Voting and the Sovereignty of God

I have had numerous discussions with friends concerning my approach to choosing candidates.  I must say that many of them do not see things as I do.  Some have questions that I haven’t answered. But I believe Christians share ultimate common ground when it comes to the key theological issue of the electoral process.  We all, I trust, believe that God is Sovereign in the affairs of man.  Unless we are fully convinced of this we will never be freed to vote according to His plans and purpose.  Let me remind you of some Scriptures.

Dan. 4:35, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’"

Psalm 33:10, “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

Lam. 3:37-38, "Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?"

Psalm 115:3, "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases."

Psalm 135:6, "Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps."

As for who has power to influence executive decisions.  Prov. 21:1, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.”

And for who has arranged the outcome of elections.  Prov. 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

Far from God asking us our opinion or needing our help He is uniquely solitary and supreme in all His acts and decisions.  So the key question, the most important question about voting is this.  Since God is Sovereign why do we or should we even participate in the election process?  Here are some biblical reasons why we must be involved. 

We should understand initially that voting has a higher purpose than simply trying to get our candidate elected.  Based on God’s sovereignty winning is a rather shallow reason for voting.  Yes, God does somehow use us to effect His will.  Just as He uses us to share His Word and the Gospel, He uses us to achieve His other purposes.  That is remarkable in view of who we are.  But we just read verses that explain how unfailing are His plans.  So why do we vote?

1.  Voting is one way we demonstrate love for our neighbors.  The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor.  What a tremendous opportunity we have to demonstrate that we love those around us.  We do that when we vote for candidates who will protect our God-given rights, defend the God-directed Constitution, personally help the poor and needy, promote individual liberty.  We don’t love our neighbor when we participate in harming them economically through unjust taxes, when we support the destruction of God-designed marriage and family, when we encourage the weakening of educational standards and the infringement of religious liberty and the right of free speech.  We love our neighbor when we vote for candidates who cherish all the unborn.  Contrarily, when we vote for a candidate who is willing to let our neighbor’s unborn child be murdered in the womb for any reason we cannot say we love our neighbor. 

2.  Voting is a testimony of our biblical convictions.  If we believe that God has established the basis for morality than we must vote for the candidates who most closely support biblical morality.  Here is very brief sample of biblical morality.  The Bible demands that men who are physically able to work must not eat if they do not work.  2 Thessalonians 3:10  “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” The Bible demands justice in the court.  Proverbs 17:15  “The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent both of them are an abomination to the LORD.”  The Bible condemns homosexuality.  Romans 1:26-27. Although Jesus never condemned war the direction of the New Testament seems clearly against unjust wars.  We must vote for candidates who are heading in the same direction as we are in our convictions.  When we vote we are voicing our support for all of a candidate’s policies, whether or we want to or not.  As far as the candidate is concerned we agree with anything and everything that he or she wants to pursue.  There are no perfect candidates but we must be very careful to side with those who espouse our biblical convictions in areas of liberty and morality.

3.  Voting demonstrates our obedience to government and care for the nation in which we live.  Romans 13 declares that God has ordained all government.  In the case of the United States that government is in the form of a written Constitution ratified by ‘we the people.’  So when we take Romans 13 to heart and subject ourselves to the governing authorities, and all that follows that command, it is not to some elected or appointed official that we submit ourselves but to laws that are Constitutionally approved.  Our God-ordained government is a constitutional republic.  We demonstrate our fealty to that government and our submission to the God who planned it by voting for candidates who mean to keep their oath to defend and protect the Constitution.   Next to Bible the Constitution is the most important political document you need to know.

The candidate who most closely aligns with these points in my view is Constitution Party candidate Virgil Goode.

Finally let me leave you with a familiar proverb that may be overlooked when it comes to voting, but should not be. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  Don’t trust in man, no matter how popular his talk show or ‘conservative’ his network.  Remember that most politicians have one goal- to win the election- and they speak with that in mind.  When you acknowledge the Lord you are intentionally recognizing His authority and purposes, not just identifying His presence.  When you are trusting Him you are obediently giving up your demands and fears to let Him have His way in your life. 

I appreciate your questions and comments.  Please leave them here on this blog.