We are coming up on a monumental event in our country. So much is riding on the upcoming elections. With food prices higher than they have ever been at a time when prices are usually lower, extreme political unrest, increasing divides between beliefs in our culture, and a general immoral cultural emerging, it is time to prayerfully seek the Lord in our part in His plan for America. Our Christian vote is vitally important.
We must remember that ultimately God has a plan and His plan will come to pass. Whoever gets elected is still in God’s plan. He is sovereign and the Bible is clear that it is God who raises up leaders and brings down kings. That needs to be our ultimate overarching perspective.
However, there are many examples where God’s people were called to take action. Yes, God absolutely can move and cause things to happen without us, but he wants to use us. Just like he wants us to pray and talk to him about our concerns, He wants us to have a part in the story of our country by casting our Christian-minded vote.
One example of this is when the Israelites were about to enter the promised land after leaving Egypt. The land was theirs- they sent spies to scope it out and should have come back excited by what they saw and ready to follow God’s lead and go conquer the land for themselves. They had a part in God’s plan and God had a specific outcome in mind. He was going to give them the promised land. But they came back discouraged and scared and doubted God so God allowed another outcome. So they ended up with forty more years of desert wandering.
Another example of this is when Israel wanted a king. God’s timeline would have given them David as king but they wanted a king sooner. He even warned them that it wouldn’t end well but they insisted. So God gave them Saul.
Sadly, in both examples, the Israelite’s actions had horrible outcomes and changed God’s plan of blessing, but it proves the point that our actions matter. And we are called to action now as we fight for someone who will uphold our constitution.
When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, God told them to seek the welfare of the land where they were and to carry on with their lives- celebrations, marriages, holidays, etc. They weren’t supposed to stop living just becauseş they didn’t like their lives now that they were exiled and in a different place. God specifically tells them:
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.
Jeremiah 29:7
Living our lives involves being a part of our country. The exiled Israelites didn’t have the opportunity to participate in politics. Living under the rule of a king is very different than living in a democracy, so God told them to seek the welfare of the country where they were exiled. For us, seeking the welfare of our country involves prayer and doing our civic duty as citizens. It involves playing an active role in electing those who will govern and lead us. It means praying over and doing our homework to vote for the person best able to line up with Christian values. No one will meet all criteria, but God can use anyone, Christian or not.
Jesus himself said to give to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and to God the things which are God’s. There is clear place and call both in the Old and New Testaments for us to be actively involved with out country as well as our faith.
We must remember that elections are not a personality contest, either. Someone may grate our nerves or seem too passive, maybe too abrasive, but how they line up with Christian values is most important.
I came across an image on Facebook recently that gave a measuring stick so to speak. It is so relevant so I want to share it here. Libby Brannon posted it and lays out some biblical principles to consider when choosing a candidate. Of course, ask God to show you who He wants you to vote for and to help you uncover the truth to make a good decision.
How I will vote this November:
I will vote for the most pro-life candidate
because God hates the shedding of innocent blood,
(Proverbs 6:17)
I will vote for the most pro-Israel candidate
because God blesses those who bless Israel and curses those who don’t.
(Genesis 12:3)
I will vote for the most pro-debt reduction candidate
because the borrower is servant to the lender.
(Proverbs 22:7)
I will vote for the most pro-work candidate
because God says if a man won’t work let him not eat.
(2 Thessalonians 3:!0)
I will vote for the most pro-marriage candidate
because God is for marriage as defined in
(Genesis 2:24)
I will vote for the candidate who most closely believes
the government’s purpose is to reward good and punish evil.
(Romans 13)
I will vote as close as I can to God’s Word.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Facebook post by Libby Brannon
No one is going to check every box. We can’t get stuck there, but we can choose the one that stands closest to biblical principles. According to the Arizona Christian University, it is estimated that millions of Christians will not vote in the upcoming election. That is a very scary thing because every vote not cast towards the better candidate who most closely stands on the Biblical values is essentially a vote towards the wrong side. Essentially no vote cast at all is still a vote cast. Make sure your Christian vote counts!
Now is not the time to remain passive. It is the time to rise up and take a stand. As I study American history with my kids this year, I can’t help but wonder what our founding fathers would think of the state America is in. I wonder how they would vote. How would men who literally risked their lives to see a fledgling country take flight vote? Would they remain passive or rally like-minded people to save their country, to choose a candidate that would best re-align our country with the constitution?
Please do your civic duty, seek God, and research the candidates before casting your vote. Now is not the time to vote because of personality or just to be a part of electing the first woman president. The fate of our country is literally in our hands.
So much is at stake.
Seek God, then join me at the polls and make sure your Christian vote counts.
