Should a Christian Vote?

If Jesus walked the earth in bodily form, today, and was a U.S. citizen, would he vote in the upcoming elections?

I believe he would.

I heard recently that an estimated 65 million adult Evangelicals live in the U.S., but only 35 million of them are registered to vote. And of those Evangelicals who are registered, only half will likely turn out to vote in the November elections.

Jesus’ “real kingdom” is “not of this world,” but those who believe in him ought to help improve America by voting and participating in a government that’s still, as far as I know, “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Jesus preached that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” and he promoted (and still promotes) good stewardship, which means taking care of talents, wealth and privileges we possess. Participating in government by voting is a privilege Jesus never got to enjoy during the time between his birth in Bethlehem and his crucifixion at Calvary.

Jesus spoke powerfully about a person’s relationship to government when critics asked him about paying taxes to Rome.

“Tell us, is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?” some disciples of the Pharisees asked Jesus (pardon my paraphrasing).

“You hypocrites!” Jesus said. He asked them to show him some money.

“Whose image and signature is on this coin?” Jesus asked.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Then pay Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give God what belongs to God,” Jesus said (Matthew 22:21).

Some pastors say that direct-from-Jesus command indicates people desiring to follow God should also attempt to be good citizens by participating in the privileges and obligations of government. Could we be shirking part of our God-endorsed duties by staying away from voting booths?

Asked about the ethics of voting, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said, “Part of being a citizen in a society like ours, where we have the privilege of voting, is the responsibility to exercise that privilege. To not do so is to sort of forego that part of what it means to be in a free society, and I think it would be unfortunate.”
Some religious folk may believe voting in an election is a “worldly” activity. An old gospel song contains these words: “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through….”

We’re all “just passing through,” but we shouldn’t neglect our temporal tasks and duties, while we pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven…Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Remember the Good Samaritan? Jesus told this story: Robbers beat a traveler, stripped him and left him for dead. A priest saw the injured man but passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Levite passed by on the other side. Levites were reportedly dedicated to God. Maybe the Levite in this story had religious things to do and could spare no time to help a bloody mess-of-a-man lying on the side of a road.

“But a certain traveling Samaritan came upon the wounded man,” Jesus said, “and when he saw him, he felt compassion.”

(Samaritans were mostly despised and considered “low class” by priests and Levites.)

The Samaritan bandaged the man’s wounds, “put him on his own beast,” carried him to an inn, took care of him and left money with the innkeeper for the man’s further care.

Our American culture is being beaten and bloodied by secular humanism, atheism, socialism and “do your own thing”-ism. Proponents of such philosophies ignore God’s Word as they march toward destruction. Some say God is already judging America.

Let’s not long for the sweet-by-and-by and refuse to deal with, as someone called it, “the nasty now and now.” Let’s feel compassion for our country and help bind up its wounds.

I believe Jesus would vote in our elections if he walked among us, today, in his earthly body, and was a U.S. citizen. I believe he would vote for candidates who support Christian values. I believe we should, too.