Why Vote?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro:
I want to take our last few minutes this morning and share with you why it is essential for Christians to participate in the electoral process.
Two days from now, a decision will be made that will shape the course of our nation for years to come. As we stand on the brink of this election, we are confronted with contrasting visions that go far beyond policy and politics; they touch on the very soul of who we are as a society. Each candidate embodies a different set of principles and priorities that speak to the deep divides and hopes of our nation.
As Christians, our primary allegiance and devotion, our highest duty and responsibility, are to the Kingdom of God. As followers of Christ, we are citizens of heaven—a kingdom that is eternal and unshakable.
At the same time, we are also citizens of the United States. We live within a constitutional republic founded on the powerful words, “We the people.” God has entrusted us, as Americans, with the unique opportunity and privilege to participate in choosing our leaders.
Meat:
I want to give you a few reasons as to why you should vote in this election and really in any election that you are you able… …
I don’t have a main passage today, but we will look at several Scriptures in the next few minutes, because the Bible is not silent when it comes to government or elections…
Scripture tells us that God ordained civil government to be His servant for our good....
(Read Romans 13:1-4)
Not every leader promotes the common good, and not every authority acts justly or in accordance with God's design… If they did, then the world would be a much nicer place to live…
When government does not serve its God given purpose, the nation starts down the road of corruption… As Christians, we are called to be vigilant, advocating for leaders and policies that reflect God’s standards.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
I generally don’t use a paraphrase version of Scripture, but one version gets the point across…
Proverbs 14:34 (MSG)
34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves a nation weak.
In this election, there is a visible and audible declaration from one side that those who believe that Jesus is Lord or that Christ is King, those who are devoted to God, are not welcome in their vision of the future.
And yet on the other side we see and hear a declaration of God’s Sovereignty… Now, please don’t misunderstand me… I have no idea where any of the candidates are in their relationships with Christ… I can take an educated guess, but it is between them and God.
But what I am trying to get across to you today is;… There is one side that is all for avoiding anything that has to do with God… and there is one side that accepts those who are devoted to God and openly live out their convictions.
Voting...
Let’s get into some reasons to vote… First of all… Voting…
1. Is an Act of Stewardship
1. Is an Act of Stewardship
In Matthew chapter 25, you will find the parable of the talents that Jesus used in His teachings…
This parable tells the story of a master who goes on a journey and entrusts his three servants with different amounts of money (talents) according to their abilities. The first servant receives five talents, the second receives two, and the third receives one. The first two servants invest their talents and double what they were given. The third servant, however, buries his single talent out of fear and does nothing with it.
When the master returns, he praises the first two servants for their faithfulness and says…
Matthew 25:21 “… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
However, he rebukes the third servant for his laziness and fear, calling him wicked and unfaithful. The master takes the one talent from the third servant and gives it to the one who has ten, declaring that those who use their gifts wisely will be given more, while those who do not will lose even what they have.
As Americans, our vote is one of our (quote on quote) “talents,” a responsibility given to us by God and if we want to be good stewards of what God has given to us then we need to exercise our right and ability to vote.
Secondly… Voting…
2. Affects Everyone
2. Affects Everyone
With concern about election integrity, some might ask, “Does my vote really matter?” In recent years, more elections than ever are being decided by the slimmest of margins… some even by less than 10 votes… and the results of these votes affect everyone.
Often we are reminded through news stories how the actions of government officials affect our freedom to live according to our faith… When laws are enacted that infringe upon religious expression or prioritize certain ideologies over others, it becomes crucial for us as believers to remain vigilant and engaged.
We are called to advocate for policies that uphold our rights to worship, share the Gospel, and live out our faith in every area of life.
I believe this is why the Apostle Paul tells young Timothy…
1 Timothy 2:1–4 “1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
We find here that our prayers for the government officials are directed toward the goal of being able to share our faith without fear of harassment.
Even if we feel we are faced with difficult choices between candidates, our vote can still play a crucial role in halting the overall decline of our nation. Every ballot cast is an opportunity to influence the direction we want to see, even in challenging circumstances.
And when I say that voting affects everyone, don’t just mean those who are alive during the time of the vote… I mean that it also affects the future generations of our Nation.
Our children and our children’s children are affected by how we vote and by the actions taken by officials we elect- or by judges who are appointed by elected officials (Such as the Judges of our Supreme Court).
We must also remember that we have an impact on our children not just with our vote, but with our example.
This goes back to being a good steward…
James 1:22 “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only… ”
By participating in elections, we demonstrate our commitment to the teachings of Christ, taking tangible steps to influence our society for good. Showing the next generation that voting is not just about selecting a candidate; it’s about being a responsible steward of the freedoms and opportunities we have been given.
There are many other reasons that we as believers are to vote, but I will give you one last one… and this can be seen as a reason, but it is also a major guideline to use… … Voting…
3. Biblically is Essential
3. Biblically is Essential
There are many items that we could focus on and give a biblical perspective of each one… but there are 2 major ones that will be directly affected by the outcome of this election.
The first one, of course, is the issue Abortion… … I can spend, probably and hour, giving you Scriptures and principles from it that show that abortion is murder and an abomination to God… but I will just give this one…
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
We are to… “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… ”
One side in this election has focused roughly (I would say) 95% of their campaign speeches and advertisements on promising to advocate for unrestricted abortion rights.
While God’s Word instructs us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, we have a political party aiming to fast-track policies that eliminate the most vulnerable who have no voice.
I get that neither party is currently pursuing a total abortion ban, however, one is definitely pushing for significantly fewer restrictions and broader access to abortion, making it a key part of their platform.
And then the other major issue that I see has to do with Israel… For years, we have been Israel’s strongest ally. However, in the past 4 years, we have seen shifts in our foreign policy that have raised questions about the strength and consistency of that alliance, with moments of tension and changes in support that could impact our longstanding relationship.
Israel has been at war for the past year with the terrorist groups of Hamas and Hezbollah… and instead of helping with the problem, we actually hindered Israel from dealing with it quickly and precisely… and whats even worse, is the fact that our nation was more concerned with helping the terrorists… who, I should mention would kill Americans just as brutally and quickly as they killed the Jews.
When God established the Nation of Israel through Abraham, He made Abraham a promise…
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
As of late, our current administration has been more of curse to Israel than a blessing… … And folks, this promise that God made to Abraham, didn’t die with Abraham… it is still valid today and God will always stay true to His Word.
So we have a decision to make… … On the one side is a party who will continue to be a curse to Israel as they have done in the past… and on the other side is a party who will stand beside Israel as they have done in the past…
Closing:
Let me end with this: I am deeply concerned about the upcoming election, but I am not afraid. God remains in control, and no president will come into office outside of His plan. God is always at work and never caught off guard, even when people choose to reject Him. The same holds true for political outcomes. Regardless of what happens, I have confidence that God will maintain His sovereignty, as the Bible assures us.
Daniel 2:21 “… He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.”
Prayer:
- May we be good stewards with our ability to vote
May we vote in a way that will have a positive affect on the generations to come
May we vote in accordance to the Scripture the God has given to us.
No matter the outcome, help us to trust in Your Sovereignty.