Should I Vote?
Every Christian has the opportunity to be involved in the governance of the United States of America. Here are some helpful tools to help you make wise and informed choices in the upcoming November 5, 2024, elections.
Presidential Election -
Trump vs Harris: CLICK HERE
Local, State, and Federal
Elections Guide: CLICK HERE
Watch the Sermon:
Should I Vote? CLICK HERE
(or scroll to bottom)
Why Should I Vote?
Voting as a Christian can sometimes be hard. We have so many questions and are unsure of who to vote for or even why we should vote. The following are some answers to some common objections. Hopefully, these will enlighten and encourage you to vote.
Why Vote? Politics are ugly
Let’s say you’re in a conversation and someone says, “Why should I vote? Politics are ugly, and God is sovereign no matter who is in office.” What would you say? Here are three things to consider as to why voting matters.
#1. The Freedom to impact the government through voting is rare throughout history and in many countries today. While it is true, God is in control and determines governments (Romans 13:1-7), we should vote because most people did not experience what we have today. In fact, today, only about 4 out of 10 people live today in a fully “free” society where they can impact the government through voting. We are privileged to have been born into a country like America. Scripture tells us to be good stewards of what we have. Luke 12:48 says, to whom much is given, much is required. Squandering this gift isn’t just apathy, it's ungratefulness.
#2. Governments require maintenance. We should vote for the same reason we mow our lawn or tune a car. Things can get out of control and wild if we don’t take care of or fix things. If the biblical worldview doesn’t correct and maintain the government, our country will devolve into lawlessness.
#3. A well-maintained government makes life better for everyone. Ideas are not neutral. When bad ideas of how to run the government take root, people get hurt. By voting, we can help correct these mistakes. Babies get to live. Parents get to raise their children without fear of the government taking them if they don’t teach a certain worldview. People get to speak freely without the government silencing them. Communities that would be unsafe are able to thrive. Voting is NOT like picking an ice cream flavor. It has life and death implications. We can tangibly impact other people’s lives for good. Therefore, we should not be indifferent.
WHY VOTE? My Vote Doesn't matter
Let’s say you’re in a conversation and someone says, “Why should I vote? One vote doesn’t matter, so I’m not voting? What would you say? This logic is faulty for several reasons.
#1. One vote matters a lot in local elections. There is more at stake than what happens in the White House. State representatives and school board elections are usually only decided by a few hundred votes. There are also ballot measures that determine local and state laws, from utilities, to transportation, to restrictions on abortion. These make a bigger difference on our lives than most national elections.
#2. When lots of people decide their vote doesn’t matter, it makes a big difference. In 2020, 240 million people were eligible to vote. However, only 168 million were registered to vote. And only 158 million actually voted for the President. That means 82 million people chose not to vote. Those people could have changed who became President of the United States. Joe Biden only received 81 million votes, or 34% of those who were eligible to vote. This is true on state and local elections. Most things are NOT decided by the majority of voters because there is never a majority who vote. It is decided by whoever shows up. It is more about participation instead of majority decision making.
#3. Voting is an act of stewardship. Roman 13 tells us that the government was created by God to punish evil and reward the good. That means the government that is a Democratic Republic, where the citizens elect representatives through voting, we are part of the government. To fulfill Romans 13, we must then exercise the authority given to us to fulfill the biblical worldview of the government, which is to punish evil and reward the good. This means doing our “homework” about the candidates and issues on the ballot. And then accepting our responsibility to vote. It is a good we can do. The outcomes of elections are outside our control, but we can influence it for good. We are a good steward of our time and power when we vote in our American Republic.
WHY VOTE? I Don't Like Either Candidate
Well, maybe you are convinced that you should vote and that your vote does count, but you don’t like either candidate. So, you say, “Why should I vote? I don’t like either candidate.” We don't always have the opportunity to vote for a candidate that we completely agree with or even like. When you feel this way, here are three things to consider.
#1. Look at voting as hiring someone for a job, not liking them on social media. A vote doesn’t always mean “I think they are great.” It may just mean, “I think they are better.” Voting is not “liking” a candidate on Facebook or Instagram. Instead, voting is more like hiring someone for a job. You may not have the ideal worker, but the job still needs to be filled. Therefore, you review the applicants and pick the best one for the job that has values similar to our biblical worldview. The same is true when we are voting.
#2. Vote for the best policies when deciding on the people. The character of a person matters, but if both candidates character traits are poor, then we must look at what policies they endorse. Does one candidate support life of unborn children more than the other candidate? Does one support helping the needy more than the other candidate? When voting where all the candidates are flawed, we can gain clarity by looking at the issues.
#3. Vote for the best team. No politician works alone. Look at the team surrounding the candidate and see if they align with our biblical worldview more than the other team. Think of it as a basketball team. If neither coach is ideal, what are the other players on the team like? For example, the President appoints cabinet members and judges. It is important to consider who he or she would appoint.
Voting is not easy, and we are often in a position to pick a candidate who doesn’t fit all of our ideal criteria. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t vote if you don’t like either candidate.
(NOTE: much from these questions and answers were contributed from www.whatwouldyousay.org. Please check out this website for more Christians thoughts on critical issues in our society.)
Should I Vote
Find out the biblical reasons as to why you should vote
and get answers to some common objections.
