Prayers and votes for our country
Why should Christians vote?
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
–Edmond Burke
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
–1 Tim. 2:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
–Romans 13:1-7
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
–Preamble, U. S. Constitution
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
–Tenth Amendment, U. S. Constitution
As I see it, though we are certainly citizens of heaven, we are occupants of this world and must do our best to serve God while we are here as we would in heaven. But God has established rulers over us here on earth and we are told to respect them and pray for them. And in this beloved country of ours, the United States of America, we have the added blessing of being a part of the establishment of those rulers. The Founders, set in place by God as the rulers at the time of this nation’s creation, arranged for the ultimate power of government to rest with the people. We citizens, the electorate, have an obligation to participate in the rule of our government because those Founders established that we the people are in fact responsible for our rulers.
related articles
- The “Missing” 13th Amendment (July 14th, 2007)
- Soft on Crime? That’s Rich (July 2nd, 2007)
- District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 (April 24th, 2007)
- 30 Years Ago Today (April 25th, 2006)
- Ninth Circuit: Students May Not Disagree with Gay-Rights Agenda (April 22nd, 2006)
November 7th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Though 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 13 certainly have a voice in how the Christian relates to secular government, we also need to hear the voice of Revelation 13 which, given how most people read 1 Timoth 2 and Romans 13, is in complete antitheses.
Up to this point, I have always voted. I have always voted for the canidate who I believe would do the best job for the particular needs the people have in that time and place. I still have no ethical objections to voting as a Christian, but it gets harder and harder to vote.
How does a Christian vote when neither of the choices offered are concerned with the things of God?
November 7th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
If those who are concerned with the things of God abstain from voting, then you can bet that none of the choices will be concerned with the things of God.
November 7th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Yes, I agree. I am not one of those who believes it is unethical for Christians to vote. But I do believe the choices on who we vote for are much more difficult than many conservative/evangelical Christians make it appear.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Re: Romans 13. Submitting to the authorities is not the same thing as voting. David Lipscomb noted, in his famous Restoration Movement manifesto On Civil Government, that our allegiance should be to the Kingdom of God. He maintained that Christians should not vote. The leaders of the world might be “agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer,” but this doesn’t mean that we should be involved with them. Render unto Caesar and have done.