Does God Expect Christians to Vote?
It is our contention that it is the duty and responsibility of every Christian to vote and to vote for leaders who promote Christian principles. God is most certainly in control, but that does not mean we should do nothing to further His will. As Christians, we should stand up and follow our command to fulfill our civic duties (Matthew 22:21).
The Scriptural Basis for Governance
We are commanded to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4). However, in terms of politics and leadership, there is evidence in Scripture that God has been displeased with our choices of leadership at times (Hosea 8:4). The evidence of sin’s grip on this world is everywhere, and much of the suffering on earth is because of godless leadership (Proverbs 28:12). Scripture gives Christians instructions to obey legitimate authority unless it contradicts the Lord’s commands (Acts 5:27-29; Romans 13:1-7).
Principles for Choosing Leaders
As born-again believers, we ought to strive to choose leaders who will be themselves led by our Creator (1 Samuel 12:13-25). Candidates or proposals that violate the Bible’s commands for life, family, marriage, or faith should never be supported (Proverbs 14:34). Christians should vote as led through prayer and study of both God’s Word and the realities of the choices on the ballot.
To better understand these biblical instructions, consider the following references:
| Topic | Scriptural Reference | Key Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer for Leaders | 1 Timothy 2:1-4 | We are commanded to pray for those in authority. |
| Obedience to Authority | Romans 13:1-7 | Obey legitimate authority unless it contradicts God. |
| Righteousness in Leadership | Proverbs 14:34 | Support candidates who uphold biblical commands. |
| Civic Responsibility | Matthew 22:21 | Fulfill the duty to render to Caesar what is Caesar's. |
The Importance of Religious Freedom
Christians in many countries in this world are oppressed and persecuted. They suffer under governments that they are powerless to change and governments that hate their faith and silence their voices. These believers preach the gospel of Jesus Christ at the risk of their own lives. In the U.S.A., Christians have been blessed with the right to speak about and choose their leaders without fearing for themselves or their families.
Voting is an opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve godly government. The leaders we elect—or do nothing to remove—have great influence on our freedoms. They can choose to protect our first amendment right to religious freedom and the right to spread the gospel, or they can restrict those rights. They can lead our nation toward righteousness or toward moral disaster.
Participation and the Christian Voice
In our day and age, there are many who want to drive the name and message of Christ completely out of the public arena. Passing up that opportunity means letting those who would denigrate the name of Christ have their way in our lives. Statistical data highlights the following regarding Christian participation in the electoral process:
- In the U.S.A., in recent elections, about 2 of every 5 of self-professed Christians took that right for granted and did not vote.
- About 1 in 5 self-professed, eligible Christians are not even registered to vote.
As believers, we must realize that the leaders we elect have a direct impact on our ability to spread the gospel and live out our faith publicly.