{"id":2584,"date":"2013-02-09T02:45:06","date_gmt":"2013-02-09T10:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eaf.net\/mvp\/?p=2584"},"modified":"2013-02-09T08:20:52","modified_gmt":"2013-02-09T16:20:52","slug":"the-voting-christian-helping-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eaf.net\/mvp\/2013\/the-voting-christian-helping-god\/","title":{"rendered":"The Voting Christian: Helping God"},"content":{"rendered":"

I believe the Christian should abstain from voting<\/strong> in political elections. I leave in the hands of our sovereign God the setting up and taking down of political leaders.<\/p>\n

I have Christian friends, though, who believe that voting is our part in God exercising His sovereignty over the affairs of men. One of them wrote to me in a Facebook comment:<\/p>\n

Like you, I believe that God is sovereign over the affairs of men (& women, too!). If a family in your congregation is suffering financially, you know that God will provide for them. But then you DO help them in some way if you can, don’t you? God will provide one way or another, but He often (usually?) uses His people as His hands & feet. It seems to me that that concept applies in voting, too.<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Though I see the point, a significant distinction exists<\/strong> between (1) being as God’s hands in helping others and (2) being as God’s hands in helping Him in the exercise of His sovereignty.<\/p>\n

The Bible expressly requires me to do
\nthe former, not the latter.<\/div>\n

The New Testament commands me to show God’s love to the needy:<\/p>\n

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”<\/span> (1 John 3:17).<\/p>\n

On the other hand, I don’t know of any New Testament teaching that says God needs any political help from me in His exercise of sovereignty.<\/p>\n

When He connects His sovereignty and my involvement in civil affairs, He says:<\/p>\n

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation”<\/span> (Romans 13:1,2).<\/p>\n

This doesn’t sound to me like a call to wield<\/em> political power, but to yield<\/em> to it (as unto God and within the confines of His laws).<\/p>\n

I have no interest in helping God exercise His sovereignty at this stage of human history, even if it is only by voting. I just don’t see such a calling for God’s people in the New Testament.<\/p>\n

To help God, pray.<\/strong> That’s more Biblical than voting. And certainly has far more potential to be far more effective.<\/p>\n

Does this mean I claim a neutral stance with regards to politics? Not at all. Anyone with a Biblical worldview can see easily enough that not all political practices and policies are of equal morality and rightness. However, having that discernment does not require that I take sides politically<\/strong>. Rather than claim (or feign) neutrality, I strive for non-participation since my allegiance is to a kingdom not of this world.<\/p>\n

Do I “de-Christianize” any Christian who does vote? Of course not. That’s not in my place either.<\/p>\n

Well, this post is the first in my The Voting Christian<\/i> series that I hope will include at least three more posts:<\/p>\n