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Voting

From an e-mail that I had received in August of 2000

Today, let’s talk about voting. Not concerning who to vote for, but, simply, do we have a responsibility toward God to vote. I want to read from Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” If God appoints all authorities, it can be equated that God allows all systems of government, including the democracy of the United States, to exist. Therefore, if God allows our democracy to exist, it is His will that allows us the freedom to select our leaders. Continuing with Romans 13:2, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves.” If God allows our freedom to vote to exist as a function of our system of government, we are responsible toward God to vote. In fact, the responsibility to vote is the greatest here, in the US, because God has removed all major obstacles to voting. I want to read from a couple articles concerning voting persecution. (Articles from web). The worst persecution we may receive is a heated political discussion with someone we told who we voted for. If we tell nobody, then we suffer no persecution at all. But let’s be realistic, we all know about the corruption of politics, add the fact that I’m too busy to register or cast my vote on election day; so, why should I vote?

Do you think political corruption is of evil or is it of God? Evil! If we don’t vote, we show non-believers that we can be defeated by evil. We are defeated from within by our own indifference, bitterness, and/or cynicism toward the authorities placed over us. With our example of defeat, how can non-believers believe that Jesus overcame death or will overcome death and Satan in His second coming? Matthew 5:14-16 states, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Let us be examples to others; if we can’t be defeated by corruption, what will stop us? What will stop Jesus Christ? What will stop God?

Lastly, many people say, “OK, if I, one person, chooses not to vote, the US as we know it is not going to cease to exist.” But, if we have a responsibility toward God, whether it is voting, love and compassion towards one another, or being fishers of men, whatever it is, who are we not to accomplish it for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” We all, as individuals of one body, serve a very important role in God’s plan and we should all try our best to accomplish our responsibilities for God’s glory.

One more thing, I do want to spend a little time talking about how to vote. The apathy toward voting stems from candidates who make great motivational speeches during their campaign, but fall well short of our expectations as elected officials. In essence, their words and actions disappoint us, but do we ever ask who God wants us to vote for? Aren’t we always disappointed when we trust worldly words before we trust God’s direction? Why don’t we turn to God when deciding for whom to vote? So vote with this in mind; vote your heart, not your mind, and vote your conscience, not you desires. God speaks to us through our heart and our conscience and the world speaks to us through our mind and our desires. Also, most importantly, don’t forget to pray; simply, ask God to reveal to you who you should vote for and you won’t be disappointed. When we place our faith in the Lord, all our worries and burdens become His and the peace and freedom Christ died for on the cross, becomes ours.