QUESTION: Are you morally obligated to exercise your right to vote? That is, is it a sin not to do so?
Of course, I am posing this question to those of you who actually believe in the Christian concept of sin in the first place. Sin is disobeying God’s commandments and His will as defined in the Bible. Interesting question, isn’t it?
On Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Americans will once again go to the polls to decide who will lead us in government. In the 56th consecutive quadrennial election we will elect men and women to local, state and national offices who will make decisions that will affect our lives and the lives of our families. They will pass laws we will have to abide by. They will make choices that will also set the tone for our communities and our nation. They will decide what is “good” and what is bad public policy.
In short, those we elect will impose their collective morality, or lack thereof, on us. Despite what you have been told, this is why we have government – to promote good and to restrain evil. But it is how we as a society define “good” and “evil” that makes all the difference in the world. There are people running for even the highest offices in this great land … that look at “good” and “evil” a whole lot different than we do. They call “good” evil and call “evil” good as Isaiah 5:20-21 states: 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Some of them will even look at us Christians as “evil” … see the backwards already!
Ever wonder why we have given citizens tax deductions for financial contributions to churches and charities? Because charities and churches do the “good” work that benefit individual citizens and the greater community and the government in the past has wanted to encourage that to continue.
Ever wonder why we make citizens pay fines when they are ticketed for breaking the speed limit? Because we understand that speed can kill which is “bad” – because traditionally the majority of Americans value human life. So when someone speeds they are putting the lives of others at risk, and therefore the government wants to discourage that behavior. So we have jails and we have fines to deter such activity.
The two previous paragraphs describe in simple terms that governments do promote morality. It is “we the people” who will decide those who make the moral judgments for us … from the White House to the Courthouse. Who do we want that to be? It needs to be someone with a track record of solid biblical morals – not upside-down thinking that would call “good” evil and “evil” good. Our vote should never be dictated by what is best for our pockets. (1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 4:4)
I am one that believes God directed people in the formation of the United States of America for His purposes. I believe in a providential view of history. If you study the life of our country, it is clear that God has used certain people for certain tasks to help our country become a great nation. A great nation that has … for the most part … championed good. We have championed causes that have been consistent with a Biblical world view. Freedom. Liberty. Fighting oppression and against those who wish to dominate those who are weaker than they through military force or terrorism. If I had to take one man who best represents God’s hand on America over our 231 year history it would have to be George Washington. What an incredible life this man lived!
As we look towards November 4th let me remind you of what the Father of our nation said in his famous “Farewell Address” on September 17, 1796. Washington by this time had served two terms and did not wish to serve a third although he could have been President as long as wished because of his immense popularity. Here is a small, but poignant, part of that address to the country.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
If the United States of America is to continue to stand it needs to do so on the principles of God … and all that represents. The only way for the principles of God to be upheld is for the Christian to stand firm in the process, to be part of it, to vote responsibly holding tight to these principles of God.
Is it a sin not to vote? James 4:17 says, “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
What do you think?
On Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 GO VOTE … by biblical and godly principles … then the morality promoted will be “good” and thereby evil will be restrained.