Christianity and Voting: Biblical Principles to Navigate Our Divided Political Climate

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”—John 15:18-20

What does Christian faithfulness look like in the public square? Should Christians be engaged in politics, and how should that influence how we vote or even how we don’t vote?

As we approach another election season, these questions become even more pressing. In the United States, it’s hard to avoid the barrage of text messages, mailers, and commercials. So, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and think Christianly about voting?

4 Disclaimers to Consider

· Be biblical and rational (not emotional) as you think through politics. Good intentions don’t necessarily lead to good outcomes—no matter how well intended. For example, a bad policy passed with good intentions will still be bad for people.

· No political party is perfect. Imagine two circles. First, one circle is what a biblical worldview includes about fife, marriage, family, gender, sexuality, justice, etc. Second, imagine another circle that is filled with political policies of the party platform and the administration of those policies. There will never be a 100% overlap of these two circles, however, some administrations will govern in ways more consistent (more overlap) with biblical worldview principles than others which will lead to the “shalom” of the city in which we are planted (see below).

· No presidential candidate is perfect (both are morally flawed). At the end of the day in the American system, we are not voting for a king or even an individual. Ours is a constitutional republic and we are voting for an entire administration that will govern (composed of hundreds to over a thousand appointments that wall enact policy, make laws, and make judicial rulings).

· Our hope ultimately is in Christ and not who is in the White House or not. Jesus is Lord of all and God is working his redemptive plan out in history and our calling is to be faithful as we have influence where we are planted and make disciples who make disciples.

 

5 Biblical Worldview Principles to Consider

• If Christianity is true, it speaks to all of life (Whole counsel of God cf. Acts 20:27). There is no sacred/secular split. If God’s Word addresses it, are to apply it to every area of life.

• Seeking the welfare “shalom” of the city in which we’ve been planted while in exile (Jer. 29:7 cf. 1 Peter 1:1-2). As God’s people this world is not our home, just like the nation of Israel was in captivity in exile but still to do the things that help the city where they were planted to flourish, as exiles today we are to do the same. Which administration would govern with the most overlap with a biblical worldview and lead to the flourishing of the city?

• Love our neighbor well (Mk. 12:31). This means seeking their highest good, that is, what is objectively good for the “city” and our neighbor according to God’s good design and commands where possible.

• Paul’s example of leveraging his rights as a Roman citizen to ensure he can freely proclaim the Gospel (Acts 16:35-38). No one was more committed to the public proclamation of the Gospel and discipleship than Paul, and yet he saw no conflict in leveraging his Roman citizenship while not ultimately relying on it or trusting ultimately in it. In the end, he was beheaded for being faithful to Christ.

• Romans 13:1-7 defines the Job Description of Government. “Government is ordained by God to restrain evil and promote good.” This sphere of the “government” has a particular “job description” just as the spheres of “the church” and “the family” that are also established by God do.

 

2 Common Objections to Respond to

· “You shouldn’t legislate morality.” First, notice we are not saying that religion needs to be legislated, but morality—that’s important. But secondly, all laws legislate morality (Rom. 13:1-7). So, it’s not a matter of if morality will be legislated, but whose morality will be legislated. As Frank Turek has pointed out, governments have 3 options—promote, prohibit, or permit.

o Promote: Governments should promote certain behaviors or values that are beneficial for society.

o Prohibit: They should prohibit behaviors that harm individuals or society.

o Permit: There are areas where governments should permit freedom for individuals to decide (e.g., personal preferences, lifestyle choices that don’t harm others).

· “Wouldn’t it be better just not to vote?” Some progress is better than no progress. Think of a playground see-saw. If all the Christians get off one side of the see-saw, it does not stay neutral or balanced. We just leave a vacuum of influence other people who may not share a biblical worldview will fill. We should preach the Gospel, but more than ever all the big worldview issues of our day are overlapping with political issues, so, if Christians never talk about these topics, then people are never presented with a biblical worldview. Again, someone’s morality will be legislated. In that sense, Christians are either going to shape it or allow it. Not voting and not being involved is allowing it.

At the end of the day, we are called to follow Jesus. We’re called to have influence right where we’re at and we’re called to make disciples preach the gospel and live for God’s glory. These are not mutually exclusive. And in God’s providence if we have the opportunity to, like the apostle Paul, exercise our citizenship in a way that seeks the welfare of the city, then we ought to do that. So the question then comes to us, how should you vote? Well, you should vote for a biblical worldview. And think about that in terms of an administration and how that would be applied for the welfare of the city. So open your Bible, Pray, apply that, and vote accordingly. That is what biblical engagement in the public square could look like. Those are some of the things to think about. And I hope these things have given you a few ideas to think about as we navigate the complexities of our day.