Jesus Would Vote 2 of 4

The very political document that constitutes our nation presupposes that religion would be part of political and public life. You see, a good reason our Pledge of Allegiance contains the phrase “One nation Under God.” There is a good reason that The Declaration of Independence speaks of the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God and the certain unalienable Rights endowed on them by their Creator. And do you know what that reason was? Our forefathers really believed that not only religion and politics were to work hand in hand, but they went so far as to declare that the Christian faith was indispensable in the political realm. Some, like Daniel Webster (known as the defender of the Constitution) believed that a “prerequisite for all judges be Christians of high esteem.”

Read what they wrote and you’ll discover that most of our founding fathers would scoff at the very idea that politics and religion don’t mix? They believed that our nation was established with the help of God. And they expressed their conviction that as believers, they needed to be involved in the working of their nation.

Now, it’s time to ask ourselves, what would Jesus do in an election year? That really is an important question because months from now, the American people will elect its next president. The people of not only North Carolina, but other states as well will elect their representatives for public office. So this is an issue to be confronted soon. What would Jesus do in an election year? First of all, I believe Jesus would vote…and have us vote too.

Does not the Bible say obey the government, for God is the one who put it there? All governments have been placed in power by God. Does not Romans 13:1 indicate that God is the source of political governments? He not only establishes the rulers…but also the way the government rules and operates. That means that the democratic system of government God placed in America. And since our system allots individual citizens to participate in choosing their leaders, Christians not only have a national right to vote…they have a God given responsibility to be involved and vote in the system God ordained.

This day, I ask you, is America struggling with its own moral identity? Yes, we are. I think that is due, in part, because many Christians do not understand that voting is not just a political privilege and right. It is also an expression of our faith…because it is a stewardship issue. Remember the parable of the talents in Matt 25? It is my opinion, too many believers have chosen to bury their talents in the ground and do nothing with it, by not voting.

The philosopher Plato said: “The penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves.”  We cannot continue to allow false ideologies to fill the vacuum created by our lack of voice and involvement.

The great evangelist of the 19th century, Charles Finney once wrote: The church must take right ground in regard to politics. Politics are a part of a religion in a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God...He will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.”