When it comes to voting in an American presidential election, Christians may feel a particular weight to align our decisions with their faith. Voting represents not only a civic duty but also an opportunity to consider how one’s beliefs might guide their choices in selecting leaders who influence the nation’s policies, values, and vision for the future. While each Christian’s priorities may differ, there are key principles that many Christians consider when they approach the polls.
1. Voting is a Matter of Stewardship
Our vote within a democratic government is to be treated like every other resource that God gives us: it’s to be stewarded for God’s purposes. Daniel, Nehemiah, and Esther all leveraged the resource of their positions of influence on government to advance God’s purposes in the world. Likewise, we, as Christians, must steward our vote to advance God’s purposes.
2. Choosing the Lesser of Two Evils
In a situation where both options are so deeply flawed, how do we choose? Like other situations in life, we exercise the principle of choosing the lesser of two evils. We vote for policy not for person. Every candidate will be deeply flawed. No matter how we slice it, there are evils on both sides. This does not mean that we simply shouldn’t vote. This means that we have to choose the lesser of two evils and be at peace.
3. Abortion, the most heavily weighted evil
Of all the issues and policies at stake, the issue of abortion is the most heavily weighted above all others. The other issues matter, and are important, but none of them come close to the murder of nearly 1 million unborn humans every year. This is the issue that should drive every Christian in their decision on Election Day.
4. God is in Control
God plainly reveals in Daniel and Revelation that all human kingdoms are temporary, and only His Kingdom is forever. This means that we, as Christians, have our hope in God’s eternal Kingdom over which Christ reigns, not in a human kingdom. Hoping in the Kingdom of God means that we can have a deep peace no matter who is elected. God’s hand is not shortened in the working of human affairs. This means that ultimately, we can trust God that he’s directing history to its final end according to His will, no matter who is elected.
Conclusion
Voting in a presidential election presents Christians with both challenges and opportunities. Balancing our faith with the complexities of politics requires wisdom, prayer, and humility. By approaching the voting process with an open heart and a commitment to reflect Christ’s teachings, we can contribute thoughtfully to the public good. Ultimately, each Christian’s vote reflects a personal journey of faith, guided by their desire to honor God and love their neighbors as themselves.
