How Shall I Vote as a Christian?

How do you plan to vote in November? Are you picking your candidate purely by political party preference? Are you picking your candidate purely by campaign promises? Are you picking your candidate through your Christian values?

We are all familiar with the phrase “Do not discuss religion or politics.” This phrase seems to be as American as baseball and fireworks on the Fourth of July. But, where does this phrase come from? Can we, in fact, discuss religion and politics?

It is likely that the phrase “Do not discuss religion or politics” began in 1947. Prior to 1947, public discussion of politics and religion was widespread, and it was primarily peaceful, unlike on today’s social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook. As Americans discussed politics and religion back then, each person listened, and people typically found common ground. So, what caused this change to begin in 1947?

The change began following the U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision called “Everson v. Board of Education,” which decided that politics and religion should remain separate. One of the exhibits brought up in its decision was President Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut from January 1, 1802 in which Jefferson wrote about a “wall of separation” between church and state. So, this “wall of separation” is not supported by the Constitution of the United States, but is instead supported by a letter from a man who had no dealings with the Constitution, since at the time he was serving as the American Ambassador to France. So from 1947 to today, our education system has indoctrinated generations of people to believe that religion and politics should remain separate.

The result of this landmark decision eventually got the American people getting the idea that even Christians should not be taught how to vote, even according to the faith that we are to live day in and day out. Afterall, voting is the ultimate exercise in individual choice and the expression of personal opinion.

But, should we, as Christians, vote in a certain way? How shall I vote as a Christian? Is there ever a time when we shouldn’t vote, because of our Christian faith?

As Christians, we should always have the Ten Commandments in mind and what these Commandments collectively mean, according to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

So, when we vote, we are first to love the Lord your God. What does this mean? As Martin Luther puts it, “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” So, when you vote, are you trusting in the one true God, or are you putting your trust in the politician to be your earthly savior? So, how does the one true God want His flock to vote? God wants us to vote for people, principles and platforms that will uphold and advance His justice in the world.

But, just as the Jewish lawyer asked Jesus, we may ask the same question today: “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)

Our neighbor is not just the family who lives next door. Instead, our neighbor is everyone we come into contact with in our daily life. Our neighbor is everyone on the face of the earth. As we care for our neighbor, we are to think of them as Jesus thinks of us. We are to think of our neighbor and their salvation. Of course, their salvation is found in the same place as our salvation: in Jesus Christ alone. So, when we vote, as well as visit our neighbor, we are to proclaim God the Father’s saving grace that is found only in Jesus Christ. Now, this is where voting gets hard, since there is no perfect candidate. Instead, we have to choose from flawed candidates. And, oftentimes, we have to choose between “the lesser of two evils.” So, what should we look for when we vote as a Christian?

First, where does the candidate stand on the sanctity of life? As Christians, we believe that all lives are precious from conception to life’s natural end. This means that Christians should not vote for politicians who support abortion and physician-assisted suicide. As God’s Word says in Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Second, where does the candidate stand on marriage? As Christians, we believe that marriage was created by God as the one-flesh lifelong union of a man and a woman for their mutual help and joy and for the procreation and nurturing of children. This man and woman enter into marriage by the public promise to live faithfully together until death. This means that Christians should vote for politicians who uphold the holy estate of marriage as being between one male and one female. From Mark 10:6-9, Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two by one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Third, where does the candidate stand on welfare? As Christians, we believe that we are to care for those who are truly in need. However, Christians are not to be enablers to those who are able-bodied and refuse to work. As God’s Word says in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12: “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

Fourth, where does the candidate stand on the First Amendment? The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; of the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” As Christians, we have the right to worship the one true God – the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – without restrictions placed upon the church by the government. This means that we should not vote for a politician who promises to restrict Christ’s Church from proclaiming His Law and Gospel, in meeting together, and in receiving His Means of Grace (Baptism, hearing God’s Word proclaimed, and the Lord’s Supper). As God’s Word says in Acts 2:42-44: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

At the same time, a part of me does think that religious persecution may be a good thing to wake up Christians in America. After all, the Christian Church – especially the Lutheran Church – is growing through persecution in Africa and Asia, due to persecution from Islam and anti-Christian governments. But, we as Christians, should not vote to persecute ourselves.

Could there be a time when a Christian should not vote in order to remain faithful? No! Voting is not just a mere right or privilege. Voting is in fact a holy obligation. Voting is our vocation. Voting is our calling. Voting is a vocation given by God to each Christian citizen, so we need to vote.

So, before you vote in November, research what each politician believes. As Christians, we should all vote with our Christian values in mind. So, when you vote, vote for the candidate who you believe would best please God and help and support your neighbor.

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen