Christians should be political. That statement will sound controversial to those who think politics have no place in the church. Some might even view the statement as dangerous and label those who believe it as “Christian nationalists.” I would argue the statement is just common sense.
Politics is the work of the polis, that is the community. It is the establishment of laws, culture, and norms for the land we live in together. Christians should be interested in what happens in the land we live in because the Bible says we should be interested in it.
While in Babylon, God instructed Israel to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). The church is likewise a group of exiles living in a foreign land (1 Peter 2:11). We live in the United States, but our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Until we go home, we are commanded to influence the world for good as the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).
It is hard to influence the polis if you opt out of politics. Laws, culture, and norms are influenced by politicians, and politicians are influenced by voters. When Christians fail to engage the polls, the world inevitably gets worse, not better. JFK once popularized an old quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Not voting is doing nothing. Civic apathy from good men and women leads to an expansion of evil ideas.
Some estimate eight million Christians in Texas will not vote in this election cycle. Keep in mind, key elections in our state will be decided by merely thousands of votes. The church literally could swing entire elections if we simply showed up and voted. Please go to the polls, and I offer you four reminders before you vote:
1. Voting is Stewardship
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). Believers around the world walk miles to cast their votes. Even worse, countless other believers cannot vote at all. Give thanks to God for the freedom he has given you in America. Give thanks to God for the sacrifices others paid to preserve that freedom. Be a faithful steward of God’s grace by casting your ballot with thanksgiving. When you do, even voting can become an act of worship (1 Corinthians 10:31)
2. Voting is Wise
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). Many (usually non-believers) argue Christians should not impose their morals on someone else. Can I remind you, all legislation is the imposition of morality. Every law is a moral statement. It defines what is right and wrong for a society. And that moral declaration was shaped by the moral perspectives of the lawmakers who wrote the laws. So the question is not if morals should guide law-making. The real question is whose morals will guide the laws we follow? Blessed is the nation whose laws are shaped by the moral righteousness of our holy God. Please vote. Vote with a Biblical worldview. And do not be ashamed of it.
3. Voting is Impactful
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (1 Peter 2:13-14). God created the institution of government to restrain evil and reward good. Vote for politicians who will do those two things the most effectively.
This is why I refuse to vote for politicians who support abortion. The Bible is not silent on the topic even though James Talarico will try to convince you it is (I shared my full opinion on Talarico months ago HERE). Abortion is the killing of innocent lives that God created (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13), so I will not vote for politicians who promote and fund this evil. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Christian, abortion is on the ballot right now, and your vote makes an impact.
In 2023, the LGBTQ+ ideological movement had unprecedented momentum. Target was selling “tuck-friendly” swimsuits, half-naked transgender activists were on the white house lawn, and Lia Thomas was winning a national championship by defeating women as a biological man. Then 2024 happened. Have you noticed the messaging has lost steam since the previous elections? Did you notice the research showing trans and queer identification has dropped sharply in Gen Z? Voting makes an impact.
4. Voting is Temporary
Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
American elections are helpful, but they are not transformational. You will vote for imperfect men and women. In our two-party system, you will vote for people you do not fully agree with. You will even vote for people you do not like, but you like their platforms. And I’ve got bad news for you. Wednesday November 4th will come, and you will not be happy with all the outcomes. But I’ve got good news: all elections will “pass away” one day.
Voting will no longer exist. Jesus will return and he will not run for office. He will simply come and put all things under his feet (1 Cor 15:27). He will reign forever and no one will remove him from office (Revelation 11:15). We do not want term limits for him because he is “faithful and true” (Revelation 19:11). When he leads, wars end, pain is gone, death is destroyed, and political pundits will be fired. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Be engaged in the civic arena, but do not put your hope there. It will let you down. It cannot and will not deliver what you’re looking for. We must do our best as Christians, but we should also remember the best is yet to come. Do not fear the election results. Commit to Christ and commit to your civic duty. One day your vote will no longer matter, but today it does.
