and read the book of the Covenant to the people, and destroyed altars of idol worship. Josiah is the type of leader we should want, but such leaders are rare.
Jezebel: An Unrighteous Leader
Ahab and Jezebel were unrighteous leaders who promoted evil things. They brought idol worship into Israel and did more to provoke the Lord than all the kings before them.
King Jehu: A Flawed Leader Used by God
Jehu was a flawed man that God used to do good things. He destroyed the altars of Baal and Asherah but did not completely eliminate idol worship. Jehu was open to being used by God, which made him a better choice than suffering under wicked leaders.
Not only do we need to consider what type of leader we want to vote for, we should think about Kingdom Principles that should guide our votes.
Religious Liberty - this is crucial. At the time of the New Testament, saying Jesus is Lord was counter-cultural and went directly against the government in Rome because, in the Roman Empire, Caesar was Lord. As born-again believers, when the government commands us to do something God forbids or forbids us to do something God commands, we have to humbly and respectfully tell them to kick rocks. Acts 5:29 says, "We must obey God rather than men." Which candidate is more likely to protect religious liberty?
Border Security - Scripture calls us to care for immigrants but also to obey governing authorities. Romans 13:1 says, "Every person be subject to the governing authorities." If you, or someone you know, is an immigrant, I want you to know that Jesus loves you, and so do I. Which candidate is more likely to protect national security while caring for immigrants?
Biological Sex - Genesis 1:27 states that God created each person on purpose for a purpose as two distinct genders, male and female. God created two distinct biological sexes, made in the image of God which are therefore sacred. If you or someone you love is transgender or struggling with your gender identity. Jesus loves you so much that He died for you. And right now, you might not feel like your body matches your gender; you might feel like God made a mistake with you. But feelings come and go, but the love of the Father lasts forever. God did not make a mistake when He made you. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14). And if you have gone through the transition process, I want you to know that your scars do not define you; Jesus’ scars do. But we don’t get to decide if we are a different gender. Supporting that idea is to call God a liar, to rebel against the created order. It’s an erosion of the family, and it further contributes to mental illness by denying the only truth that will set them free. Which candidate is more likely to oppose the erasure of gender in our nation?
Family - The family is an institution created by God. Healthy families make up healthy nations. Which candidate is more likely to support the traditional family structure?
Life - God is the author of life, and life begins at conception. Proverbs 6:17 says "God hates the hands that shed innocent blood." Unfortunately, we do not have a consistently pro-life candidate in this race. Donald Trump has changed his position on abortion several times over the last ten years, most recently he has moved toward the center, saying that he would veto a national abortion ban, he would create exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, and that he was against late-term abortions. Harris has gone to the far left extreme, being unwilling to commit to any restrictions on abortion at any point in the pregnancy, very similar to Amendment 3 that is on the ballot in our state. Harris has also said she wants to eliminate the 180-year-old Senate filibuster to make it illegal to put any restrictions on abortion.
I am pro-life from the cradle to the grave. If life begins at conception, then any abortion is murder at any point. In Proverbs 8:36, God says, “All who hate me love death.” And today, I say, “Death is not welcome here!”
The Republican Party today is where the Democratic Party was 30 years ago when abortion was supposed to be “safe, legal, and rare.” But the left wants abortion to be celebrated, paraded around, and promoted as a moral good. With campaigns like “Shout your abortion” and literal trucks for abortion on demand at the Democratic National Convention, I can’t call their position anything other than demonic and evil.
The CDC says that 95% of all abortions happen in the first 15 weeks. At that point, the baby is about the size of an apple and is starting to hear, like smiling and sucking their thumb. There is a heartbeat, and some organs, like the ears, lungs, and intestines, are developed. There are now 12 states that allow abortion up to 9 months; if Amendment 3 passes, Missouri will be the 13th. Which candidate will best protect life?
Something To Think About
As we navigate this election season, it’s crucial to apply Kingdom principles in our voting decisions. Reflect on the five principles discussed: religious liberty, border security, biological sex, family, and life. Evaluate each candidate based on these principles rather than personal preferences or party loyalty.
Questions For Self-Reflection
1. Religious Liberty: Which candidate is more likely to protect your right to practice your faith freely?
2. Border Security: How does each candidate balance national security with compassion for immigrants?
3. Biological Sex: Which candidate upholds the biblical view of gender?
4. Family: Who supports policies that strengthen the biblical family structure?
5. Life: Which candidate is committed to protecting life from conception to natural death?
This week, take time to pray and reflect on these principles. Examine your own heart and actions. Are you living out these principles in your daily life? How can you better support and advocate for these values in your community? Let’s step up and live out our faith, not just in the voting booth but in every aspect of our lives.
By aligning our actions and decisions with Kingdom principles, we can make a meaningful impact on our nation and bring glory to God. Let’s be the salt and light in this world, preserving what is good and shining the truth of God’s Word in every corner of our society. Watch the full message here: How To Vote Kingdom Principles
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