Before I was a believer I was obsessed with politics. Now, I don’t understand all of the interest Christians have in election politics.
It’s remarkable really. If you go into most evangelical churches around election time, you are instructed that it is imperative that you vote republican. Conversely, in a progressive church you are told that voting democratic is virtually a life and death matter.
In Romans 13:1, the bible tells us that “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
Most believers are certain that this means we must take an active role in our democratic system. I’m convinced that it’s just the opposite. Maybe the verse means exactly what it says. God picks our leaders in His own time for His own designs and purposes. Don’t worry about it. Whether 60 people vote or 60 million, the results will be as He ordains.
A verse from Daniel (NIV) confirms this for me: “…the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men” (4:17).
God reserves the best leaders for Himself in His church. Why choose to help rule over a corrupt temporal government when one can help the Lord save souls instead by living and preaching the gospel to the fullest?
Expecting the government to do the heavy lifting of changing hearts by changing laws is wrong. This is not the way the gospel was meant to be spread; something we are all expected to do. Change hearts first and the leaders and laws will follow. Any other plan would be taking the easy way out.
If you don’t vote, don’t complain? That’s not in my bible. That sounds more like our material world experiences talking not the Spirit. Everyone has a God-given perogative to speak their mind. And if you don’t vote perhaps you are freer to do so without any bias.
The fact of the matter is that almost without fail our political leadership, of both parties, is woefully lacking. Almost no politicians, except perhaps a small few, are irreplaceable. For the average person on the street their lives are virtually indistinguishable no matter which party is in charge. Common sense solutions for serious problems are ignored for stupid selfish and colloquial reasons.
No one is articulating a complete clear and coherent set of policies designed to make the world a better place to live; and this is because none of our candidates or elected officials is fully living or preaching the gospel. If any truthfully were, they might be worth voting for.
The answer/solution is simple: God is love.
