Voting from a Biblical Perspective

We are just a few weeks away from the day that we step into a booth and cast our votes for our elected officials. As I have pastored over the last 25 years, I have noticed that among church people these election years tend to be times of high anxiety, rivalry, and even idolatry as people look at the possible outcomes of an election. It is helpful for all of us to remind ourselves of biblical truths that we sent to our church family in an email on 4/27/24.

• Jesus will continue to build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The future of the church does not hang in the balance of any election, the future of the church is firmly in God’s hands.
• We recognize that God’s primary tool to change the world and impact people’s lives is the Gospel and His church, not electoral victories (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Philippians 1:18). Because this is true, our primary focus is always on Jesus’ mission of making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
• Our church will choose to do what God says is right no matter the consequences (Acts 4:18-20; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3). God uses those who stand for Him to shine a bright witness to the world (Acts 4:29; Philippians 1:13).
• We are called to pray for our nation’s leaders and to pray that they would do what is right and good in the eyes of God (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:3-4).

Affirming these principles that God has given us brings us peace amid the storms of an election year that rages around us. However, it doesn’t help us understand how we should vote. When we step into the voting booth next month, what is it that should guide us as we vote? For every follower of Jesus, it is the principles of the Kingdom of God that should guide us in our voting. There is no area of our life that is not under the authority of Jesus Christ, and that includes our political thoughts and decisions. As we make choices about who to vote for in dozens of political races, from the local to the national, we are to be led by the priorities of God’s Word.

What are those biblical principles that should lead us as we vote? I am going to give us five principles that God’s Word indicates are especially important as we make our voting decisions. I am not claiming that these are the only five things that a person should consider, or that they are even the five most important things to consider, but they are five principles that God identifies as particularly important in our decision making.

Character – Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” When God is identifying leaders for the church, He is almost entirely focused on whether the character of the individual matches the character of God. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) Nothing is more important for a leader in a family, in a church, or in our nation, than having upright character. Our elected leaders not only represent us but also help set the cultural climate for conduct and speech. It is imperative that we elect the righteous rather than the wicked.

Murder – The Bible defines murder as the intentional killing of an innocent human being (Genesis 9:3-6; Exodus 21:13; 22:2; Numbers 35:6-28). Living inside a mother’s womb is an unborn human individual with their own unique genetic code. They have been made by God from the moment of conception (Psalm 139:13). To intentionally take the life of one of these innocent human beings is murder. Christians need to pray, act, and vote to protect these lives.

Care for the Poor –God has a special affection for the poor (Proverbs 19:17; Psalm 9:18; 140:12-13; Matthew 19:21) and calls us to care for them (Leviticus 19:10; 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:7,10-11; Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 14:31; 21:3; 29:7; Isaiah 1:17). The care for the poor seen in Scripture includes providing for their daily needs and upholding their rights. God rebukes and destroys nations where people live with plenty while the poor are not cared for (Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 16:49; Ezekial 22:29; Amos 2:6; 5:11-12). Christians may differ in their opinions about how to best care for the poor, but we should champion politicians who prioritize them.

The Family – God has made sexual relationship for marriage, and He has made marriage for one woman and one man (Matthew 19:3-9; Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-33). God has designed husbands to love their wives, and lead their families, and for parents to lead their kids into Godly lives (Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4). We live during a time when God’s designs and definitions are being abandoned. This leads to nothing but hurt and painful consequences in a society. As followers of Jesus, we want to elect officials who are seeking to uphold God’s designs for marriage and for the family.

Justice – 1 Peter 2:14 says that government leaders are appointed “to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” Romans 13:3 says a government leader is properly doing their job when they are “not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Government rulers are meant to carry out justice so that things that are good are rewarded in society and things that are bad are punished. We should vote for those who are going to reward things that God has declared to be good and will punish those things that God says are bad.

As we walk into the voting booth next month, we want to prayerfully consider these principles from the Word of God and select candidates that are most aligned with them. We want to pray that God would provide leaders that know Him and align with His character. As we vote, we recognize that some people we vote for may win and others will not. Either way, we know the One who holds the future and that our lives are ultimately in His hands.