To Vote, Or Not to Vote … Is That the Question?

Election Day has finally arrived. Already, millions of Americans have made their choices either by early voting or mail-in ballots. On Nov. 5, millions more will stream to the polls, many standing in long lines willing to invest whatever time is necessary to exercise their right to vote – to perform their civic duty. In a few days the political ads will have ended, and it will all over except the shouting and gnashing of teeth.

 

However, there’s some bad news about this right to vote. According to the Christian Post, an online news publication, more than 30 million people identifying as Christians are likely not to vote. Their reason? They don’t like either Presidential candidate.

 

On one hand, we could say having the right to vote means also having the right not to vote. But as followers of Christ, should that be an option? I’m sure some reading this will say it is. However, let me offer some reasons that perhaps it’s not.

 

Many would agree with those who believe neither candidate is an acceptable choice, feeling both lack the qualities they’d like to see in a President, regardless of party or gender. The news media have done its best to identify and magnify their flaws. So, why not simply abstain and silently protest by not voting?

 

However, it’s not as if this is a new development. Both Psalm 14:1-3 and Romans 3:10-12 declare, in almost the same words, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away…. There is no one who does good, not even one.” This description applies to everyone, but perhaps there’s no pursuit or profession where it seems more accurate than in the realm of politics.

 

Maybe it would be wise to put aside character concerns. No matter which President we could point to, every one of them had proverbial ‘feet of clay’ if we bothered to look closely enough. In electing a President we’re not choosing a pastor or spiritual leader, but someone capable of leading the United States both domestically and internationally.

 

Once we get past the personalities, we need to consider important issues. Because where the candidates stand on these, along with their respective parties and platforms, are significantly different. Here are some of them:

• Pro-life vs. pro-choice
• The economy
• Perspectives on the traditional family
• Immigration policies
• Free speech, including religious expression
• Relations with Israel
• Philosophies on how the U.S. Constitution is interpreted and applied

 

Another concern worthy of consideration is whether we as a nation are moving closer to the standards God has given us in the Bible – or further away. Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….” I remember in my early school days when reading the Bible and prayer were an accepted daily practice at the start of each day. That all changed in the 1960s following a series of court decisions. Depending on how you feel about that, which candidate or party is most likely to point us to the direction you think we should be going?

 

Do you think any of the matters above seem important enough to persuade non-voters to step forward and fulfill their civic responsibility to participate in a free, and hopefully honest election? 

 

Along with prayerfully voting according to our values – consulting the Scriptures and seeking guidance from God’s Holy Spirit – there is one more thing followers of Jesus Christ should do: Pray.

 

The Bible gives a clear admonition for us as believers. We’re told, “if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This passage is often cited in public gatherings like leadership prayer breakfasts, but maybe it’s time to take it more seriously. 

 

On Monday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. (according to the time zone we happen to be in) Christ followers are urged to set aside time to pray for our country, the outcome of the election – nationally and locally – and for God to intervene according to His will. This would be a good start, but a single time on one day isn’t enough. I believe the exhortation of 2 Chronicles 7:14 should be on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers every day of the year.

The Kinds of People God Chooses to Use

Two months from today, millions will stream to the polls and vote in another important General Election. (Unless they’ve already opted for early voting to beat the rush.) One of the most cherished rights of our democratic republic is being able to vote, to collectively choose who will be representing us at the various levels of government. The Presidential race will command the most attention, but many other important offices also will be at stake. 

 

Conscientious voting can be challenging, choosing which candidates are most qualified. Alas, sometimes we look at the candidates and shrug our shoulders in resignation, concluding there’s not much to choose from. If only God would reveal which one’s the best.

 

Many factors can enter into voting decisions, two of them being the specific individuals seeking to be elected, and the policies they espouse. For many of us, character is an important criterion. We would like to be able to choose individuals of great integrity, unquestioned moral conviction and behavior, not tempted by greed and personal interests, and other admirable qualities.

 

Unfortunately, maybe because traditional and social media are so adept at beaming harsh lights on transgressions major and minor, it seems people possessing the traits listed above are harder and harder to find. 

