With all of the claims and counter-claims of politicians, it is easy to become confused about whom to vote for in elections. In voting, we are most often guided by the political party we associate with.
We encourage our readers to have a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We view the Bible as the final
authority for faith and practical living. While we believe that our
eternal citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), God has temporarily placed
us in countries here on earth and wants us to participate in their
affairs. Given these three fundamental positions, we believe Christians
are called to vote according to the values of our permanent “country” (heaven)
as spelled out in the Bible.
According to some estimates, multiple millions of Christians
are not registered to vote and many who are still don’t take advantage of this
right. One of the most fundamental values given to us by God in the Bible
is that of stewardship—that is, we are to be stewards, or managers, of what God
has given us. Being citizens of a constitutional republic that allows
citizens to vote for their leaders, we Christians can
exercise stewardship over the government by, among other things, voting for our
leaders.
The Bible does not tell us who to vote for. Neither do we. However, the Bible does spell out God’s view of government and it gives us values to consider when making voting decisions. We discuss both of these subjects briefly below.
A Biblical View of Government
One section in the Bible (Romans 13:1-7) most clearly and
succinctly explains God’s view of government. In this letter to the
church in Rome, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians as follows:
- We are
to submit to governing authorities—vs. 1. Not to do so means we are
rebelling against God and inviting His judgment (vs. 2). That’s not
to say there is no room for dissent when we see biblical values such as
those outlined below being violated. But in general, we are to
submit to government authorities unless they require us to disobey clear
instructions from the Bible, in which case we should stand up for what is
right no matter what price we have to pay. The Apostle Peter gives
similar instructions about submitting to governing authorities (1 Peter
2:13-17)
- God
has “established” government leaders—vs.1. They are literally
“servants (ministers) of God” (vs. 4).
- Our
leaders are to administer justice, and we have no reason to fear them if
we are living correctly (vs. 3).
- A
major responsibility of the government is to punish “wrongdoers” (vs. 4)
- We are
to submit to government authorities not only because they have the power
to punish us but also to keep a clear conscience because we are obeying
God’s commands (vs. 5).
- We are
to pay taxes to allow our political leaders (like pastors) to devote full
time to governing (vs. 6)
- We are
to honor and respect our leaders (vs. 7).
Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians to offer
“requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving . . . for everyone—for kings,
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all
godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
As we make our voting decisions, we need to keep in mind what God designed the government to be and do and the part we are to play in government.
Biblical Values
There are far too many political issues for us to discuss
here. What we want to focus our attention on are the biblical values that
should guide our voting behavior. Christians face the same issues that
all citizens in a community face. But if we take our faith seriously, we
will approach them differently than others.
Here are some of the biblical values that should help guide
us in voting for candidates:
- Sanctity
of life. According to Genesis 1 and 2, God is the Creator of all
life and uniquely among all creatures He has made humans “in His
image.” Throughout the Scriptures God repeatedly places high value
on preserving human life. It is clear to those who take the Bible
seriously that we are to maintain the sanctity of life in all phases of
life, from conception to the final stages of life.
Question: Where do political candidates stand on issues that
deal with the sanctity of life?
- Stewardship.
In Genesis 1 and 2 we read that God created all things and entrusted to
people the management of the rest of creation. God is the owner and
has appointed us as His managers or stewards. Question: Which
political candidates appear best capable of managing God’s creation? But
we believe stewardship extends to more than the physical world God has
created—it extends to every area of life—our finances, our time, our
abilities, the people we lead, etc. Question: Which
candidates create an environment for us to exercise personal stewardship
in all of life?
- Sanctity
of the family. Since we take the first two chapters of Genesis
seriously, we believe there is no question that God created one man and
one woman to share an intimate, life-long relationship and that He created
us as sexual beings with the ability to procreate and told us to have
children (multiply). Question: Which political candidates
are most likely to uphold the biblically mandated family structure and
promote healthy family relationships?
- Protection.
It clear from the entire sweep of Scripture that a fundamental purpose of
government is to protect its people from threats, both internal and
external, to peace and physical safety and well-being. While Jesus
told individual Christians to “turn the other cheek”, there are no similar
instructions for governments. Leaders who through inaction or
misguided actions threaten our safety and security are not fulfilling
their biblical mandate. Question: Which political
candidates can best protect its citizens from internal and external
threats?
- Justice.
We believe it is clear from Romans 13 that a fundamental purpose of
government is to administer justice. Promoting justice includes, in
part, making sure that wrong-doers are restrained and punished, that laws
of the land are applied to all citizens equally and fairly, to make sure
all citizens have access to legal recourse, etc.
Question: Which political candidates hold the greatest
promise of administering justice?
- Poor
and underprivileged. In the Bible God places a high priority on
helping and protecting the most vulnerable members of society—the poor,
homeless, immigrants, orphans, the aged, the fatherless and widows.
Question: Which political candidates show the greatest
willingness to meet the needs of underprivileged, vulnerable members of
our society?
- Productivity
and industriousness. As a counterbalance to concern for the
poor, it is clear from the Bible that God puts a high premium on hard work
and being industrious (Genesis 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 2
Thessalonians 3:6-10). With a few important exceptions (i.e., those
who are permanently mentally or physically handicapped), our approach
should be to help people struck by adverse circumstances to “get back on
their feet”, rather than permanently depending on the government or
private individuals and organizations. Question: Which
political candidates propose policies to help the poor in time of need yet
encourage them to be independent and productive members of society?
- Character.
