A Biblical Guide To Voting

A BIBILICAL GUIDE TO VOTING

We are facing a monumental event for us as Christians. It is as important an event for us to establish the testimony of Christ as we will see in years. What is that event? Is it the upcoming Fall Festival? Is it the opening of Upward basketball?

I am talking about the election on November 4, 2008. At that time you will make a spiritual choice: you will step up to the booth and vote as salt and light in our society, you will vote for sin, or you will sin by not voting. That is as clear as I know how to put it.

This morning I am going to preach from the Word of God regarding a number of biblical issues that are a part of the upcoming election. But notice that I said very plainly that I am going to preach. I am not a politician, I am a preacher. Just because an issue shows up in an election does not make it politics. It usually shows up that way because politicians have overstepped their bounds, not preachers! Too many Christians are afraid of speaking out forcefully about biblical issues in our culture today, but I do not have a choice. In II Timothy 4:2, Paul commands Timothy as a preacher and all of us by extension to “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.”

Let me explain briefly how I believe the Bible commands to me to evaluate spiritual versus political matters. I am not here to endorse any candidate or even a political party. I am here to address what the Bible says about spiritual matters. There are three basic spiritual matters on which I will focus: the definition of life; the definition of marriage and family; and, matters pertaining to our responsibility as Christians to impact our culture as salt and light. God’s word is clear as to these matters and I will show you from scripture what God has to say about these matters. I have a lot of opinions about other matters and I will be glad to sit down at lunch with anyone who would like to discuss politics and give you all of my opinions. This morning, however, we are in church and I am a preacher. The Bible is clear about these issues and it is our responsibility to be salt and light on these biblical matters.

Unfortunately in our society Christians have forgotten our role. We are to speak out and live out biblical values. We are to be salt and light in a fallen world. Our purpose is the Great Commission and nothing else. We have power when we do so. Consider this incontrovertible fact: Prior to the Republican National Convention, there was not a strong anti-abortion, pro-life candidate with a career long consistency in supporting life for Christians even to consider. Governor Sarah Palin was chosen for one reason: a provable pro-life political, religious, and personal stance, a stance lived out in real life circumstances with a baby with the condition known as Downs Syndrome and an unwed, pregnant daughter. It is undeniable that she was chosen, despite obvious questions of experience in professional politics, for the sole reason of attracting the pro-life segment of society made up largely of evangelicals and Catholics. I am not endorsing her as a candidate, but merely stating the fact that Christians clinging to a pro-life stance had a profound impact on the national debate. We had a profound impact on the choice of a running mate in a close and hotly contested presidential race. We can impact our culture if we choose to do so. So let me give you biblical principles to use in praying for and voting in the upcoming election.

Principle No 1: God is involved in government so we should we.

First, the Bible says that God establishes and even controls earthly governments. God is deeply involved in government and therefore so should we. Read the following scriptures: 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.

See also: Proverbs 21:1; Proverbs 31:1-9; I Timothy 2:1-3; Daniel 2:21; John 19:11

The Bible makes it abundantly clear through these, and many other scriptures as well, that God is intimately involved in government. He established the purposes of government and even controls the earthly governments as they rise and fall. Romans 13 clearly states that as Christians we are bound to honor our government and be in subjection to it. The form of government on the United States as established by our Constitution is based upon the franchise. The legitimacy of our government comes from the consent of the governed, which means we vote our convictions and the government follows the will of the people as established by those we put into office, the legislative matters that we vote on directly in referendums, and on constitutional amendments such as those on which we will vote here in Arkansas.