 

For this reason, rather than holding their noses while casting their ballots, some eligible voters will opt not to vote at all. That’s their choice. Voting is a right, not a requirement. But in reading the Scriptures, I’ve discovered that if we’re searching for leaders demonstrating sterling character and flawless perfection, it’s a very short list. A list of one: Jesus Christ.

 

Everyone else in the Bible, even those celebrated as heroes of the faith, possessed more warts than some toads. It’s amazing to consider the kinds of people God has used in the past to accomplish His purposes. A comprehensive list could fill a hefty book. So, we’ll just look at a handful of the misfits the Lord selected to lead and intervene on behalf of His chosen people.

 

Speaking of God’s chosen people, we’ll start with Jacob, who was later renamed Israel. He became the namesake for the ancient Israelites, their descendants being referred to as God’s “chosen people” to this day. This was despite the fact he was remarkably short on scruples.

 

His given name, Jacob, can be translated “to supplant or overreach,” which is exactly what he did in scheming to steal his brother Esau’s birthright. Then he compounded the deed, deceiving Isaac, his nearly blind father, to snatch the patriarch’s special blessing from Esau. Double whammy! You can find this account in Genesis 27-28. Nevertheless, God used him.

 

Then there was strong man Samson, one of history’s first superheroes. His story is recorded in Judges 13-16. We’re told, “…the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). On several occasions “…the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power” (Judges 14:19) and Samson performed great feats of courage and strength.

 

Unfortunately, he had an eye for the ladies, including one seductress named Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines bribed her to find out the source of Samson’s strength. After several attempts, he confided in her the promise God had made. As a result, the Philistines were able to subdue him, gouging out his eyes and throwing him into prison. But Samson had the last laugh so to speak, literally bringing the house down by toppling the central pillars of their pagan temple, killing everyone in it including himself.

 

King David was described by God as “a man with a heart after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). That sounds good, right? And yet, as we read starting in 1 Samuel 16 through the opening chapters of 1 Kings, he was an adulterer, a murderer, and the head of perhaps the most dysfunctional family in history. How could the Lord use a person like that?

 

The key was that when confronted by his sins, David was genuinely repentant, humbly acknowledging his wrongdoing without making excuses. God not only used him to reign over the Israelites but also to author many of the Psalms. In one of his penitential psalms, David wrote:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12).

 

We could cite many others with major flaws and shortcomings, such as Moses, King Solomon, and the apostles Peter, Paul, James, John and Thomas. But the point is simple: If God chooses, He can and will use anyone and anything to accomplish His divine purposes. As Proverbs 16:4 states, “The Lord works out everything for His own ends – even the wicked for a day of disaster” (Proverbs 16:4).

 

As election day nears, as we weigh both character and where candidates stand on important issues, we all will be hoping to see our favorites receive the most votes. However, our confidence should be anchored in God alone. 

From the book of Proverbs, we have these assurances that ultimately, God is in control: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30). This should give us unwavering hope. 

Mid-Term Elections: Will They Really Change Anything?

Less than a week from now, if they haven’t taken advantage of early voting, citizens around the country will stream to the polls to cast votes for a variety of races and issues. At stake are governorships, U.S. Congressional races, state and local contests, amendments and referendums. The mid-term elections are under way. How could we forget, with the bombardment of political ads we’ve been enduring for months?

Much has been expressed about the ramifications of the election, of this or that party keeping or losing control of the House and the Senate, along with who will lead key states in the coming years. But in the end, will we discover that when all has been said and done, much more will have been said than done?

 

Whenever an ad for a candidate comes on – virtually any candidate – I’m reminded of the old perfume commercial that advised, “Promise her anything – but give her Arpege.” Because politicians are notorious for making campaign promises, for pretty much anything, only to promptly forget those vows and assurances once they’re sworn into office.

 

But let’s suspend our disbelief. Let’s set aside the ample evidence that while all politicians promise, few truly keep those promises. Let’s suppose that through some civic miracles, those elected will decide to abide by what they’ve said they would do. Will things really change all that much?

