Thursday, April 22, 2010

Christians and Voting - A Duty

It is imperative for everyone, who is eligible, to vote. However, it is more important for Christians to do a better job of getting to the polls and voting for the best candidates.

There are currently 13,023,358 registered voters in Texas. Less than 17% of those registered voted in the March Primary.

It is time to put Brown County on the election map for every candidate; local, district and statewide. The only way to do this is for us to vote in large numbers. My wife and I voted on Monday during early voting while on our lunch break, we were numbers 4 & 5. The polls had been open since 7AM that morning. The location to vote in Brown County is Adams Street Community Center.

Christian voting patterns from 1992 – 2000 were dismal to say the least. There was a 40% decrease in Christians who voted. In the 2002 election, following the dramatic drop in 1992-2000, national evangelical leaders widely urged Christians to register, vote, and vote their values. The national efforts showed a 2% increase in Christian voter turnout which resulted in dramatic improvements.

We, as Christians, are to shape and transform culture. Our light is to shine before others so that they may see our good works and give glory to God. Christians are to be transformers of society, salt of the earth and the light of the world. God does not want us to just get saved and then sit on a pew, sing our bless me songs and not be engaged in this world.

Nationwide, approximately one-half of Christians who are eligible to vote are registered. Only one-half of registered Christians actually vote. This means only 25% of eligible Christians actually vote. If that number was increased by only 10%, Christians would be elected to virtually every office in America.

I believe it is not only our duty, but our honor to vote and to vote for Christians. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Well then, do we want to rejoice or do we want to mourn? It is our choice.

As citizens of earth, as well as of heaven, we cannot complain about the political leaders we have, nor the decisions they make, unless we are willing to elect men and women of integrity who support policies that restrain evil and reinforce goodness. For Christians to make a difference in this world, as salt and light, they need to be involved in the political process, both by voting and by encouraging qualified men and women to enter the vocation of politics.

We simply cannot escape by pointing out the imperfections of leaders.

Our calling in this world is not to wait for the perfect candidate to be placed on the ticket, but to pick our way through the thicket of flaws we find in a Genesis 3 world by walking in wisdom and voting for imperfect candidates who best reflect a biblical worldview.

Political decisions affect every aspect of our lives from taxation to issues such as stem-cell research, abortion, marriage, the family, war and economic policies. God has commanded us to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find welfare” (Jer. 29:7).

The apostle Paul writes: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Praying for the welfare of our city and for our leaders is being involved in politics. If Christians would spend more time praying to our Father in heaven with broken hearts rather than murmuring and criticizing our political leaders while failing to pray for them, we could see God transform this nation.

Christians are to be a positive, godly influence in their communities.

When you walk into the voting booth, the kingdom of God will not be on the ballot. However, there will be electoral choices that significantly impact the common good. And your choices are important. May you enter the voting booth and make your selections for the glory of God and the good of your fellow man.

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