A recent survey by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that as many as 41 million people who identify as born-again Christians are planning to skip voting in the upcoming November election. Significantly, these non-voters represent almost half of all who claim to be born-again Christians. With so many professing Christians planning to sit out this election, we need to ask: Should a Christian skip voting on November 5?
While the Bible does not speak directly to the issue of voting because elections didn’t exist in Bible times, a relevant passage that presents a principle to guide our contemporary context is 1 Timothy 2:1-2. When Paul gave Timothy instructions concerning how to lead the church, his first instruction was to urge church members to pray for all kinds of people, explicitly mentioning government officials. The goal of these prayers was that God might move in the hearts of public officials to create and maintain an environment where Christians could lead godly lives unhindered by interference or persecution. The church should pray that its leaders would enact and maintain laws that allow Christians freedom to worship. Christians should follow Paul’s instructions and pray regularly and fervently for their governing authorities.
Whatever God urges us to ask for in prayer, He also commands us to do if we have the opportunity. Suppose God desires for Christians to pray for governing authorities that would provide an environment for the church to practice godliness peacefully. In that case, it necessarily follows that Christians should do whatever God providentially allows to that end. God has given American citizens the privilege of influencing who leads our governmental institutions when we go to the ballot box. Christians should pray that God will raise leaders who will govern according to the principles of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, but we must also vote for leaders who are most likely to govern this way. To pray and not to act when you can act is hypocrisy. Our chance to act arrives in just a few short weeks, on November 5.
I can think of three objections a Christian might raise against voting in this election cycle.
The first objection, raised by 48% of Christians who plan not to vote, is that casting their ballots does not matter because the outcome of the election will be manipulated. Because past election cycles have seen their fair share of “irregularities,” it is entirely reasonable to have concerns about integrity in our electoral process. Nevertheless, to assume that our vote does not matter because someone might rig the system, and therefore not to vote, is to become an unwitting pawn of those trying to manipulate the election’s outcome. Vote anyway, even if you think your participation is meaningless. God will hold anyone accountable who acts unethically in organizing or running an election. We are responsible for voting for those most closely aligned with biblical principles.
Another objection 48% of those choosing not to vote have raised is that they do not know enough about the candidates to decide who deserves their selection. However, the differences between the current presidential candidates and the two major political parties are stark. We have an obligation as Christians to understand these contrasts.
Here are some key differences between the political parties that particularly affect Christians:
On abortion, most Republican candidates either hold pro-life beliefs or contend that the states should handle this issue. On the flip side, Democratic candidates generally believe the federal government should enact a nationwide law enshrining abortion as a legal and moral good in all fifty states up to (and potentially at) the time of birth.
On transgenderism and children, a vast majority of Republican candidates are opposed to surgeries that would mutilate children’s bodies and to chemical injections that would unalterably sterilize children and unnaturally affect their bodies in devastating ways. Again, an increasing number of Democratic candidates generally support mutilating the bodies of children and pumping them with chemicals to damage their bodies irreversibly.
These are both significant issues for Christians to consider, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ and the Democratic Party’s positions here are nothing less than demonic. With all the information available to us on candidates’ and parties’ platforms, ignorance on such important matters is inexcusable for Christians who have the privilege of voting for government officials.
A final objection someone might raise for not voting this year is that the major presidential or office candidates are objectionable people with significant moral shortcomings. While it is undeniably true that President Donald J. Trump often fails to reflect biblical principles, both personally and politically, is that a valid reason not to vote for him (I assume voting for Vice President Harris is not an option for sincere Christians for the reasons stated above)?
While Christians might lament President Trump’s recent pivot on abortion, we recognize that having a president who defers this issue to the states is vastly superior to having one who will codify abortion as a legal right in federal law. Additionally, President Trump’s positive comments about homosexuality are clearly unbiblical and immoral, and as Christians, we rightly criticize his position on this issue. While Trump and Harris have similar views on homosexuality itself, their positions on transgenderism for children are worlds apart. As Christians, we certainly would prefer a candidate who stood unflinchingly for a biblical sexual ethic. Still, as Christians, we also recognize that it is better to vote for someone who will protect children from evildoers than someone who will use her influence to mutilate children, the most innocent among us.
While the Republican Party and many of its candidates leave much to be desired for Christians concerned about the direction of our nation, it is irresponsible to act like the parties and candidates are morally equivalent. Neither party aligns ideally with biblical values, but the Republican Party platform and candidates set a course for the future of our nation that is far more aligned with 1 Timothy 2:1-2 than the Democratic Party platform and candidates. If you’re abstaining from a meaningful vote or from engaging at all in this election because you dislike Donald Trump or find the Republican Party Platform disappointing, I urge you to reconsider.
This is, without question, the most important election in our nation’s history. Christians should engage in it by voting and praying that God would give us leaders who will govern in a way that allows us to live out our faith in dignity and tranquility.
What kind of country are we called to pray God would grant us according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2? If you’re one of the 41 million professing Christians planning to sit this election out, I urge you to reconsider your position. I trust that you’ve been praying for our leaders and the outcome of this election. God has allowed you to act as well as to pray. Will you act by how you’ve prayed? Will you use your vote to seek to maintain a nation where we can lead a tranquil life in all godliness and dignity?