 

I’m all in favor of the political process, subscribing to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address notion in 1863 that ours is a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Unlike monarchies, dictatorships, and tyrannical forms of government that give citizens little or no voice in how their countries and communities are run, we get to vote. The people and parties we favor don’t always win, but at least we’ve had the opportunity to cast our ballots and indicate our preferences.

 

To ensure I would not fail to vote on Election Day due to illness or some emergency, I took advantage of the opportunity to go to a local polling place a couple weeks ago. My votes have been cast and recorded. Exercising my civic duty and Constitutional right, I’m hoping the “right” candidates are elected.

 

However, I return to my earlier question: Will things really change all that much? The reason I ask is because of a simple truth stated and reaffirmed in the Scriptures: “For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No matter how well-intended they are, in electing people to represent us in any level of government, we are choosing flawed, sinful individuals to serve on our behalf.

 

Romans 3:10-12 expresses it even more emphatically: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.” I don’t think God could not have made it more clear. Sometimes in reading this passage, I wonder whether politicians were the first collection of folks the Lord had in mind.

 

This was why, when the people of Israel asked the prophet Samuel for a king, it was an affront to God. “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel…. And the Lord told him, ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king’” (1 Samuel 8:6-7).

 

Then God admonished Samuel, “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do” (1 Samuel 8:9). The prophet obeyed, giving the warning and then concluding, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:18).

 

The Israelites did not listen, insisting that they have a king just like the nations around them. And indeed, starting with King Saul and a parade of kings that followed him, they were ruled by imperfect, sometimes very corrupt kings. The parade of leaders with feet of clay (or worse) commences in 1 Samuel, continuing through 2 Chronicles and beyond.

 

Does this imply the Scriptures are opposed to the democratic process, including the right to vote and elect our governmental leaders? Definitely not. But after reading the biblical narratives in which even the best kings sometimes wallowed in sin, our voting should take a “buyer beware” approach. No candidate or party is going to become the panacea for the ills of our nation – or the world.

 

As Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). While the context of this statement concerns material wealth and possessions, the point is clear: We cannot give our allegiance both to God and to worldly matters.

 

When we vote, our responsibility is to choose candidates and issues that we believe align best with biblical teachings, and then trust in the assurance of Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” He alone is the true King.

 

If we don’t ask Him to give us the leaders we need, He’ll give us the leaders we deserve. Lord have mercy!

Definitely An Election Like None Other

Millions of us have already voted, whether early in person or by mail. So from our perspective, it’s all over except the shouting. And there’s bound to be lots of shouting, no matter what the final vote counts show. But for many other millions of American citizens, tomorrow is what it’s always been: Election Day, the first Tuesday of every November. Being a Presidential election, that makes it a bit more important.

With the unfortunate polarization of our nation, regardless of the outcome, the “losing” side is bound to begin collective gnashing of teeth, convinced the world as we have known it will never be the same. But take heart – there is good news. Very good news.

 

While the Bible does not speak about voting and political elections, it does offer wisdom and assurance concerning those selected to lead in government. For starters, Romans 13:1 instructs, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

 

This is stating that regardless of the results, God is neither surprised nor caught off guard. All who serve do so in accord with God’s sovereign will, including evil leaders. Consider some of the those in the Bible, people like King Saul, Israel’s first king who came to an inglorious end; and pagan kings Artaxerxes, Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Ahab and his despicable queen Jezebel, king Herod and Pontius Pilate. Even kings David and Solomon compiled very flawed resumes. 

 

Not one of these was a paragon of virtue in any sense of the word, but the Lord used them all to accomplish His divine purposes. 

 

The apostle Paul gave a similar admonition to Titus, one of his protégés: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show humility toward all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

 

Paul was not alone in presenting such teaching. The apostle Peter also wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15).

 

This sounds difficult, and may not make sense in light of today’s contentious political climate. We can only confidently heed such instructions if we place our ultimate trust in God, believing He rules and overrules as He sees fit.

