Should Christians Vote? : By James Lantz
I am fully persuaded that the body of Christ will move closer and closer to believing and saying and doing the same things as we use God’s holy word as our standard. Lets examine what it means for a Christian to be in this world but not of this world concerning voting. The Word teaches us that in order to become a child of God we must die to self and commit our lives to Christ! 1 Cor. 6:19&20 . . . ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. The devil, our flesh and the carnal mind fought hard to stop us from giving our lives to Christ but when the truth of God’s gracious offer was revealed we chose life. 2 Cor. 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Jesus would be unjust in requiring us to obey Him if He did not fully obey the Heavenly Father. Heb. 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
The apostle Paul writes that we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:12-13) Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. We are to resist the works of the devil (ungodliness and worldly lust) and zealously embrace good works right here in this present world. There is much emphasis for the Christian to do good works and rightly so because this is our calling. Eph. 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. We do not do good works to
Created in Christ Jesus to do good works!
earn salvation but rather we do good works because we appreciate God’s free gift to us! We have been made Christ’s ambassadors, the salt of the earth, and the light of this world. Mt. 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. These good works include more than just having the fruit of the spirit manifested in our lives. These good works would include fulfilling our divine destiny which means that we were a supplying joint to the body of Christ. Able brought his best offering unto the Lord. Enoch prophesied Christ’s return with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgement on all the ungodly. (Jude 14&15 & Rev. 19:15) This is the second coming of Christ which will take place in the near future after the saints are caught up (rapture) to be ever with the Lord. (God’s people to be delivered from His wrath just as Noah’s family was
1 Thess. 4:15-17 & Acts 1:9-11 & 1 Cor. 15:51-53 & 1 Cor. 13:10-12 & Rom. 5:9) Noah built the ark! Abraham defeated four kings and their armies to rescue his nephew Lot. God showed King Nebuchadnezzar that He (God) was in charge and that His kingdom was everlasting and ever increasing while earthly kingdoms would become like dust and be blown away. God graciously revealed His plan to King Nebuchadnezzar, and to us, so he, and we, could know that God’s kingdom is to be our number one priority. Without the Almighty giving him breath he would not exist let alone be king over the largest empire in the world. Joseph was the governor of Egypt! Gideon brought deliverance from Israel’s captor’s. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer. Mary yielded herself to be the mother of our Lord! Jesus gave himself for us so that we could have eternal life! Ananias laid his hands on Saul and prayed for him that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. The devout centurion named Cornelius, prayed and gave many alms to the poor. Paul received the revelation of Christ in you the hope of glory and preached the gospel and raised up churches all over the known world.
God deals with nations and with individuals. God sets up governments and takes them down. Rom. 13:1 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. Men of great faith and integrity like Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah were in government work. Esther was the queen and mightly used of God to save her people. In the new testament we read of the Ethiopian eunuch who had charge of all the queen’s treasury being born again and baptized in water on the road to Gaza. Paul refers to Erastus, the treasurer of the city, as being a brother in the Lord! Cornelius was a military leader of Rome who loved God and received salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. ( Acts 8:27, Rom. 16:23 WEY-NT, Acts 10) I notice that we don’t read of the apostle Paul demanding that Erastus resign his government job nor Philip demanding that the Ethiopian eunuch resign his job nor Peter commanding Cornelius to get out of the military. The reason you don’t read of it is because you can still put God first in your life even if working in government work. Now don’t misunderstand me, God does not want us in jobs that work evil. We, the church of Jesus Christ, are commanded to separate from other believers who are fornicating and living a covetous lifestyle. This means that we do not eat with them and fellowship with them as if they are living right. By fellowshipping with them and eating with them we are acting as if their sinful lifestyle is acceptable. By separating from the wayward one and obeying scriptural precedence we confirm their need to repent which they already know in their heart. If we do not follow the word of God and separate from the rebellious one we endanger ourselves of falling and give them a false hope that somehow they will avoid the fires of hell for all of eternity. (1 Cor. 5:5, Mt. 7:21-23, 1 Cor. 6:9&10) This does not mean that we can not eat with or work with fornicators, liars, drunkards, and idolators who have not named the name of Christ. If we had to separate from every sinner we would have to leave this world. God’s purpose is for us to represent Him here on earth so that others will see His goodness and come into His family!
Yes, we should vote! Voting is a privilege and a responsibility to choose our leaders. When we vote for leaders we have an opportunity to bring leaders into power who will resist evil and do good. Voting is adding action to our faith and prayers. James 2:18 WEY-NT Nay, some one will say, “You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions. When a christian chooses not to vote (for a good candidate), it is kind of like giving the wicked person two votes for the candidate who will enable sin. Mt. 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. If your next door neighbor was beating his wife to a bloody pulp would you call the authorities or would you choose to be silent? If you are driving down the road and you are the first at the scene of an accident and you see an injured person bleeding profusely, would you stop to help or drive on by? James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Those who lived in Capernaum when Jesus was ministering from there and did nothing will be judged harsher than those in Sodom and Gomorrah. The United States of America is the only nation that was created because men loved God and desired a place to freely worship Him. The gospel of Jesus Christ is being and has been sent from this nation. God will not forget those men and women who gave their lives so that you and I could have this place to live and worship God in. I am sure that if Jesus wanted his people to pay their share to build roads and finance the military in wicked Rome, He surely would want us to stand with (vote for) those who will uphold life, liberty, and justice for all in this day. Mt. 22:21 . . . Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
It is reported that approximately only fifty percent of christians are registered to vote and that in the last election only about half of those who were registered voted (approx. 25%). This means that tens of thousands and even millions of christians didn’t even count their vote as precious. This could make the difference in having leaders who despise traditional marriage and religious liberties, who despise fiscal responsibility and fair taxation and free enterprise, promote abortion, and despise the rule of law and those who do not. We are to occupy ( to busy oneself, work, do business ) until our Lord returns. In military terms, to occupy, means to forcibly hold the fort. Mt. 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Remember, God cares much for the people in this old world. We are not of this old world (corrupt world system) but we are in this world. Don’t be like a lazy sponge who wants to live in your house but does not want to help with the dishes nor make their bed, nor mow the grass, nor help with the rent nor buy any groceries. You live in this great land of America and you should do your civic duty and help choose leaders that will honor God, honor life, and liberty for all.
If the watchman is silent, the fault will be his! When the good samaritan shows up, life will result! Missing the salt, how terrible the taste! Darkness only prevails, when the light is not in its place!
Pro. 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
