Punta Gorda Seventh-day Adventist Church

Average reading time is about 5 and a half minutes

The practice of voting, as we know it today, didn’t exist in Bible times. In Israel the leaders were usually chosen by divine providence. Prophets would be led by God to anoint future kings. Since we no longer live in a theocracy, some Christians believe we should keep our hands completely off of anything that is political. The Bible does not support this point of view.

Christians should recognize the legitimate role of organized governments in society. The apostle Peter gives us some guidelines on this: “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13–17).

Consider the examples of Bible characters involved in government work. Remember the leadership of Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and Mordecai in Medo-Persia. Christians can exert a positive political influence in the world, particularly in the area of guarding religious freedom.

Some people are driven by political parties in their decisions to vote rather than by principle. It would be more in harmony with Scripture to look at issues rather than parties. We should weigh out the issues and choose candidates who might best fulfill moral policies. Even if we are limited in our knowledge about issues, we must prayerfully do our best and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Christ was confronted with an issue over involvement in a secular government that ruled over Palestine. His perceptive response, in the book of Matthew, shows a balance in our responsibility to God and our local governments. And should the two ever come into conflict, the Bible states: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).


KEY BIBLE TEXTS
"They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."