 

But there's another type of election we should also consider, one that does not involve a ballot box. It’s the election the Lord has ordained for those who join His eternal family. His is the only vote.

 

Opening his first letter in the New Testament, Peter addresses his audience: “To God’s elect, strangers in the world…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit…” (1 Peter 1:1-2). Who are these “elect”? As the apostle explains, those who have been chosen by God.

 

Paul also understood this perspective, using the term a number of times. For instance, in 2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).

 

The apostle opens his letter to Titus by encapsulating his personal calling: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:1-2).

 

It was not only the apostles who thought and spoke in terms of God’s “election.” Looking ahead to what the Bible calls “the end of days” and His second coming, Jesus Christ told His followers, “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them…. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens” (Mark 13:20-27).

 

Why mention this? Because we won’t know until tomorrow – or perhaps days or weeks after that, given the chaotic state of the current election process – who won and who lost. Meanwhile, based on promises of the Scriptures and Jesus Himself, we can have full assurance we are His “elect,” His chosen people, if we accept His free gift of salvation and deliverance from the guilt of sin.  

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).

 

This is one election result we don’t have to sweat out: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Have you had your “election day” yet?

The Elect – and Election Day

The Bible uses numerous terms to describe God’s people, including “the chosen,” His “children,” “adopted,” and “predestined.” Another intriguing description is “the elect.” In 1 Peter 1:2, the apostle writes to “God’s elect, strangers in the world.” The apostle Paul writes, “I endure everything for the sake of the elect…” (2 Timothy 2:10). Even Jesus used the term when He warned, “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles [trying] to deceive the elect” (Mark 13:22).

Using the term a bit differently, Peter admonished Jesus’s followers to “be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). This obviously isn’t referring to our names appearing on some celestial ballot. We don’t have to articulate a platform, nor declare a party affiliation. After all, if there’s a “vote,” it belongs alone to Jehovah God.

I don’t bring this up to delve into the realms of theology and biblical interpretation. But as another Election Day draws near, it’s interesting to ponder what is the role and responsibility of God’s “elect” in the electoral process.

Some of us have already cast our votes. Others are waiting for Election Tuesday to visit the polls. Either way, I find myself a bit torn about the actions and reactions the Lord expects of His people in this context. As the verse above states, as God’s elect we’re “strangers in the world.” The old gospel hymn declares, “this world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through.” Our ultimate hope and trust should not to be in who wins or loses in the various political races.

However, neither does the Bible tell us to ignore or avoid political involvement altogether. Throughout the Scriptures we see accounts of God’s people involved in matters of governance. Joseph, for instance, through a series of circumstances rose to a level of high prominence in ancient Egypt, second in authority only to Pharaoh himself (Genesis 37-50). 

Exodus tells about Moses who, after being taken into the family of another Pharaoh, negotiated with the Egyptian king to bring about the release of the Israelites from 400 years of slavery. Nehemiah, cupbearer to Artaxerxes, sought the king of Persia’s permission to lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Daniel, similar to Joseph, gained the favor of a king – this time in Babylon – through the interpretation of a series of perplexing dreams and also was entrusted with much civic responsibility. Esther intervened on behalf of the Jewish people, defying the law by approaching King Xerxes without invitation to uncover a heinous plot, even saying without fear, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Jesus was challenged regarding how God’s people should interact with governmental regulations. The Jewish leaders asked Him whether the people of Israel were obligated to pay taxes to the Roman empire. Looking at a denarius bearing the image and inscription of Caesar, the king, Jesus replied, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25). Belief in God did not exempt His people from government laws.

So as we ponder the tension between living in this temporal world and longing for our eternal home, it seems a balance is required. Yes, we’re “aliens and strangers on earth” as Hebrews 11:13 and other passages declare. And we’re admonished to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Nevertheless, we’re also charged to be “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And part of being Jesus’ witnesses is to engage effectively with the world around us in every way. That includes participating in elections, voting our convictions, and even running for public office if we sense God is leading us in that way.

If you haven’t already done so, I hope next Tuesday you’ll be voting for those candidates you believe are most aligned with the principles and values God has revealed through the Scriptures. Then we, as His elect, can confidently heed the exhortation of Romans 13:1 to “submit…to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist are established by God.”

What to Do When All Else Fails

In less than one week, the 2016 Presidential campaign will have finally, and mercifully, come to an end. As they say, it’ll all be over except the shouting. And we can expect to continue hearing lots of that, regardless of the outcome. For each Presidential campaign there’s a lot at stake, but this one has been more raucous and contentious than any we’ve known in recent memory.

Voting is important, but we can do
something even more important.

For those of us suffering from campaign fatigue, Election Day can’t come soon enough. Some of us have already cast our votes, taking advantage of early voting options. (Let's hope there won't be voters that attempt to cast their ballots both early and often!) We’ve all been urged to exercise our right to vote, and I wholeheartedly concur. Even if, as some critics contend, the choices are less than optimal, voting is still our right as well as a privilege that many people around the world don’t enjoy. We dare not take it for granted.

But whether you’ve already voted or are waiting for “the day” to arrive, that’s not all you can do as the day when our next President will be chosen draws near. In fact, one thing we can do, if we believe the Scriptures, carries more weight than a single vote – or all of the millions of votes that will be cast. We can pray.

A verse familiar to many of us explains why this is so important. God makes this promise: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Too often, rather than pray and seek God, we’d prefer to grumble, complain, argue and contend. We get excited about likeminded people on social media who agree with us and our political and ideological views, and get incited by others who disagree. We expend great energy trying to dissuade people whose minds are made up and are unwilling to reconsider their positions. If only we’d expend as much effort turning to the One who can truly make a difference.

Because whether we believe it or not, whether we agree with how He does it, the Bible asserts God is not in heaven wringing His hands, fretting over what decisions Americans will make at the polls. No, it says He is sovereign and very much in control of not only what will transpire next Tuesday, but also what happens in the days that follow.

Writing to his young protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul exhorted “that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This applies universally; he was not writing about the United States, but the principle certainly applies.

But what if the “wrong” person is elected, one whose views and aspirations and intentions disagree with our own? We’re to pray for that individual, too? Yes, and elsewhere Paul explained why: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God” (Romans 13:1).

Reading those passages, it’s hard to find wiggle room. Nowhere does it say, “except this” or “unless that.” There are no exceptions. As someone has wisely stated, in the Bible when God says “all,” He means ALL.

If we’re tempted to argue, “Well, that’s what Paul said,” then look at Jesus as the ultimate example. When challenged about paying taxes to a Roman government that was far from “Christian,” He replied, “’Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they answered. So Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’” (Luke 20:24-25).

And throughout His ministry, Jesus never stood up to the Roman rulers. Actually, that’s one reason many people turned against Him – they became disenchanted when it became evident He had no plan to overthrow the evil and corrupt government.

This, however, doesn’t mean we must take a fatalistic posture about who will be leading our nation, passing legislation and interpreting those laws. No, we’re to pray, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 instructs. We’re to humble ourselves, setting aside arrogant self-righteousness. We’re to pray to the one and only God, approaching His “throne of grace,” as Hebrews 4:16 describes it. We’re to examine ourselves and turn from any wicked ways we may be practicing, even justifying. And we’re to trust that God will hear our humble, repentant prayers and respond – even if we don’t necessarily like or agree with how He does it.

As they say, “When all else fails, pray.” Let’s resolve to pray – BEFORE all else fails.

Voting: An Act of Obedience

This week millions of people across the nation will stream to the polls to cast their votes on a variety of local, state and national races and issues. Sadly, millions of others will opt to stay home, refusing to exercise their right to vote.

Every year the outcomes of major elections are determined by a minority of voters who take the time to make it to the voting booth. Then the inactive majority proceeds to grumble about decisions made by officials they didn’t elect. I’m of the opinion that if you don’t vote, you should lose your right to complain.

But for followers of Jesus, there’s more reason for making the effort to vote than just being able to mutter and gripe in good conscience. It’s also an act of faithfulness and obedience to God.