From the selection of Abraham, Moses, Saul and David in the Old Testament
to the appointment of church leaders in the New Testament, it is clear
that God puts a high value on character. We believe that wise
policies and actions flow out of strong character. There are many
dimensions of character—honesty, integrity, courage, fairness, humility,
compassion, etc. Question: Which candidates display
positive character qualities and show an ability to maintain a balance
among these qualities, not simply enforce the ones they agree most with?
- Righteousness.
Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace
to any people.” It is clear from the Bible that leaders of
non-theocratic nations (such as ours) should create an atmosphere that is
conducive to practicing righteous living. We need leaders who will
promote the freedom to believe and practice faith and to express that
faith to others without coercion. Question: Which
candidates will promote an environment that is conducive to righteous
living?
- Glorifying
God. The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:17 that we should
do everything in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through
Him. In short, we Christians are to glorify God, or make Him look
good, in our voting just as we are to do in every other area of life—from
our jobs to our relationships with our spouses and children, etc.
Question: How can we glorify God with our voting behavior?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could find candidates who score an A+ on each of these dimensions? Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and our politicians, like all citizens, share in that “fallenness.” At the very least, we should vote for those candidates who come closest to living up to biblical ideals as expressed above. How do we do that? See the 10 Guidelines for Christian Voters Outlined below
1. Make God’s Word your primary voting guide. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 110:105).
2. Pray before casting your vote. Ask the Lord first
for guidance as you vote. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not
lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him…” (Prov.
3:5–6). Pray also for the candidates even the ones whom you do not like. “I
urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a
peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1
Tim. 2:1–2).
3. Vote for a candidate who upholds Christian principles.
For instance, are his/her views on important moral, social, economic, and
health issues biblical?
Religious freedom. Will the candidate hinder you from
exercising your faith in Jesus Christ, or will he/she protect your liberty as a
Christian?
Sanctity of human life. Will the candidate promote
abortion, or will he/she fight for the sacredness of life in the womb?
Marriage. Will the candidate endorse (so-called)
“same-sex marriage,” or will he/she uphold the biblical definition of
marriage—a union between one man and one woman only?
Racial injustice. Will the candidate treat every
life, regardless of color or race, with equal importance, as created in God’s
image?
Violence. Will the candidate be committed to
establishing a peaceful and orderly society?
Economic crisis. Will the candidate promote biblical
work ethics? “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing
honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with
anyone in need” (Eph. 4:28).
Medical Care. Will the candidate give importance (as
the Bible does) to good physical, mental, and spiritual health (1 Tim.
4:8; 3 John 2)? How will he/she address the issues surrounding
COVID-19?
Of course, this list is not meant to be exhaustive but just
a sample of some moral, social, economic, and health questions we need to ask
ourselves as we consider a candidate. Remember, as followers of Christ, we must
not “give approval to those who practice” what God has declared to be morally
evil (Rom.
1:32).
4. Vote for a candidate who is able to lead our country
with justice. Remember that you are not voting for a pastor, but for a
president. The candidate might not be exactly on the same page as you are
theologically, but if he/she is committed to a fair and righteous judicial
system, then you might want to consider voting for this candidate.
5. Vote for a candidate who has already demonstrated
his/her ability to lead well. Look at the candidate’s track record and ask
these questions: What did he/she do to improve our economy, stop crime, and
maintain peace and order in our land? Did the candidate abuse his/her political
power to serve his/her own interest? Was he/she immoral, corrupt, dishonest, or
greedy?
6. Cast your ballot in good conscience. Admittedly,
it can be challenging to find a candidate who is both gifted in leadership and
righteous in character. That’s why, before making a final decision, seek wisdom
from God.
7. Recognize that from eternity past God has already
ordained our next political leader. “Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except God, and
those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1).
Ultimately, it is God—not the people—who appoint a leader (Gen. 45:8).
We are only God’s instruments in bringing about his eternal plan. Be willing,
therefore, to submit humbly to God’s sovereign will, knowing that his will is
always for our good and for his glory.
8. If the candidate who wins is immoral, remember that
God is able to use even wicked leaders to accomplish His eternal plan (Rom.
13:1–7). Of course, this does not give us permission to vote for bad
candidates! However, it should remind us that our greatest hope does not lie
with any earthly leader, but with our heavenly Father, who is divinely able to
overcome evil for good. Indeed, God in his providence can even use a bad ruler
as his “servant for your good” (Rom. 13:4).
9. Never forget that God is causing all things—including
the upcoming election—to work together for the good of his people,
conforming them more fully to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ (Rom.
8:28–29). Whatever the outcome of the election may be, one thing is certain:
God will use this election for our sanctification. We are concerned about peace
and prosperity, but God is concerned about our piety and his eternal glory.
10. Finally, respect those who oppose your political position. Even among Christians, there are varying opinions regarding who should be elected to leadership. In fact, some even believe that Christians should not vote at all for “the lesser of two evils,” for lesser evil is still evil. So, learn to agree to disagree, or better yet, to disagree with kindness. And even if your preferred candidate does not win, you are still to honor the candidate who is elected. You must also obey your new leader, unless he/she instructs you to do something that would require you to disobey God. As Christians, our greatest allegiance is to God. As Scripture exhorts us to do, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Final Tone
Throughout the election season, you will hear us talk about the importance of voting and doing so according to biblical values. But our pledge is to do so in a civil, humble manner. We recognize that even well-informed, well-intentioned Christians disagree on how to apply and interpret biblical values in fulfilling stewardship in government. Above all, we encourage you to pray for the coming election of leaders at all levels of government.
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