The Trumpet Sounds: How should a Christian vote?

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If there’s ever been a time for the church to stand strong it’s today. We must stand strong whether it’s with or without support from our political leaders.

As you look back at history, you’ll see times when God has given nations the leaders they deserved, and at other times leaders that came up lacking. However, regardless of the leader, the church must remain faithful to its calling. One thing for sure is that we should never give the impression that one party or another is the “Christian party.” We must be able to say to Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and everyone in between, that unless you believe in Jesus you will be eternally separated from God. We must pray that our candidates believe in God, and that their belief means something to them and their policies. At a minimum, they ought to be convinced that our laws are to be derived from God, both through the writings of Scripture and natural law.

So how should a Christian vote? Below, is a list of seven biblical issues. In the midst of negative ads and campaign hype, I encourage you to vote for the candidate who best represents these issues. Before you vote, take some time to run your candidate through these biblical issues, and you will be given biblical guidance as you cast your ballot. Whether we are enthusiastic about our political candidates or disappointed with our choices, we should never ignore our duty as good Christian citizens.

In my opinion, as a Christian we should vote for the person who best represents our convictions on the following issues:

1. Character and integrity:

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn…The king by judgment establishes the land but he that receives gifts overthrows it…If a ruler listens to lies, all his servants are wicked” (Proverbs 29:2, 4, 12).

2. Sanctity of human life—abortion, stem cell research using human embryos:

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13).

3. Same-sex marriage or civil unions among same-sex couples:

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).

4. Freedom for religious speech:

“So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:18-20).

5. Racial equality:

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26).

“…and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God” (Revelation 5:9-10).

6. National Security:

“And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:8-9).

7. Taxation and government spending:

“We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards…we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards” (Nehemiah 5:4-5).

Understand whether your preferred candidate wins or loses, we have a God-given responsibility to pray for our leaders and support them in whatever way we can. Paul, addressing the Romans when Nero was on the throne, wrote, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).”

Let us all vote with prayer, and may we all seek wisdom from God. This Sunday at South Side we will continue our sermon series, “The Fruit Filled Life,” taken from Galatians 5:22-23. We would love to have you and your family worship with us this Sunday at 10:45!

In Christ,

Barry Pettit

Lead Minister

South Side Church of Christ

www.southsidewch.com

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By Barry Pettit

Religion Columnist

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