We seem to think that government was an invention from the ever-innovative mind of mankind. However, the Bible says otherwise: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). Knowing mankind’s annoying proclivity for following its own selfish, self-serving ways, God established government to create laws, maintain order and protect us from ourselves.

That being said, as citizens of a democracy in which we have – and should enjoy – the Constitutional right to vote, we should recognize this is our opportunity to participate in the governing process that God has ordained.

Interestingly, two people, even fellow believers, can look at the same candidate – or the same issue – and reach different conclusions on how to vote. And that’s okay. That’s why we cast our ballots in private. What matters is that we do vote, and hopefully do so well-informed about the candidates and issues being contested.

In fact, the same Bible passage seems to suggest participating in the governmental process by voting is more than a right; it’s an obligation. “Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…. For he is God’s servant to do you good…an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience” (Romans 13:2-5).

Do you desire for your community, your state and your nation to be governed in a manner that pleases God? Then vote for the candidates and issues you believe most closely align with biblical values. Even if the outcomes aren’t as you would like, at least you’ve done what you could.

And after the election, the Scriptures teach, our responsibility doesn’t end. In fact, it’s just begun. Then, God tell us, we’re to pray. As the apostle Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). What if you don’t like the elected official? What if he or she is not aligned politically or ideologically with your personal views? God says we’re to pray anyway.

Years ago, long before the Iron Curtain fell, I knew a very godly man who prayed for each of the top leaders of the then-Soviet Union – individually, by name. At the time I questioned the wisdom of this, but then the Berlin Wall was destroyed, the iron fist of Communism in Eastern Europe lost its grip, and millions of oppressed men, women and children received their first taste of freedom. Who’s to say my friend’s faithful prayers didn’t play a significant role in what transpired?

So vote. It’s not only your civic duty; it’s also your spiritual duty. And then...pray!

Exercising Your Right

Tomorrow is Election Day. The outcome of citizens streaming to the polls will determine who serves in the White House for the next four years. For those of us who voted early, it will be a bit anticlimactic. We’ve already cast our ballot for our candidate of choice – or the lesser of two evils – however you happen to regard the options.

But the key to this act is it’s our right – and a privilege at the same time. The Constitution guarantees that citizens of the United States have the right to vote, expressing their preference of persons they wish to represent them in government. But it’s also a privilege. Many nations do not offer such a right. Leaders command by force, and citizens of those lands are ruled without having influence in the matter.

Sadly, many of our fellow Americans will “elect” not to vote, either out of apathy, inconvenience, the conviction that neither candidate deserves their vote, or simply because they didn’t take time to register. Too bad, because it’s a wonderful right to participate in the selection of those that lead our nation.

The great question, of course, is who will win. Already there is gnashing of teeth over what will happen if “my” candidate doesn’t win. Our country will “go to hell in a hand-basket,” people argue. Strangely, we hear this complaint from both sides.

Years ago we didn’t have early voting, so first Tuesdays of November were special days, everyone streaming to their election sites en masse. We’d wait anxiously for results, without much clue about what the outcome would be. Today, however, it seems everyone does polls, projecting who will win, garnering the most electoral votes. We even get reports on early voting. So some of the suspense is gone.

But suspense is gone in another respect, too. For everyone fearful of what will happen if the opposition candidate wins – liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat – we have assurance from the Bible.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the apostle Paul writes, “I urge, therefore, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanks giving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quite lives with all godliness and holiness.” What that says to me is no elected official is beyond God’s control.

It also says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).

If we believe this, it means God is not in heaven wringing His hands, fretting over who wins the election. He’s got it figured out. “I’ve got this,” He’s telling us. That’s not to say we shouldn’t vote, shrugging our shoulders and concluding, “Why bother, if God’s already got it handled?” We still have the responsibility – and stewardship – to take part in the political process, even when we feel what we do is of little consequence.

The confidence we can have is that the “governing authorities,” just as everything else in this world, fall under God’s sovereign will and direction, so whether our candidate of choice wins or not, we need not fear the future. 

As a great speaker once said, “God knows what He’s doing, and He does it quite well.”