Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act
By Lane Fusilier
INTRODUCTION
Our nation exists in a never-ending political maelstrom. With
either party in power, the other party proclaims the collapse of
democracy. When the other party gains power, the opposition
uses similar language to attack them. The cycle of winning and
losing power does not change, nor will it. Cynicism is easy to
fall into—‘in spite of what you say, I know what you are thinking.’
That cynicism may lead to ‘opting out’ of the political process.
When Christians lose perspective, when we lose heart, our
passivity means that our voice is not heard, our prophetic role in
society goes missing. On the simplest level, Christians must
engage by voting in elections, from local to national.
Strong exhortations to vote have been pronounced by Christian
pastors for many decades. The perspectives of those many
exhortations are widely different. Some Christian leaders insist
that Christian believers must vote in order to restore the nation
to its Christian, or biblical, roots. Other leaders insist that voting
should be focused on restoring justice towards the poor, the
oppressed, on fulfilling the forecasts of the Old Testament
prophets.
Why should Christians who live in a democracy participate? Are
there biblical guidelines for this, or is all the fuss around
campaign time just partisan panic? Most all will agree that there
are at least three responsibilities for Christian citizens. Let’s
take them one at a time…
I. The first step in preparing to vote is to Think.
a. To Vote or Not To Vote?
i. Some Christians believe that Christ-followers should
not participate in any governmental functions, arguing
that Jesus taught separation from the world and the
state.
1. Shouldn’t belong to the military or to law
enforcement agencies.
2. Shouldn’t be part of a political party.
3. Shouldn’t vote in elections on any level.
ii. Others believe that Christians should fully participate,
interpreting that “in the world but not of the world”
justifies our participation in the above.
How can we sort out that large question?
b. Understand that biblical discussions of government
see God as Ruler of all.
i. Lord of Creation—based on Genesis 1, 2.
ii. Lord of humanity—based on divine creation of
humanity.
iii. Lord of all whom He grants authority under His rule.
iv. Both in their establishment—Romans 13:1.
v. And in overseeing their function. God takes a
personal interest in “politicians” because He both
cares about individuals and He cares about the future
He intends for us all.
Prov. 21:1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the
hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
He turns it wherever He wishes.
vi. Lord of both kings and their citizens.
1. He is concerned about “kings” or state/city leaders,
because they make decisions that impact justice,
that provide for human flourishing (or defy it), and
that express His sovereign desires for the future.
2. He is concerned about citizens (non-political
officers) because He is manifesting His plan to
maximize His glory through demonstrating His love
for all the ‘little people’ that His Son came to die for.
vii. The political design of eternity future describes the
Sovereign God, and does NOT picture an electoral
process!
Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act
By Lane Fusilier
We can infer that…
Application:
➢ The divine model for political rule is sovereign kingship.
➢ Since Israel proclaimed Saul king of the nation, virtually
all human sovereigns have proven disappointing. Even
the divinely-chosen David was deeply flawed and did not
rule justly.
✓ By way of illustration, look to Joab’s confrontation of
David after his response to Absalom’s death…
2 Sam. 19:5-6 Then Joab came into the house to the
king and said, “Today you have covered with shame
the faces of all your servants, who today have saved
your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the
lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,
by loving those who hate you, and by hating those
who love you. For you have shown today that princes
and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day
that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead
today, then 2you would be pleased.
➢ The hope for a better king is focused only on King Jesus.
All others will fall short of our need.
✓ Thus, the many references to the “son of David” as
the new and greater king.
Matt. 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes
saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the
children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna
to the Son of David,” they became indignant
Matt. 22:42 “What do you think about the Christ,
whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of
David.”
Is. 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His
government or of peace, on the throne of David and
over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with
justice and righteousness from then on and
forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
accomplish this.
➢ We recognize democracy as did Winston Churchill:
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in
this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is
perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is
the worst form of Government except for all those other forms
that have been tried from time to time.…”
He also described in ways cogent to our subject…
“At the Bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is
the little man walking into the little booth, with a little
pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper—no
amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can
possible diminish the overwhelming importance of that
point.” House of Commons, 31 October 1944.
https://richardlangworth.com/worst-form-of-government,
accessed 24 August 2018.
Democracy has its limits, but it is the system in place in our
country and should be respected for what it is. It will apparently
have to serve us until Jesus returns to establish His visible rule
in the Kingdom which He alone can rule.
c. Realize that biblical content was written before
democracy flourished.
i. As early as the 6th and 5th centuries BC, Athens
offered a type of democracy.
Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act
By Lane Fusilier
ii. Few other examples surface before the 1215 Magna
Carta, when the English king was held to account by
lesser rulers of the land, the barons. No rights were
declared for the common folk, certainly not ‘rights to
vote.’ The only voting that mattered were the
opinions of the barons as they attempted to hold the
king’s power in check. When Parliament was formed,
it, too, was a balance to the king, not an elected
representation of the needs or rights of the king’s
common subjects.
iii. Even as late as the nineteenth century, freedom to
vote in the West was limited to those who owned
land. Open access to voting by citizens, male and
female, is about one hundred years old.
iv. Thus, it’s not hard to understand why the right to vote
has been so treasured!
d. We must understand that God has established
governing authorities.
i. Human government is His idea.
1. God intends that human authorities establish
justice for all.
Romans 13:1 HCSB “Everyone must submit to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those
that exist are instituted by God.”
Titus 3:1 HCSB “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and
authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work…”
2. Those authorities should protect those who obey
the law.
3. Those authorities should discipline those who do
not; which might endanger their neighbor.
1 Peter 2:13–14 HCSB “Submit to every human authority
because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme
authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish
those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is
good.”
ii. Thus, Paul and Peter both tell us that we are to obey
those authorities unless they demand that we disobey
Him.
iii. Jesus emphatically states that we are to have impact
on the society we indwell.
Matthew 5:13–16 HCSB ““You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be
made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be
thrown out and trampled on by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill
cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it
under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it
gives light for all who are in the house. In the same
way, let your light shine before men, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father in
heaven.”
iv. In a democracy, which allows, solicits, and
requires public participation, voting is one way
that we can express our commitment to public
integrity and justice—thus, being ‘salt and light.’
1. We must not overstate this! Especially in light of
what we have said earlier…
Steven J. Cole: “The Bible does not address voting directly
because democracy was not practiced then. Some Christians
argue that we are citizens of heaven and thus should not get
involved at all in politics. But we are also citizens of this earth.
Since we are given a say in who rules over us, not to vote is to
allow the ungodly to win.” https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-89-
christ-lord-our-politics-rom-131-7-and-other-scriptures,
accessed 16 August 2018.
Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act
By Lane Fusilier
➢ From the passages in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 we can
infer that Christians should recognize divinely-appointed
human authorities, and also obey them.
➢ A third inference is that divine affirmation of secular
authorities requires us to carefully “screen” them, in a
democracy to seek leaders of good character, who will
pursue what Paul and Peter state—serve the good
citizens and correct the disobedient.
➢ A fourth inference is that, having basic requirements and
standards of secular authorities specified by Paul and
Peter, Christian citizens should apply those standards to
candidates for office.
➢ Taken together, voting for such leaders will be an act of
obedience for Christians.
✓ Wayne A Grudem, p.63 “Moreover, Christian
influence led to the abolition of evils such as abortion,
infanticide, gladiatorial contests, human sacrifice,
polygamy, the burning alive of widows, and slavery,
as well as the granting of property rights, voting rights,
and other protections to women.” Politics - According
to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for
Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of
Scripture. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
✓ Wayne Grudem, p.62 “To be able to vote is to have a
share of ruling power. Therefore all citizens who are
old enough to vote have a responsibility before God to
know what God expects of civil government and what
kind of moral and legal standards he wants
government to follow.”
Having determined that believers should participate in
democracy by voting, how does one choose which candidate to
support?
e. We choose candidates to support very
carefully.
i. Character must be the first identifier—Paul and Peter
are quite clear about what qualifies a person to fill the
divinely-designed role of ‘authorities.’
1. The candidate should be… “those sent out by him
to punish those who do what is evil…”
a. Able to discern good from evil—morally astute.
b. Willing to name the evil—courageous.
2. The candidate should be willing to “praise those
who do what is good.”
3. A viable candidate will not remain silent when a
citizen acts righteously.
4. The candidate must be ready to celebrate good
behavior, rather than to perceive it as threatening
or competitive.
ii. A second identifier may be the support of other
biblical values.
1. Celebrate life generally.
2. Promoting freedom to obey God.
3. Finally, to support particular issues that are lower
on the political scale of priorities. Alert: virtually
every issue of debate has some interface with
biblical issues.
iii. Caveat: it is important that Christians interact with
those who disagree with them politically, especially
politically-engaged Christians who are on the opposite
end of the political spectrum
1. Reading and interacting only with those who agree
politically perpetuates our blindness.
2. Engaging with our political opponents offers us a
chance to step outside our experience and see
issues with greater objectivity. That may prove
‘revelatory’ in choosing viable candidates.
Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act
By Lane Fusilier
Conclusion, sermon one:
Though we live in a democratic society, we must recognize that
God Himself is sovereign over all nations and all peoples.
Therefore, as we participate in that democracy, we prayerfully
follow biblical guidelines that God has given us to recognize true
leaders. People will disappoint us, they will not keep their word
to us! However, in a democratic society, we have freedom to
demand that they keep their word and that they follow through
on their commitments to justice.