Voting: A Christian and Civic Duty

“It is the duty of Christians to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
— John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme CourtAmerica is suffering because many of its leaders have stopped recognizing Gods authority, and many Christians have stopped voting according to Biblical principles. Since 1973, over 40 million innocent, unborn babies have had their lives taken. Same-sex marriage has been legalized in some areas of the United States and is being pushed in governmental institutions and public schools nationwide. Christians are increasingly being persecuted and seeing their religious freedom taken away. As Christians, we are commanded to participate in government and to choose godly leaders. And we owe this participation to the God who created us, to our families and communities, and to the men and women risking their lives to defend our freedom. It starts with you.

All Authority Comes From God

“No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules now without that power from God. The ruler is Gods servant to help you.” Rom. 13:1, 4*The Branches of our Constitutional Government are Traceable to the Bible: “The Lord is our judge (the Judiciary), the Lord makes our laws (the legislative branch), and the Lord is our king (the executive branch).” Isa. 33:22.Christians are Commanded to Obey Government: “All of you must yield to the governmental rulers. So, those who are against the government are really against what God has commanded. So you must yield to the government, not only because you might be punished, but because you know it is right.” Rom. 13:1, 2, 5 (see also, 1 Pet. 2:13–14).

Governmental Authorities Are Commanded to Submit to Gods Higher Authority

“So Kings, be wise; rulers, learn this lesson. Obey the Lord with great fear. Be happy, but tremble. Show that you are loyal to his son, or you will be destroyed by his anger.” Ps. 2:10-12.When Government Stops Following God, it Must be Removed: “The wicked will not rule over those who do right. But, Lord, when you remove those who do evil, also remove those who stop following you.” Ps. 125:3, 5. “Peter and the other apostles replied: We ought to obey God rather than men!” Acts 5:29.

God Requires Your All, Including Your Vote

When the servant in the parable of the talents neglected to invest his one talent, the Master denounced him as a “wicked and lazy servant!” and threw the “worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there [was] weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 25:14–30. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy…” Mic. 6:8. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17. God commands us to use and invest what he has given us including the gift of freedom and the power to preserve it. James 1:17Christians Are Commanded to Choose God- Fearing Leaders: “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.” (Similar to our local, county, state, and federal governments). Ex. 18:21. “You shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses.” Deut. 17:15a.There are Consequences for Making the Wrong Choice: In Matt. 27:15–26, the Governor asked the people to choose who he should release, Jesus, the Christ, or Barabbas, a notorious criminal. The leaders and elders convinced the crowd to “vote” for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be killed. This led to the crucifixion of Jesus. “Doing what is right makes a nation great, but sin will bring disgrace to any people.” Prov. 14:34. “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Prov. 29:2.

The Current Crisis: Christians Not Participating in Democracy

In the 4 elections from 1992 to 2000, Christian voter turnout declined by 40 percent. In 2000, of the nations 59 million self identified evangelicals who were qualified to vote: 24 million did not even bother to register to vote, and of the 35 million who did register, only 15 million actually voted.Several Christian public policy organizations have identified that of their own members, who are active participants in trying to restore godly principles to government, 35–45 percent were not even registered to vote. 45 percent of Evangelicals vote according to economic issues above moral issues.

Why Your Vote Counts!

• ONE VOTE in the House elected Thomas Jefferson President over Aaron Burr, who was later charged with treason.
• ONE VOTE in the Electoral College elected Rutherford B. Hayes President.
• By ONE VOTE, California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington became states. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson was elected President by carrying one state by less than ONE VOTE per precinct.
• In 1941, ONE VOTE saved Selective Service just weeks before Pearl Harbor.
• In 1948, Lyndon Johnson, later our 36th President, became senator by ONE VOTE.
• The 2000 Presidential Election was won by a miniscule number of votes (Florida was decided by only 537 votes, New Mexico, 366) and ultimately by ONE VOTE of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Today, Many of Our Leaders Are Ignoring or Deliberately Trying to Pervert Important Biblical Principles

Marriage: God indicated that it was not good for man to be alone and he made woman for man. Gen. 2:18–25. God indicated that each man is to have his own wife and each wife her own husband. 1 Cor. 7:2. The Bible warns that perverting Gods model for marriage is a sin and will have consequences, like all sin. Rom. 1:26–27, Lev. 18:22, 1 Cor. 6:9–10.Sanctity of Life: “For you formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mothers womb, I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Ps. 139:13–14. “Before I formed you in your mothers womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” Jer. 1:5.Religious Liberty: The Biblical principles and moral standards upon which our government and society were founded are being removed by ungodly leaders and special interest groups. The many Ten Commandments monuments are only one example. “Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God.” 1 Tim. 2:2.Visit ivotevalues.com is for sale | HugeDomains for more information on what the Bible has to say on the issues that shape our society and how candidates’ voting records compare. Voting is the most powerful way to influence the laws of our society, and those who make them. Register. Vote. Vote your values.