To Vote Or Not To Vote

I have been feeling compelled to write this blog post and have been praying about God’s timing.  I decided to wait until both political conventions were completed so that I would have the chance of offending both sides equally!

As a longtime Christian who has voted in a lot of presidential campaigns, I used to think that voting was all about moral issues.  So I voted for candidates whose morals lined up with Biblical values on key issues.  But, slowly during my lifetime, determining the values that candidates hold has become more and more difficult; and voting by this method has become less and less effective.  Because of this, I believe many well-meaning Christians today have become confused – merely drinking the Kool-Aid of a particular party line.

But we are called to be in the world, not of it.  In a post-Christian, post-truth nation (which is what we are, whether we want to believe it or not), Christians need to remember what Jesus did as he also lived in a nation that had lost its way spiritually.  He did not try to change things politically, but chose to work on people’s hearts instead.   

In my lifetime, there has never been an election that has required citizens to engage all of their minds more than the one this year.  So I’d like to throw out some things that God has been laying on my heart over the past few weeks.  I hope that if you are reading this post you will choose to continue and to ask God to show you his will for your vote.

First of all, Jesus set the precedent for what I am asking you to do: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).  And his disciple John said, “. . . do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).  If we are going to vote, we need to be wise and to be fully informed about the person we’re voting for.  We can never allow emotions to rule our voting decisions.  The candidates know that we have this tendency and design their speeches and ads accordingly.  Don’t be drawn in by emotional appeals!

With that in mind, let’s talk about the current presidential candidates: when did the following values, beliefs, and actions (currently exhibited by one or both of the candidates) become “Christian”?  Social media is flooded with posts trying to tell me how all Christians should vote, but the Bible is pretty clear on all of these things:

1) Pride/arrogance – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”   Proverbs 16:18

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”            Matthew 20:16

*God does not honor those who exalt themselves.

2) Lying – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” Proverbs 12:22

3) Prejudice/Nationalism – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:8-9

*God loves all people equally.  America is not a theocracy, and we are not God’s chosen people.  Americans are not better than others.

4) Anger/Name-calling/Bullying – “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20

*Every person is made in the image of God; there is no excuse for disrespect of other people.

5) Self-protectionism – “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:10

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all . . . never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:17-21

*Christians are not called to protect themselves, but to trust God to protect them.

When I look at the two candidates in light of these things, I do not see a way to choose a “Christian” candidate.  When I look at their experience in governing and their approach to global issues, I could probably choose who to vote for to best aid America’s future as a nation; but I would still be left with problems of conscience when it comes to the things listed above.  Choosing what I consider to be the lesser of two evils (even if I could figure out which one that is) doesn’t seem to be what I think Jesus would do or would call us to do.

So here’s something to think about: in God’s eyes, there is nothing wrong with choosing not to vote in a national election; but there is always something wrong with choosing to side with evil.  I am reminded of what happened when Jesus was on trial before his death.  The crowd of Jewish people, many of whom had listened to Jesus teach and come to him for healing, decided that good standing with Rome and with their neighbors was more important than good standing with God.  They drank the Kool-Aid and joined the crowd mentality, shouting “Crucify him!”  Then they said some of the most profound words in the Bible: “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25).  And so they spoke prophetic truth.  Their words should be a warning to us.   

In this election, can I encourage you to engage your whole mind and look for God’s will alone?  Do your homework and check out websites like www.factcheck.org to help you make an informed decision.  Bottom line: vote whichever way God leads you, or don’t vote at all.  But please don’t pretend that God is pleased with either candidate and that your vote for one or the other therefore represents God’s interests or is the “Christian” way to vote (as I have been seeing consistently on social media).  It is simply not true in this election.  The arrogance of America and Americans is not pleasing to God: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).