WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT VOTING?

By Betty Miller

Exercising Our Civil Responsibility of Voting

Song of Solomon 2:15 says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Foxes sometimes in search of food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop. However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he would lose his vine which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that we might think are little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.

Listed below are some of the "little foxes" that generally keep us from our civic responsibilities, in the area of voting. The devil uses these lies and others so that he can keep godly men and women away from the polls and get the candidates of his choice elected. If we do nothing, it makes it easy for the enemy to help those who could become the wrong leadership for our nation.

"My one vote doesn't count anyway."  "I'm disillusioned by the whole political process."  "I'm already too busy to take the time to cast an informed vote, so I just don't vote at all."   "Politics are corrupt anyway and as a Christian I don't want to be involved."

These are just some of the excuses that people use to justify their failure to exercise their civil responsibility to vote. Only heaven will reveal the many opportunities that we had to change things for the better in this nation, yet, we failed to do so because we failed to use our right to vote. We do not realize the privilege we have to be able to have a voice in the choice of "who shall be our leaders and what kind of laws should govern our land."  If we were to go to a country that did not afford its people this right and live under the usual dictators that rule those countries, we might be more thankful for this advantage.

The heart of God is expressed in the Bible as to His concern for government leaders and leadership by telling us as Christians that we should pray in this vein when we look at the admonition in the following verses:

1 Timothy 2:1-42:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Should we not assume that if the Lord would have us pray for leaders, would He not also want us to use every opportunity to assist in electing the leaders that would be the best ones for promoting peace and righteousness?  Yes, Jesus, himself   said to "...Render unto Caesar the things that Caesar".

Matthew 22:16: "And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

Caesar was the Roman emperor at that time, so Jesus was telling them they were to pay their taxes, as well as support the work of God. These scriptures tell us as Christians that we are to be good citizens and pay our taxes as well.  As good citizens in our government structure here in the U.S.A., we should not leave the operation of the government to ungodly men.  How can we prevent that? One way is to use our one vote wisely. We will be accountable before God as to how we voted. Another issue will be did we spend the time in study and prayer so that we could vote wisely for the proper candidates, as well as the right issues?

As Christians we should consider how the candidates stand on the issues and not get caught in the trap of voting strictly along party lines.  Check voting records and see which candidates most closely follow Biblical standards.  Some Christians just vote the Democratic or the Republican ticket because their parents voted that way.  We should vote for the best man or woman for the job.  They should not only be qualified for the job but should be moral people with good character traits. Voting for someone just because they tell us certain things that sound good is not the way to vote. 

Some young girls have married the wrong men because they were smooth talkers and those guys swayed them with their good sounding words.  These girls regret their choices because the men played on their emotions and they later found out they had no character.  We must live with our choices and living with someone with no character eventually destroys a marriage.  Without the traits of faithfulness, honesty and unselfishness these marriages usually fail.  So it is true with the leaders we elect.  We must have good honest leaders if we are to live in a national environment that will produce peace and harmony and create benefits that will be fair to all.  The Bible tells us that if a man is not faithful in small things, he will not be faithful in the larger matters. Luke 16:10: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

According to George Barna in his book, The Second Coming of the Church, the number of Christians that registered to vote in a poll taken in 1997 was 83% as compared to 79% of non-Christians.  If we have complaints about those in leadership that are immoral and the new laws that have been passed that are offensive and anti-Biblical; we might lay the complaint at the steps of the church. What about our responsibility as good citizens? Are you registered to vote?  Will you take the time to study the voting records and lifestyles of candidates? Which candidates most closely follow Bible standards? Will you set apart some time to pray about who would make the best leader?  Will you take time to study the propositions?  How will voting "for" or "against" an issue affect God's plans for humanity?   Then, most importantly... WILL YOU VOTE?