Unless you’ve been on Mars for the last year you know there’s an election campaign going on in the United States to choose our next president. This campaign has been a difficult one for Christians. I’ve been conflicted over who to support or whether to support anyone at all. My position has changed more than once over the past many months. As a follower of Christ I believe the Holy Scriptures are divinely inspired, inerrant and sufficient. They provide all I need to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Yet, nowhere in them will I find a ballot marked for me for November 8, 2016.
So how do I make this decision? For a thorough discussion on how to make decisions in areas where the Bible does not provide specific guidance, I recommend Gary Friesen’s book “Decision Making and the Will of God.” But, here are some thoughts on deciding how to vote:
- Read what the Bible says about the role of government and the characteristics of godly leaders. If you don’t know what the target is, you won’t know what you’re looking for. For example (Psalm 94:20-21, Proverbs 14:34, 16:12, Romans 13:3-4).
- Do not vote for someone who promises to support sin. I’m not talking about disagreement on a policy issue like, for example, minimum wage laws, but open advocacy for wickedness, such as killing of the unborn.
- Do not make the decision based on whether or not you think the person will win. Pragmatism is not a Christian virtue. We’re not called to make decisions based on how popular someone or something is. We’re called to make decisions based on what is true and good and right. You’ve not “wasted” your vote if you vote, or even decide not to vote, out of a conscience informed by the Word of God.
In the end, vote for the person who, based on the information you have, most exhibits the characteristics of a godly leader and is most likely to pursue governance the way the Bible says it should be pursued. However, if, after examining the candidates, you feel you cannot vote for any of them, I believe that is a legitimate option as well, provided it is taken out of an informed conscience and not due to apathy or laziness. Scripture reminds us that what does not come from faith is sin so it is not wise to violate one’s conscience (Romans 14:23).
Let me insert here that I believe a decision to vote for someone is different from a decision to endorse someone. I believe the threshold for endorsement is much higher. I may decide to vote for a candidate reluctantly while being unwilling to endorse him or her. If I’m offered the choice between being shot in the foot or the head, I’m going to choose the foot but that doesn’t mean I recommend being shot in the foot.
Having made the best decision you can, leave the results to God. While voting is the tool He uses to raise up leaders under our form of government, those who occupy leadership positions are still put there by God and are the best choice from His perspective for accomplishing His will – which is the sanctification of His people, the judgment of the wicked and the furtherance of His glory. Whoever wins on November 8 is the person God ordained to that office from eternity past (Proverbs 8:15, 21:1, Daniel 2:21)
Finally, let’s not allow this election to cause disunity in the body of Christ. A brother or sister at church may vote for someone you do not support or they may decide not to vote at all when you’ve decided you must. Whoever is elected November 8 will have no more ability to thwart God’s plans for His people than did pharaoh. So, let’s keep our eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith and not let this cause a rift among the people of God. Because, I believe no matter who is elected, a unified church is going to be more important over the next four years than ever in our lifetimes.
Photo credit: justgrimes via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
My comment has to do with, ” Not voting for anyone who supports sin.” Christians know that having an abortion is a sin, and therefore, using this theory, all Christians should vote for Republicans. I am a Christian who believes there are more ways to kill people other than aborting them. We can send soldiers into unwarranted wars, we can drop bombs and kill non-combatants, we can pollute air and water to the point that it causes illness and death, we can turn our backs on the poor, and not provide healthcare. Therefore I am a Christian who voted for Hillary.
Thanks for your comment Karen. There are actually several options this election for those who cannot vote for a radical pro-abortion candidate like Hillary Clinton. In other words it’s possible to oppose Mrs. Clinton and her friends at Planned Parenthood without voting for the Republican nominee. Having said that, you’re making an apples and oranges comparison between abortion and the other things you list.
Let’s start with war. In the first place, all of the things you list with regard to warfare have been carried out by this current administration and will likely continue under a Clinton administration. Opposition to bombing non-combatants doesn’t seem to be a good reason to support Hillary Clinton given her desire to escalate our involvement in the Middle East which will likely lead to more of that happening. Secondly, not all wars are wrong. There are such things as just wars. Abortion, however, is always carried out against the innocent and is therefore always murder – and more people have died from abortion than from all the wars this nation has ever been involved in combined.
As for poverty and healthcare, not a single person is advocating for people to be poor and without healthcare. The difference is in how people seek to address those issues. Abortion on the other hand, even up until right before the child is born, is being advocated for by Mrs. Clinton and her friends in Planned Parenthood. They actually want people to be able to murder children. Unless you’re saying your approach to dealing with these issues is the only legitimate approach and everyone who disagrees with you wants people to be poor then that is not a valid comparison with abortion either.
I cannot support any politician of any party who is an advocate for the murder of children, no matter what their position on any other issue. Nor do I think anyone who claims the name of Christ should do so.
Thank you Larry for the great comment, A thankful American Christian.