Today is Election Day. All across this nation, millions of people will make their way to the polls in order to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. This is a freedom that we have and should be thankful for, as countless men and women have laid down their lives so we could have a voice in the way that our country, states, and local municipalities operate. Unfortunately, while being a great blessing, the process of an election is also one of the most divisive topics that we must deal with on a daily basis.
It’s tragic, but countless people have lost friends and family members because of political disagreements. While we are going to focus heavily today on what the Bible says about elections and politics, it is important to note that division, regardless of the cause, is never God’s design for His people. Just because someone votes differently from you does not mean that you need to sever the friendship. We serve a God of unity and togetherness. Our political ideologies are not intended to be a dividing force in our relationships with other people.
As a follower of Christ, it is important that you understand how to take a Godly approach to this election and every one that will follow it.
Seeking God First
Matthew 6:33-34 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
While this passage of Scripture does not explicitly discuss politics, there are several principles that we can apply to the upcoming election found in these two verses from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Before you go to the voting location of your choice, you should spend some time seeking God. The decision that you make can have a direct impact on your community, your state, and the nation as a whole. No, your one vote will probably not be the one that determines which party has control of the congress. However, the fact that we have a voice in government means that we have a great responsibility to seek God before making our decisions.
Make no mistake about it, God is not sitting on His throne in Heaven with a “R” or a “D” beside His name. That means that a person’s political affiliation does not make them anymore of or any less of a Christian. When you go to the polls, you should do so after spending some time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for the divine direction necessary to cast a Godly vote.
Election Day can come with a lot of stress. It’s easy to let the media or other sources cause you to experience so much stress and worry about your preferred candidate’s chances of winning. Once you’ve returned home or gotten to work after casting your vote, you may find yourself anxiously following results while you wait to see if the person you voted for won. Christ taught us not to worry about things of that nature, or any nature.
When our faith is firmly planted in Him, and we know that we have sought His will for every aspect of our lives, including the government which we are subject to, we don’t have to be afraid of anything that happens in this world. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that God is working on behalf of His people.
God’s Call for Submission
Romans 13:1-5 (NLT)
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes form God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Most of us don’t like to acknowledge the first part of that verse. “Everyone must submit to governing authorities.” It’s hard for us to accept the idea of submitting to anyone, much less someone that we didn’t vote for. However, God’s Word is clear about the fact that He expects His people to respect those who are in government leadership, and He demands that we submit to their authority.
The entire process of submitting to this authority becomes much easier when we recognize that the men and women who have been placed in positions of authority are there by God’s design. It’s easy to read that statement and wonder if that’s the case, even if they are not believers. A quick look into Scripture teaches us that this concept still applies.
There are dozens of examples in Scripture of government leaders who did not follow God being used by God to accomplish His purposes. In the Old Testament, unbelieving rulers often took the people of Israel captive because of their own idolatry and disobedience. While God did not want His people to live in captivity, He knew that He had to bring them low so they would recognize their own need for repentance.
In the New Testament, there is no greater example of submission to authorities who did not believe in God than the story of Christ’s arrest and subsequent crucifixion. Keep in mind, when you read the account of Jesus being arrested, beaten, questioned, and mocked, there was never a time in which He couldn’t have called down thousands of angels to destroy the men He stood before so He could walk free. Instead, He chose submission.
When Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate made it no secret that He did not believe that Christ was the Messiah. While the death of Jesus appeared to be the work of unrighteous men, we know that His death was the necessary step for us to be able to receive salvation. John 3:16 teaches us that God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son so that anyone who believes in Him could experience everlasting life.
Had Christ never been crucified at the hand of ungodly rulers, there would never have been a resurrection. Without the resurrection, there would be no way for us to receive the forgiveness of our sins that we so desperately need.
On this Election Day, spend some time carefully seeking God’s face before you cast your ballot. Ask God to make His will known to you, as His will is more important than your personal preferences. Ask God to put men and women in office who will further His Kingdom. Most of all, don’t allow yourself to be dragged into a cycle of worry and anxiety concerning the election. God is still in control just like He always has been.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, direct me as I go to the polls on this Election Day. Make Your will known to me so my vote can align with Your plans. Give me the strength to submit to the authority of whoever wins, knowing that You set earthly kingdoms up and You see them fall. Bless our nation and those who lead it. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.