Biblical Convictions About Politics

Unless you’ve been living in a cave you have been bombarded by political information recently. We are rushing fast towards the election of a new President. There have been non-stop advertisements, a plethora of commentators, three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate. And not only are we electing a president for the United States, but also representatives and there are local and state issues on the ballot as well. So here are my biblical and personal convictions about elections.

1. You need to be informed on the people running for office and on the issues that confront us. Don't rely on advertisements, dig into the issues. There is nothing noble about being ignorant. Ignorant voters hurt everybody, and Christians are to benefit others not hurt them.

2. The Bible commands us to pray for our political leaders (I Timothy 2:1-2.)

It's sad, but there are people that have spoken out against political leaders and how "evil" they perceive them to be, but have never gone to their knees and prayed for these people. It is also very difficult to hate someone for whom you are praying. And even if a political person is an enemy, didn’t our Lord say that we should pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44)?

3. Christians should vote! We should vote early and often (no wait, that’s the old Chicago in me). But I once heard someone relate to me that people in the Bible didn’t vote. Thus we should avoid politics. Duh!! That’s because they couldn’t vote! We can vote and we should. Those who are striving to think and live biblically should help shape the culture around them. If you are not registered to vote, as Larry the Cable guy would say, “get’er done”!

4. What we understand morally and ethically from the Scriptures should influence how we vote and for whom we vote. A Christian should not just vote his pocket book, nor should he or she be in unthinking lock-step with any political party. The reason behind our vote should be biblical reasoning.

5. Disagreeing with someone politically doesn’t mean that you have to be disagreeable. Let’s stop calling people names and just debate the issues. A whole lot more in our nation could be accomplished if we would stop yelling at one another and start talking with one another.

6. Godly men and women should run for elected office. Everyone has a divine calling on their lives. Some of us are called to be preachers, some doctors, some business men and women, others bakers, bankers, artists, scientists and yes – elect officials. Proverbs 29:2 declares “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

7. As American Christians, it's helpful to be reminded that the epicenter of Christ's kingdom is not located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And the purposes of God have never been thwarted at the hands of men or women (a streak that's not about to end on November 6). To understand this doesn’t mean we’ve given in to quietism or escapism—just biblical Christianity.

President Obama and Governor Romney are, like you and me, feeble creatures of dust. They're worthy of respect because of the office they hold (Ecclesiastes 10:20; 1Peter 2:17), but never our full trust or hope (Psalm 118:9; 146:3).

So pay your taxes (after all lawful deductions!), choose your candidate, and cast your vote (politics does matter, after all), but do so as one whose trust is anchored in “the age to come.” As citizens of "a better country" (Hebrews 11:16; Philippians 3:20), we the people of the risen King await "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13).

Whatever comes of our trip to the ballot box, we can rest in the sovereign goodness of our Father who sits enthroned in the heavens and, with majesty and mystery, does whatever He pleases (Daniel 2:21; Psalm, 135:5,6).

7. Finally, no matter how elections turn out and who is elected, we need to be about our Father’s business. Daniel served God in Babylon and the apostle Paul proclaimed the good news in the Roman Empire. Let’s make known the good news in both words and deeds, because it will lead people to the ultimate hope for a free world, filled with love and peace; the coming kingdom of God under the leadership of the King of kings, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6,7; Revelation 11:15).