I have some great, godly deacons. At our last deacons meeting, I was asked to write a letter to the members of the congregation relating to the upcoming elections...not to endorse a candidate, but to talk about the kinds of values that should guide the Christian when they vote. The following is the letter I sent out...
If your head feels like it is spinning, you might want to wait before calling your doctor. You might not need an MRI or a CT scan. It’s very possible that nothing is wrong with you physically. It could be the dizzying barrage of political commentary, advertisements, polls, automated calls, signs, bumper stickers and rallies that come with an intense election cycle.
Yet as frantic as this season has been, we as Christians nevertheless have an obligation to be the salt of the earth, and that means that we are to promote godly values and reject ungodly values. While the Bible does not tell us what party or candidate to vote for, the Bible does give us values that should shape our decisions, including the ones we make in the ballot box. I fear that many Christians have little or no idea about the values that should shape a believer when they vote. So would you please allow me to share a few values that should guide you?
CHARACTER
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2
This is a spiritual law that is as real as the law of gravity. If the “righteous,” or those who walk rightly before God, are in authority, God’s blessings will come, resulting in the people rejoicing. However, if we elect “the wicked,” thinking that character doesn’t matter, only how a candidate will impact our 401k, portfolio or tax rate, the Bible says that we will mourn.
LIFE
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah 1:5
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Proverbs 31:8
“Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
Proverbs 24:11
The Bible could not be more clear. Life is sacred, including life within the mother’s womb and including the aged on death’s doorstep. As Christians, we are commanded by God to protect life, particularly the lives of those who cannot defend themselves.
Let me quote Ed Young Jr., pastor of Fellowship Church.
"We're taking the lives of 3,200 babies a day -- taking the lives of developing babies -- when you'll get thrown in prison and pay an astronomical fine if you disturb the eggs of developing sea turtles."
I couldn’t say it better myself. God help us if we have the ability as Christian voters to stop the destruction of millions of unborn children and do not do so because we selfishly care more about the size of the next stimulus package. As Christians, we are not to be governed by money, nor should our vote be as well.
FAMILY
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24
God created the family. God created marriage. God created sex. These are not man’s inventions, but God’s. We must consider a candidate’s views of the institutions created by God Himself and family is the first one He created. We must consider a candidate’s views on gay marriage, for example. If the definition of marriage is rewritten because a handful of judges nominated by those we elect overturn the laws of the land, it will only be a matter of time until we see our society unraveling.
While we do not endorse candidates at First Baptist Church, we do speak on issues, including political issues, in which the Bible speaks. This is also completely within the law. And I have no hesitation saying that every Christian who takes Scripture seriously should vote in favor of Amendment Two, placing traditional marriage within the Florida constitution.
WORLDVIEW
This may be the most important value to consider, because it serves as the foundation for the others. Does the candidate believe in absolute truth? If so, why? If not, why not? How does the candidate decide what is right and wrong? Does the candidate believe in right and wrong? Jesus said “I am…the truth.” (John 14:6) If Jesus is the truth, then we cannot say that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Truth is not relative. How a candidate views the world, including truth, the existence of evil, the basis of morality, etc. will impact almost every other position.
There are other values that you should consider, but if a candidate is solid on these four, he/she will probably be solid on others as well. I am not interested in telling you who to vote for, because I believe that God is most interested in what values you bring with you into the ballot box, whether they be Biblical or just plain selfish. I encourage you to vote. But I caution you, whatever you do, never vote based upon your wallet. If you vote for a candidate based upon your wallet and not upon Biblical values, you will give an account before God.
Let me close by passing along the advice that Jethro gave Moses in Exodus 18.
“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”
Exodus 18:21
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