FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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on "VOTING"
Question #1 > Should Christians vote?

 
Question #1 > Preachers in the past have said it was wrong to participate in government. Should Christians vote?


"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." (Romans 13:1-6)

ARE WE HAND WASHERS AS CITIZENS?


Pilate told Jesus that he had the power to let Him go free or to nail Him to a cross (John 19:10, CEV). And Pilate did. However, he washed his hands (Matthew 27:24) and declared he was innocent of Jesus' blood. Jesus was crucified. Was Pilate free from Jesus' blood? He said he had the power to free Him.

We are citizens of the Kingdom of God, but also citizens of America's democratic republic. That means we have the power to rule ourselves through representative government. This government, like that of Pilate's, is ordained of God (Rom. 13:1). That means that like Pilate we have responsibilities and rights. We have power, either great or small.

Our power is in voting. My wife and I were too late to vote in a city's primary election. The result was a tied vote. There was a run off. This time we voted. Our candidate won by 2 votes. Does this demonstrate that our votes counted? If we assume that the same people voted as at the first, then it would. The power of just one vote.

Government's role authorized by God is to limit evil and promote good (1 Pet. 2:14). Jesus teaches disciples to pray that "God's will be done on earth" (Lk. 11:2). Our faith should guide our choices in voting. "Who votes for the good?" When the question comes, we ought to "raise our hand" and be counted.

Recent Gallup polls indicate that over 43 percent of Americans claim to be followers of Christ. However, only half are registered to vote. Less than half that number vote regularly. If evil rules, limiting freedom of an open door for Christ (Col. 4:3) and the exercise of good, whose fault is it? "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke).

There's an illustration of an airplane out of control, the pilot is disabled, and the plane's heading toward a mountainside. The flight attendant identifies a qualified pilot aboard. But there's a quabble over letting him save the plane. There's a vote. But some refuse to vote. "His religion isn't mine." "He's not my choice of race, gender, perfection." The plane crashes. All are killed. Whose fault is it?

We might not have the power of Pilate, but God has given us the power to vote in this country's government. Should we not study and choose the best ones to champion the principles of good. Or will we just "wash our hands of the matter." GW
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