voting questions
Well, here we go again. It’s an election year, and all eyes are on our nation’s capital. This year’s race to the White House has been anything but usual. We’ve seen an assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, and the upheaval in the Secret Service and F.B.I. that followed. Shortly thereafter, America’s current president, Joe Biden, stepped out of the race after days of intense pressure to remove himself. It’s been a tumultuous and historic few weeks to be sure.
For many months, Americans assumed that either Donald Trump or Joe Biden would be elected to a second term. Now, with President Biden out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Irrespective of November’s outcome, the 2024 election is undoubtedly one that will be remembered for generations to come. Given the level of polarization in our country, this is going to be a hotly contested election that will likely be filled with many more twists and turns.
November may seem like a long way off, but as we enter August it’s time to start thinking biblically about the choice we will be making at the ballot box this fall. Every election is important; therefore, I will refrain from using the typical hollow cliché of “the most important election ever.” This is, however, a pivotal time for our country. All elections matter. And so does your vote.
No, I won’t be telling you who to vote for. I have something far more important in mind. Instead, I want to help you develop a grid through which you should evaluate the candidates you choose to vote for this November. Whether the election is local or national, Christians must do their best to vote according to biblical values. I encourage you to worry less about party affiliation, and more about substance and the direction each candidate will steer our cities, states, and nation. Elections have consequences, and sometimes these consequences impact our nation—to our betterment or to our demise—for decades.
There are many passages of Scripture that come to bear on political matters, but for this article I want to draw your attention to only one. In Romans 13:1-7 we read:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
There is much that could be written about these verses. But for the moment, let’s quickly consider three basic observations. First, Paul says that civil government is established by God. Therefore, it’s our responsibility as Christian citizens to obey our civil government. As Thomas Schreiner writes, “Believers express their commitment to God in how they relate to rulers and the law of the state.”[1] Second, civil government is provided by God for the protection of a society’s citizens by restraining evil and rendering just punishment for those who commit crimes. Those in authority have the God-given responsibility to provide order to society, restrain evil, encourage what is good, promote human flourishing, and punish those who commit evil acts. While some governments are inefficient, anarchy is far worse. The book of Judges certainly illustrates this truth. As theologian Wayne Grudem writes, “Where there is no ruler, sinful people make up their own morality and soon begin to do terrible things to one another.”[2] Third, civil government has the right to levy taxes on its citizens. The establishment and administration of a tax system derives from a legitimate set of duties given to civil authorities as servants of God. Even the pagan government that crucified Jesus had the right to collect taxes and its citizens had a legal and moral obligation to pay them. As Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). Like it or not, collecting taxes is a legitimate function of government.
From a biblical perspective, we see that human government has a legitimate role in the world. Governments are called to provide structure to society and to promote what is good. As Americans, we thankfully have the privilege and responsibility of civil involvement through the election process. Unlike many other nations in the world, we have the opportunity to vote for candidates we believe are capable of running our government. As Christians, living in a democracy, I believe we have a responsibility to be politically informed and at a bare minimum to steward our right to vote. God may call some Christians to assume a greater role in government, but every believer should at least exercise their right to vote. Christianity should have an influence over the cultural values promoted by civil authorities, but when we fail to vote we often forfeit the opportunity to influence the policies and laws our government will establish.
In most elections, there are very few, if any, Christians on the ballot. While this is disappointing, this does not excuse Christians from participating in the electoral process. In every election, regardless of who is on the ballot and their claimed religious affiliation, Christians must support candidates that hold moral and political positions that are consistent with biblical teaching.
But the question remains, what kind of governmental leaders should Christians vote for? What issues should they prioritize? How do we discern which candidates will legislate in a way that is most consistent with biblical values? How do we choose candidates that will align with the Bible’s concept of government? These are not always easy questions to answer; but there are some questions we can ask ourselves that will guide our decision making process.
Below are fifteen questions for your consideration. While you may not like all of these questions, please don’t dismiss them too quickly. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but I believe it is one that can help us think through how we should vote in November. Reading Dr. Wayne Grudem’s book, Politics According to the Bible, motivated me to write this list of questions. Because there are no perfect political candidates, no one will ever score perfect marks on all of these questions. Nonetheless, answering these questions should help you discern which candidates would govern in a way that is most consistent with Scripture and biblical values. I purposefully left out any direct reference to Scripture in these questions so you can think through each one on your own without my direct influence. My reference point behind each question, however, is God’s word.
Before choosing to vote for someone, ask: does the candidate I’m considering voting for exhibit genuine:
1. Respect for the dignity of all people?
2. Regard for personal freedom that honors individual rights in matters such as speech, religion, family, and labor?
3. Appreciation for the importance of traditional marriage, family, and community?
4. Interest in developing an economy that promotes personal responsibility, provides opportunities for work, and invests in human flourishing?
5. Compassion for the poor and the weak that will offer assistance to those in genuine need?
6. Esteem for individual and civil generosity?
7. Desire to provide protection for all people, including the unborn?
8. Commitment to global diplomacy and a strong national defense?
9. Determination to offer financial or military assistance to other nations as needed by maintaining a strong presence in the world?
10. Intention of levying fair and reasonable taxes?
11. Devotion to stewarding the world’s natural resources?
12. Concern for maintaining the rule of law?
13. Resolve to hold those who break the law accountable and to render judgment that is proportionate to the crime?
14. Dedication to fiscal responsibility when setting a local, state, or federal budget?
15. Willingness to govern with honesty, compassion, integrity, dedication, and zeal while faithfully serving under the authority of the Constitution of the United States of America?
I have heard many people comment that they are planning to skip voting in the presidential election this year because they are not in favor of either candidate. This was particularly true when President Biden was still in the race. Honestly, I understand the sentiment. The political process in our nation has become childish, uncivil, unprofessional, and repulsive. Media outlets fan the flames of controversy to improve ratings. Politicians behave like adolescents to grow their audience. Conspiracy theorists create drama through their speculative ideas to gain notoriety. In the process, many average Americans are left disgusted by it all.
I get it. I really do.
As Christians, we must remember that our ultimate citizenship is in God’s kingdom. But it’s also important to remember that our heavenly Father keeps us in this fallen world to be salt and light. Voting is admittedly only one way to influence the direction of our nation, but it is an important one. By God’s grace, the United States of America holds elections to determine who will serve in political office. It is our civil duty to participate. It is also our moral responsibility to vote in such a way that God will be glorified and His values will be legislated to the greatest degree possible in an increasingly secularizing government. Your vote really does make a difference, so exercise it with wisdom. Be salt and light by voting for candidates based on where they stand on the issues essential to our society’s existence. Vote for politicians who are unwaveringly committed to moral and political positions that are consistent with biblical principles.
God ordained human government for the good of humanity. As temporary citizens of this world, we must do all we can to ensure that God’s blueprint for civil government is followed. And this November, you can help accomplish this goal by voting for candidates who are willing to stand for righteousness and human flourishing. Be salt and light by voting for officials who will use their positions of authority to serve this great nation with dignity, honor, and righteousness for the collective good of the nation rather than for special interest groups or their own glory.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “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” (2:1-2). Pray for our leaders. Pray for those running for political office. Pray for our nation. And use your vote this election season to be salt and light in this dark and twisted age.
[1] Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998), 677.
[2] Wayne Grudem, Politics According to the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 78.