7 Verses Christians Should Think About Before They Vote

Regardless of how political you are, it’s hard to argue that this is one of the most divisive years in politics and social justice we’ve seen yet. So will this change voter turnout for 2020?

Recent voter turnout has been below 60% during presidential election years and around 40% during midterm elections— this seems incredibly low for the amount of complaining about the state of our country. So what’s to be done about it?

Vote.

Maybe you’ve made your mind up about whom you’re voting for. If so, this article may not be for you. But even if you’re a staunch _____-supporter, know that facts are often misremembered to match one’s personal bias, so it’s probably best to read on anyways.

If you’re on the fence about whom to vote for, and you truly want to weigh the options, no matter how much your prior biases may disagree with the outcome, read on.

We’re not here to tell you how to vote; rather we’re just here to provide helpful questions and Scriptures to stir your heart and seek the Lord. In addition to Scriptures, we wanted to bring up common questions that we’ll help you tackle:

  • There’s an electoral college. Why does it matter if I vote?
  • Should I vote for the lesser of two evils?
  • _______ claims to be a Christian. Should I vote for him?

7 Verses Christians Should Think About Before They Vote

There are tons of articles that claim to tell you whom Jesus would “REALLY” vote for, but instead of doing that we want to give you some helpful verses to think about as you hit your local polling places this November. Whether you’re leaning towards giving your vote to Donald Trump, Joe Biden, or another party (or maybe you’re equally unhappy with all of the above) here are 7 things you should consider when deciding where to cast your vote in 2020.

1. Your Vote Matters

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money.” And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, “Whose is this image and superscription?” They say unto him, “Caesar’s.” Then saith he unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

–Matthew 22:16-21

In Roman culture, Caesar was a deity, but Jesus still exhorted the people to pay their taxes and do their civic duties while serving the Lord.

But it’s not my vote that matters, it’s the electoral college. Why should I vote? Your vote might not seem like much, and maybe instead of waiting in line at the polling place you took that much needed trip to the grocery store, but don’t be fooled… Choosing not to vote is a type of vote: a vote for apathy, and a vote to separate yourself from important issues in your country. Participation is essential to your faith and it’s your civic duty as an American to vote.

Also, by voting you’re honoring those who have given their lives for your individual right to vote. There are plenty of areas your vote will count in even if you’re not in a swing state: think of the smaller offices and positions of leadership that are overlooked but just as important. You may not be able to do as much research as you want to on each council member or senator, but don’t take your freedom for granted by not voting at all.

2. Remember Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Plenty of Christians make arguments for this candidate or that nominee based on whom has prayed for them or on secondhand character witnesses, but without getting to personally know each candidate, the faith walks of Trump or Biden add up to hearsay. All over God’s Word we see what truly matters to him; here’s an example from James:

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

–James 1:26-27

The big question here is, who serves the Lord’s purposes by looking out for the orphans, the fatherless, and the widows? Who desires to keep themselves apart from corruption? It’s not enough for a candidate to have a photo-op with a megachurch pastor or to pledge promises to uplift the poor and underserved — seek out unbiased reporting sources to see what each candidate has historically achieved and what their recent patterns of ethics and spending have been. Is pride or integrity an issue? Despite their past, do they continue to lie or sow seeds of division? Do they have a lifelong record of serving the hurting?

3. Pray for Our Leaders

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

–1 Timothy 2:1-4

No matter how great your disdain for either candidate, the Lord wants us to pray for our leaders. You can’t control what policies or bills Joe or Donald will pass, but you can decide how YOU respond, and the Lord examines the intentions of our hearts. Even if you decide to “throw away” your vote (go back to reason #1, you should probably be praying.

4 Ways to Pray for Our Country’s Leaders

4. Put Your Trust in God

Don’t let fear influence your decision. Fear is usually a good indicator that you’ve allowed your fears to overcome your fear of the Lord or trust in Him. Can you truly make a sound decision based off of fear?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

–Proverbs 3:5-6

5. Seek God for Wisdom

Should I vote for the lesser of two evils? There’s no way any other candidate can win. Don’t make your decision a popularity contest– instead, seek wisdom through prayer:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

–James 1:5-7

Do you only know Trump for his appearances on The Apprentice or ads on your Facebook feed? Is Biden marked by his vice presidency or the great tragedies in his life? How much do you actually know about each candidate? It’s wise to be an informed voter and read everything you can. We do all we can to achieve a balanced perspective of the candidates available to us, but we require discernment and wisdom to interpret the information we hear.

6. Don’t Allow Money to Dictate Your Decision

We can be disheartened by political corruption, national debt, ever-rising taxes, or the social security situation in our country, so how should we vote in light of these complex issues?

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money

–Matthew 6:24

7. You Can Choose to Serve the Lord

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”

–Joshua 24:15

At the end of the day, we can’t control the actions of others. No matter who is elected into office, no matter how unpredictable things get, we can always choose to serve the Lord. As Christians we must also be prepared to stand with our values and take responsibility for our personal actions in any political climate.

“Your decisions are ultimately determined by what you desire the most,” says June Hunt in her minibook Decision Making. “The fundamental principle for each of us becomes, ‘Do I choose to please myself, or do I choose to please the Lord?’” Whether it’s younger Christians, your children or grandchildren, what message do you want to send to those that look up to you? How can you set a godly example for peers? Come November, will you have taken your time to make an informed decision? We’re not saying it will be an easy one, but it’s worth the time.

Note: Rose Publishing Inc. does not support or endorse any candidate or political party for office. We only encourage that you seek prayer and wisdom when voting.

Knowing God’s Will Pamphlet

Packed with quick-reference charts, key Scripture verses, and practical advice that answers common questions

You have important life decisions to make, and in the midst of multiple options, you’re left wondering what to do. You want to do the right thing and follow God’s plan, but how? How can you know God’s Will for you?

Discover what the Bible says about how to know and follow God’s Will for your life with this bestselling Bible study pamphlet packed with charts, scriptures, and practical advice. The Bible is not silent on the topic of God’s Will and this easy-to-understand pamphlet provides a solid overview on how God leads us. Enjoy having quick-reference charts, key Scripture verses, and practical advice that answers common questions, such as:

  • Which way should I go?
  • Is God trustworthy?
  • How does God lead me?
  • What if I have already failed?

Key Features of This Knowing God’s Will Bible Study Pamphlet

  • Practical— Provides 4 solid, Bible-based ways to navigate through life’s tough decisions.
  • Biblical— Includes a quick overview and dozens of Scripture verses. Covers 9 key promises on God’s guidance and 5 ways God can use painful situations in our lives.
  • Encouraging— Experience the peace that comes from knowing the 14 truths about your identity in Christ and the 4 reasons why you can trust God to guide you.
  • Relevant— Features 4 fantastic quick-reference charts on relevant topics, such as the 4 lies that keep us from knowing God’s Will and the 4 truths from the Bible to overcome them.

Perfect for individual use, group Bible studies, church giveaways, and to give to a friend as a source of encouragement. Great way to encourage Dads and Grads, who frequently face tough life decisions.

Shop Now

Comments

comments

One Thought on “7 Verses Christians Should Think About Before They Vote

  1. Thanks for sharing this excellent article. These are great Bible verses to remember and would be really helpful for my next youth group ministry lesson.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Navigation

%d bloggers like this: