When a person of faith rejects the civil opportunity, and the moral obligation of casting a vote, they always advance evil in the process.
Always!
This is not a popular thing to say in the midst of today's chill North American version of Christianity. The type of "Christianity" that pursues an idea that faith is almost entirely a mystery, clouded by allowable doubt. A faith that takes seeming delight at arriving at nebulous conclusions about everything from the existence of hell to the proper interpretation of sexual practice according to Biblical guidelines seems to also validate the idea that optional participation in the matter of voting is some how appearing to be deeper in its expression of "spirituality."
Let's cut to the chase--that spirituality is neither Biblical nor Christ-centered.
I was just made aware of a church in North Jersey this week that is considering voluntarily giving up it's "tax-exempt" status to continue its pursuit of a Biblical gospel.
THAT'S more like it!
But with the election looming I thought a truly Biblical understanding of voting might be a good reminder, given that an election comes this week.
For Biblically oriented Christians it's this simple: if you don't vote--you sin.
I made this simple statement to my national audience this past Friday and the phones nearly melted down. "How dare I?" "Who are YOU to say such a thing?" "Why have you adopted such a worldly position?" These were just some of the gripes my callers had for me over the course of that accidental topic on my show.
In reality it boils down to a simple concept. In Mark 12:17 some of the religious leaders of the day wanted to trap Jesus into a supposed hypocrisy. They wanted Jesus to demonstrate an allegiance to civil government above God. So they asked him if it was lawful and required for them to pay taxes to an earthly leader. He asks them the name of the person on the coin. When they reply, "Caesar." He summarizes his teaching on civil engagement, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God, what is God's."
While he answers this based on the question of the lawfulness (spiritually) of paying fiscal taxes, the language used actually is far more encompassing. Rendering (all things that are) what is Caesar's to Caesar goes for beyond the payment of taxes. He is in one sentence of instruction telling us to obey laws (all that do not violate God's law), participate in civil requirements be they military, jury duty, and yes voting.
Additionally when you consider that "We The People" are the equivalent to Caesar you understand that our instruction is not merely to rule, but to rule justly.
In 2012 as many as 40 million people of faith (Christians in this case) may have been eligible to vote, but did not--out of lack of interest, or lack of being registered. Less than 10% of those who sat out would've been needed to to change the person elected President. That's one voter out of ten that would've made a difference on, Obamacare, the IRS scandals, foreign policy decisions, the defense of natural marriage laws, the funding of Planned Parenthood--the number one abortion performer in the nation, ISIS, the growth of worldwide terrorism, relationships with our allies such as Israel, and about three dozen other items that any of us can think of.
By not rendering to Caesar--or being fully engaged in our moral obligation to participate--those who sat passively by, were anything but passive.
For when a person of faith rejects the civil opportunity, and the moral obligation of casting a vote, they always advance evil in the process.
The problem for many faith oriented persons in America is that leftism has perpetrated a great number of untruths on the culture. Leftists in today's churches have allowed--and sometimes exerted these cultural norms onto the people and into the conversation of the people of God. Leftists who profess a faith, are actually true leftists in heart, and hide behind a veneer of inauthentic belief.
These are also the ones who primarily squeak and squawk about, "not voting at all because the choices from both sides are so bad." (Often before they turn around and vote for the leftist, while discouraging others from participating.)
Candidates will always be imperfect, since only sinners have ever run for office, this will most likely continue to be the case far into the future.
But a conflicted conscience, and a troubled heart, is not an abdication of responsibility pass. It is instead a requirement for us to dig a bit deeper to find out more about what the people running for office, actually believe, how they've voted, and what they claim their vision to be.
When one does not vote--the worst option possible--is always the benefactor.
The question for you and I, today, right now is--do we wish to advance evil, or do what we can to obey Christ.