The political hostility and uncertainty swirling around the country these days can feel so oppressive. We know much is at stake. We know the election process, the political parties, the candidates, and the news outlets that give commentary to what we see are flawed. We know that ideologies planted in the mind and policies written into law are like seeds planted in the ground that bear fruit and shape culture for years to come. Yet as the political temperature rises, we have an opportunity to “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). These are days when followers of Jesus get to demonstrate the overpowering peace of belonging to a “kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28).
In this article I want to provide some ideas on how we guard our heart during this election season, why we should participate in voting, and how we can discern and confidently steward our vote.
Guarding Our Heart
In Mark 12:13-17, we find an event that provides some clarity on how we participate in the political arena as citizens of a nation in this world when we have put our trust in Jesus and have been made citizens of His Kingdom that is “not of this world” (Jn. 18:36). One day a group of Pharisees and a group of Herodians approached Jesus. These two groups typically were not unified. The Pharisees were disgruntled with Roman rule. The Herodians were sympathizers of Rome. The Pharisees were social conservatives who embraced traditional values in hope of restoration. The Herodians were social progressives who embraced relativism in hope of liberation. Both wanted to destroy Jesus.
Desiring to set a trap, they ask, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Had Jesus answered, ‘No,’ the Herodians would have accused him of rebellion against Caesar. Had Jesus answered, ‘Yes,’ the Pharisees would have accused him of idolatry against God since Caesar claimed to be divine. Jesus took a coin and asked, “Whose likeness is this?” Caesar, of course! Jesus then said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” His enemies marveled.
Jesus’ response lays a strong foundation upon which we can build. Caesar’s face was on the coin, so in a sense, it belonged to him. This is why we pay tax (Rom. 13:6). But where is God’s image found? God’s image is stamped on our very life: our heart, mind, body, and soul. In other words, Caesar may be worthy of some coins, but God is worthy of our whole life. Caesar is worthy of prayer (1 Tim. 2:2) and respect (Rom. 13:7), but God is worthy of our worship, our adoration, and our all!
Solomon wrote, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination” (Prov. 18:10-11). When an ancient city was attacked, those living in the valley would run for cover within the city wall. If the wall was breached, there was one last place to run for safety and that was the strong tower. In this broken world, Jesus is the only strong tower. Those who run to Him in faith will be safe.
Our problem is that we are all tempted to run to imaginary towers for our source of security. Some run to work or wealth. Others run to drink or pleasure. Still others run to political candidates or election results. We run to the latter in spite of God’s warning. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Ps. 146:3-4). The best of men and women are fallen men and women at best.
Imaginary towers, whether they be a pile of money or a political party, have four things in common. First, they confuse eternal priorities with urgent desires, increasing our willingness to compromise. Second, they create addictive cycles, adding pain to the hurt we hoped to alleviate. Third, they become idols, villainizing their competition. And fourth, they are all compromised in hidden ways, making them incapable of saving us in time of need.
Every election is an examination to see if Jesus is our strong tower, or if we have set our hope on an imaginary tower that cannot save. If our hope is built on Jesus, we can display the peace of belonging to His kingdom and receive His instruction in stewarding our freedom as we prepare to vote.
Should We Vote?
My short answer is, “Yes.” However, I can’t provide a verse that directly tells Christians to vote because the Bible doesn’t include one. Why then would I confidently encourage us to vote?
Let me begin by pointing out that no one in the Bible lived in a ‘constitutional republic’ like we do in America. The people in the Bible lived under the rule of Pharaohs, Kings, and Caesars. Since nobody had the privilege to vote, no one in the Bible was given direct instruction to vote.
The early church did receive this direct instruction: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). Let me give you two thoughts here to consider that relate to voting. First, we are told to be subject to the governing authorities, and our governing authorities ask us to vote. Second, in a ‘constitutional republic’, which is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, we as citizens are both the ‘governed’ and the ‘governing.’ Part of how we participate in ‘governing’ is by delegating leaders. This is a stewardship before God. We are to be as faithful in delegating our leaders as they are to lead. As with every area of stewardship, God will examine our management.
Finally, let me remind us that when we put our trust in Jesus, we were profoundly changed. Jesus spoke of His followers as “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Mt. 5:13-14). Salt and light have the ability to preserve, heal, and guide. As followers of Jesus, we have been entrusted with His instruction about life and have been called to be agents of preservation, healing, and guidance. One way we can do this is by voting for leaders who more closely live and think in agreement with God.
