To Vote or Not to Vote | Ep. 217

Chasing Elephants Podcast

Romans 13:1 (CSB) A Christian’s Duties to the State:

“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

We are called to submit to higher authorities, which means, who we choose as leaders matters. The leaders we choose has a great impact on rather people prosper or endure extended hardship. Proverbs 29:2 (CSB) says, “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.”
As we approach the ballot box on Tuesday, November 5th, as citizens of Heaven with a civic duty to vote, we should consider three things:
1. We should ask God for discernment. There is no perfect candidate, and many political issues have a lot of layers to them. But we should be asking for discernment before we approach the ballot box. Not every issue is the same. However, some issues have a clear biblical mandate and will have a bigger impact on the trajectory of our culture, economy, and foreign relationships. Thus, you have to decide how to weigh the importance of each issue.

• Ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 (CSB) “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.”
• In order to discern what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God, we must renew our minds. (Romans 12:2)

2. We should vote based on biblical truth. As Christian, we should vote based on the truth of God’s Word and what it says about the issues of today. This is why reading God’s Word daily is vital. So, when we study the positions of candidates, we can properly connect the dots on whether their views and positions aligned with our biblical worldview…not what is cultural acceptable.

3. We should vote for a collective good. This speaks to the way we are called to love our neighbors. Galatians 5:14 (CSB) says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we are to love our neighbors, we should vote for people and policies that will promote the communal welfare of the American people. *****In some cases, that might require us to vote against some of your own personal interests or preferences, if it is in the best interests of everyone else.

Philippians 2:3-4 (CSB) says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, considering others as more important than yourself. Everyone should look, not to his own interest, but rather to the interest of others.”

A collective good is desiring that every city, state, and our country is mutually beneficial for everyone. Jeremiah 29:7 (CSB) says, “Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

Last:

We should pray for our leaders, even if the outcome this election is not what we voted for.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 CSB says, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessors, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for the kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life and all godliness and dignity.”

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