MICHIGAN, July 22, 2013 – A friend recently asked me: “Do Christians have a responsibility to vote?”
This person expressed that he was disillusioned towards the political process and disinterested in voting in the November 2012 election because he didn’t like either President Obama or Governor Mitt Romney.
Thus, he stated that he was going to stay home and “pray” rather than vote in November.
I respectfully explained to my friend that we cannot use prayer as a substitute for action, particularly when that action is a moral obligation. Every Christian has a moral obligation to exercise citizenship by voting in the upcoming election.
James Muffett, President of Citizens for Traditional Values weighs in on the question: “We must remember that politics will not save us. That has already been accomplished through Jesus Christ. However, we are stewards of God’s world and like a garden, we either tend it carefully or we can expect nothing good to be produced. Informed voting is the least we should be committed to as a part of that stewardship.”
The Word of God offers us guiding principles that show us that casting our vote is also how we can and should glorify God and exalt righteousness in our nation (Prov. 13:34)
The Bible encourages us to “pray for our rulers” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We are also commanded to be “subject to the higher powers” (Romans 13:1-5).
God has given the church both the privilege and the responsibility to make this world a better place to live, work, and play, describing us as “the salt of the earth”. (Matthew 5:13)
While the Bible does not “command” Christians to vote, if we abstain from voting, we miss out on an opportunity to impact a corrupt political system to the glory of God.
By voting our Christian values, in local, state and national elections, we have a chance to exalt righteousness in government.
The Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34)
If Christians sit on the sidelines during elections and those who do not believe in Biblical principles are elected, those Christians who do not vote are profoundly responsible for the unrighteous principles that, ultimately, govern the nation.
God commands us, furthermore, to “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Prov. 31:9).
There is no better way to plead the cause of the poor than the ballot box, where we have an opportunity to vote for someone who supports solutions that line up with Godly concepts of helping the poor to help themselves through repentance from dead works, faith towards God and person.
“It is important now that all people who are called Christians understand that we are now engaged on a great battlefield.” stated Rev. C.L. Bryant, Founder of the national movement One Nation Back To God and Fellow with Freedom Works in Washington, D.C.
Rev. Bryant, who is also an Independent filmmaker of the documentary Runaway Slave, concluded: “We are locked in a struggle to determine the lifespan of what our founding Fathers called Inalienable rights, granted by our Creator. This is why it is imperative that all God fearing America loving people of faith register to vote… And then VOTE!!!”
I encourage, therefore, every true Christian to vote this November. But not in the name of a political party, but in the name of Jesus Christ.
Cast your vote to the glory of God and on the basis of the Biblical principles that you believe and live!
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