Discerning How To Vote
In this last section I want to show the biblical framework I use to discern how to vote.
1. As I vote, I remind myself that Christ is King
America is a constitutional republic where we vote people into office for a term, but in reality all mankind lives under a divine monarchy. “Jesus is the ruler of the kings on earth” (Rev 1:5). “He is the head of all rule and authority” (Col. 2:10). His rule is never threatened by election, uprising, or mortality. Jesus is our reference point for life. As such, I try to vote being conscious of Him.
2. As I vote, I remind myself that Christ alone is to be feared
Politics tend to divide because each party peddles fear of what will be lost if the opposition wins. While nobody wants to lose liberty, the only loss we can’t endure would be the loss of God’s love. This is impossible for those in Christ (Rom. 8:39). Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, I vote imagining standing before Jesus with my ballot needing to answer for each circle I fill. This tends to ease the burden of fear because His pleasure becomes my sole concern.
3. As I vote, I remind myself why Christ entrusts authority to government
Christ has all authority, so any authority a person has is on loan. If Christ chooses, He can give or remove that authority. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Dan. 2:21). Government was God’s idea. He entrusts authority to government and Peter explains why. “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (1 Pt. 2:13-14). Paul adds, “[Government] is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom. 13:4). When we add these passages we learn that government is ‘sent’ by God to administer biblical justice by commending what He says is good, by punishing what He says is evil, and by protecting the weak and the world from anarchy. Since our government is a constitutional republic where we are the ‘governed’ and the ‘governing,’ I remind myself that I will be held accountable for voting for leaders who administer biblical justice by commending what God says is good, by punishing what He says is evil, and by protecting the weak and the world from anarchy.
4. As I vote, I remind myself of biblical priorities
While most people, including myself, lean towards one political party over the other, neither has a monopoly on morality. Neither party proclaims the gospel of Jesus as its platform. Therefore, neither party’s platform should be confused as the message of the church nor the hope of the world.
As citizens of America, we should take time to develop a framework that prioritizes the moral significance of the issues we face. As followers of Christ, we should allow the Bible to construct this framework of priorities and inform the way we vote.
I begin with what God prioritized in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1-2). This is how life was supposed to be before sin flooded the world. What do we find? First, we find the priority of human life that extends from the womb to the tomb (Gen. 1:27; Jer. 1:5). Second, we find the priority of human stewardship and dominion over all created things (Gen. 1:28-30). Third, we find the priority of personal responsibility to work as the means of provision and sustenance (Gen. 2:15). Fourth, we find the priority of family, beginning with marriage between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:18-25). These are the divinely installed building blocks for human civilization.
I try to consider where candidates stand on these priorities. On top of these, I remind myself that God prioritizes godliness and humility (James 4:6). He prioritizes the use of authority to serve others (Lk. 22:26). He prioritizes care for the poor, immigrant, widow, and orphan (Zech. 7:9-10). God prioritizes biblical justice (Is. 58:1-14), which aims to render to people what He says they are due: advocacy (Prov. 31:8-9), generosity (Is. 58:7), and impartiality (Dt. 1:17; Amos 5:24). You can find an expanded comparison between modern ‘social justice’ and ‘biblical justice’ here.
As stewards of a vote, we should try to discern where the major parties and candidates stand and not pretend that they are morally equivalent on every issue. While I don’t believe either political party lines up perfectly with the Bible, the two major parties have adopted clear positions on many of these issues to which the Bible clearly speaks. When we see the disregard of God’s moral laws becoming central pillars of any political party’s platform, we should take notice and grieve (Rom. 1:32). We should also grieve when candidates give evidence that they care more about leveraging moral issues that knowingly attract the votes of Christians than they care about those moral issues or in having the personal character needed to lead.
At the end of the day, whatever the Bible confesses to be on the heart of God should be reflected on our ballot. At times the choice seems easy to me. Other times the choice seems to be a lesser of two evils where the policies being promoted give more comfort than the candidate. In rare cases, I have voted for neither candidate in a particular race to avoid violating my conscience. Whatever you do, walk out of the ballot booth with your conscience clear before God.
As this election draws near, let this be our declaration: “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23).
