Does Jesus Expect Me To Vote? Part One

We are weeks away from Election Day in the United States of America. Over the next couple of weeks, we want to address a common question, "Does Jesus expect me to vote?" In this article, we are going to address the history of voting and why voting is unique. In Part Two, we will dig into the Scriptures to see what the Bible says about elections and voting as we seek an answer to our question. Join us for the journey!

As we approach Election Day, you are likely asking some of the following questions.

• ‌What should Christians do on Election Day? ‌
• What does the Bible tell me about my responsibilities before God when it comes to voting? ‌
• Does Jesus expect me to vote?
• ‌How should Christians with a Biblical Worldview deal with elections and voting?‌

Have you been told voting is a civic responsibility or even a Christian responsibility but didn't understand why? As one who is seeking to follow Jesus Christ, you might be wrestling with what to do on Election Day. Should you stay home or should you go vote?‌

Many of you are completely convinced, one way or the other, about how you will deal with matters of voting. No one will change your mind. ‌You have a strong sense of conviction. That's a good thing!

Regardless of where you are in your convictions, if you fit any of the above descriptions, then you can benefit from this discussion. How? By allowing the Bible to check our convictions, we will have confidence to move forward according to God's Word and not simply our opinions. 

In this article, we are going to do our best to answer some of these questions from a Biblical perspective. Knowledge can offer us wisdom to live more zealously for Christ in all areas of life, including politics. We are going to start by taking a look at the history of voting.

‌If you vote this Election Day, whether you lean toward donkeys or elephants or somewhere in between, the process will go something like this. You’ll be given a (digital or paper) ballot prepared by election officials. Next, you’ll fill in circles that represent your choice of candidate. This will all be done in secret. Now, this process is pretty common today, but it would have seemed foreign to our ancestors.

In the early days of the American Experiment, voting was done by “viva voce” or voice voting (1). Gathered in a meeting hall, men would come forward one at a time. They would place their hand upon the Bible and give an oath. After they were sworn in, their name and voiced votes were recorded by a recording clerk in public (2). Talk about a total lack of privacy. Once you proclaimed your vote, everyone knew exactly how you voted.

Australia was the first government to issue paper ballots in an election in 1858. The Australian People were concerned about voter fraud and needed a better way of securing elections (3). Our American ingenuity took thirty years to catch up. New York and Massachusetts were the first states to adopt paper ballots in 1888 (4).

As you can see, the way we hold elections and vote is a very new occurrence in history. That is not to say other civilizations didn’t vote, they did. But not in the same way we do today. For example, some of you will be casting your vote digitally on a touchscreen console. I’m sure our ancestors never thought of that way of voting.

In communist societies, for example, citizens are often allowed to vote. Yet, they can only vote for candidates that have been pre-selected by the ruling factions. The citizens have no real say in who governs them, nor how they are governed.

‌In the case of the United Kingdom, a Constitutional Monarchy. The Monarch is chosen for the people by the royal bloodline. Yet, the people can still vote on other elected officials who do the actual work of governing.

Whereas in Absolute Monarchies, like Saudi Arabia, the King is chosen for the people according to a bloodline. These Kings are granted almost unlimited ruling power.

The Founding Fathers wrote in our  Declaration of Independence  that, "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."

‌Unlike the majority of governing systems, our system of government places the ruling power in the hands of the citizens. The ruling power of our government is granted to our candidates through the trust we display through the ballot box.

From the beginning of the American Experiment, our Founding Fathers understood that to have a free people, the people needed to be the ruling authority. So, they gave us a system where the government only derives its power from the consent of the governed. “ We the people ” are the ruling class. ‌

“We the people” are the ruling class. ‌The right to vote is the one element that allows every citizen a share of the ruling influence.
~M. W. Sullivan

The right to vote is the one element that allows every citizen a share of the ruling influence. This is monumental! Hear me out! This is why the saying “elections have consequences,” came about. Voting is a privilege, but it is also a responsibility. Our founding fathers knew this all too well, and thankfully so.

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was the 7th President of the United States of America. Following his veto of the Bank Renewal Bill, which prevented a federalized banking system, President Jackson said, ‌“It is easy to conceive that great evils to our country and its institutions might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people (5).”

“It is easy to conceive that great evils to our country and its institutions might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people.”
~ President Andrew Jackson

What prevented a concentration of power in our nation that could have held, in Jackson’s own words, “thousands of our citizens in dependence, it would be more formidable and dangerous than the naval and military power of the enemy (6)." What power prevented that from happening in Jackson’s day? The right of the citizens to vote. They chose wisely in placing Jackson in the Presidency. He was able to lead in a way that respected the citizens of America.

Another wise choice made by the citizens was Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th President of the United States of America. President Wilson once said, ‌“The history of Liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the concentration of power, we are resisting the powers of death , because concentration of power is what always precedes the destruction of human liberties (7)."

“The history of Liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the concentration of power, we are resisting the powers of death, because concentration of power is what always precedes the destruction of human liberties.”
~ President Woodrow Wilson

The one thing the Founders were most concerned with is the one thing we should be most concerned with. It is a concentration of power that pulls power away from the people. It will become an oppressive power that President Wilson called the "Powers of Death."

President Theodore Roosevelt feared that we would soon come to live in a day in which we would have to choose between two competing ideologies. He was concerned that our choice would be between whether we were going to advance the cause of Christian civilization or revert to the horrors of brutal paganism (8). He believed that the welfare of our nation rested on “… the average man and woman (9)."

Roosevelt said that if they, “… are honest, capable of sound judgment and high ideals, active in public affairs — but, first of all, sound in their home life, and the father and mother of healthy children whom they bring up well — just so far, and no further, we may count our civilization a success (10).”

Teddy Roosevelt's vision for a healthy family life which actively engages in the public square in order to seek the welfare of all is the heart-cry of ZealousHomes. We long to see Christian homes that are healthy, zealous, and making a difference all over our world.

These elected officials held the opinion that citizens hold a high degree of civic responsibility. To say it differently, citizens of the United States of America share in the ruling power. They also share the responsibility of preventing a concentration of power that would pry the ruling power out of their own hands.

‌Were they correct? ‌

If they are, what does that mean for us? ‌

One of my favorite quotes is from Woodrow Wilson. What he said will hopefully help us to gain some insight to answer that question wisely.

“There are a good many problems before the American people today, and before me as President, but I expect to find the solution to those problems just in the proportion that I am faithful in the study of the Word of God (10).”
~ President Woodrow Wilson

In our next post, we are going to take President Wilson's advice and see what the Scriptures have to say to us to instruct us in how to find the solution to our question. 

Join our Zealous Nation! Let’s begin to offer up a collective prayerful appeal for Christian zeal to begin to permeate our lives, our families, and our churches.

Finally, It is our hope that this article has helped to give you a renewed sense of Christian zeal. So, if our content has added value to your life, please help us out by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, "The Zealous Pursuit." 

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In our next post, PART 2 of this series, we are going to dive into what the Bible says about elections and voting. We are going to take President Wilson's advice and see what the Scriptures have to say to us to instruct us in how to find the solution to our question. 

Don't miss it! 

Until next time, live zealously!

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