A Christian Approach to Voting

Into this chaotic, divisive, and often confusing political season, we offer “A Christian Approach to Voting”[1] to keep us grounded in the Scriptures and in our calling as those who belong to Christ.  

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness
(John 18:36; Phil. 3:20; Matt. 6:33)

Our primary allegiance is to the kingdom of God.

John 18:36 - Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting… But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Philippians 3:20 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2. Be eager to maintain the unity of the Church
(Prov. 6:16-19; John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:1-3)

Our first priority is to love what God loves and hate what God hates, and God hates disunity and loves unity in his Church.

Proverbs 6:16–19 - There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

John 17:20–21 - “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Ephesians 4:1–3 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

3. Be a responsible, engaged, and knowledgeable citizen
(Jer. 29:7; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-15)

While we are not of the world, we are in the world and for the life of the world, therefore we seek the peace of the city.

Jeremiah 29:7 - But 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.

Romans 13:1–7 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

1 Peter 2:13–15 - 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. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

4. Vote your conscience (Acts 24:16; Rom. 14:22-23)

After careful consideration, everyone should be free to vote according to their conscience. As Martin Luther said, “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”

Acts 24:16 - So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Romans 14:22–23 - The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned… For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

5. Pray for whoever is elected (1 Tim. 2:1-3)

Regardless of the outcome, our calling is clear as a kingdom of priests: we pray for our rulers.

1 Timothy 2:1–3 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

6. Love your neighbor (Matt. 22:34-40; Matt. 5:43-48)

Regardless of the outcome, our calling is clear: we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, even those who disagree with us, even our enemies.

Matthew 22:34–40 - But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 5:43–48 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

7. Trust not in government leaders but in the Lord (Ps. 146:3-5)

Our ultimate trust for the wellbeing of our lives, the church, and the world is not in any human leader, but in the Lord our God.

Psalm 146:3–5 - Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God…

8. If all else fails, vote Paul Briggs for president.

[1] A Christian approach, not THE Christian approach.