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Are Christians To Necessarily Vote?

J

JoReba

Guest
There is within Scripture no command, no suggestion, and no example of any system of citizenry voting as it would relate to civil governance. In fact, Jesus and The Apostles are largely mute on matters of both local and national politics. The only prescribed forms of national governance are human monarchy, acheived either by military power or by Prophetic appointment, and Theocracy by means of The Torah. There is no democratic republic form shown in Scripture.

As far as the placement of rulers is dealt with in Scripture, such matters are clearly shown to be settled by God Himself. This is covered in Romans 13:1-2, I Peter 2:13-14, John 19:10-11, and Daniel Ch. 4. Why then should Christians presume to "vote" into leadership any one, especially as Christians do not agree on who to vote for?

Please answer with facts, rather than with circular logic, obtuse notions, and popularized admonitions from Church.
 
JoReba: I think if someone were to take the view, "I don't trust any of them, so I don't want to make it look like I trust any of them if I vote", there would also be some sound theological backing for this attitude, since presumably Scripture gives us a pessimistic view of human nature, apart from the grace of God.

On the other hand, it can even be technically unlawful in some jurisdictions if someone actively tries to stop people from voting in an election; and, again, there would probably be a Scriptural basis for not incurring the wrath of the authorities by trying to stop people from voting.

(I hope these two cents' make sense.)
 
<SUP>Hi, JoReba .... & welcome to CFnet!</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
<SUP>Since voting would fall into the category of government, the Bible tells us the following:</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
<SUP>Matthew 22: 15-22 (NKJV)</SUP>
<SUP class=versenum></SUP>
<SUP class=versenum>15 </SUP>Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. <SUP class=versenum>16 </SUP>And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. <SUP class=versenum>17 </SUP>Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?â€

<SUP class=versenum>18 </SUP>But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? <SUP class=versenum>19 </SUP>Show Me the tax money.†So they brought Him a denarius.

<SUP class=versenum>20 </SUP>And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?â€

<SUP class=versenum>21 </SUP>They said to Him, “Caesar’s.â€

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.â€

<SUP class=versenum>22 </SUP>When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.


I realize these verses pertain to taxes, but it can include voting in today's world.

Since it is every eligible citizen's responsibility to vote in each election, it is also every eligible voting citizen's responsibility to learn as much as one can about the candidates.

There are some elections that are tougher to make a selection from the slate ... sometimes, it is more of the 'lesser of the two duds'. Not exactly what we would prefer, but that's the reality sometimes.

Does this help?

 
AirDancer said:
<sup>Hi, JoReba .... & welcome to CFnet!</sup>
<sup></sup>
<sup>Since voting would fall into the category of government, the Bible tells us the following:</sup>
<sup></sup>
<sup>Matthew 22: 15-22 (NKJV)</sup>
<sup class="versenum"></sup>
<sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. <sup class="versenum">16 </sup>And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. <sup class="versenum">17 </sup>Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?â€

<sup class="versenum">18 </sup>But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? <sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Show Me the tax money.†So they brought Him a denarius.

<sup class="versenum">20 </sup>And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?â€

<sup class="versenum">21 </sup>They said to Him, “Caesar’s.â€

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.â€

<sup class="versenum">22 </sup>When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.


I realize these verses pertain to taxes, but it can include voting in today's world.

Since it is every eligible citizen's responsibility to vote in each election, it is also every eligible voting citizen's responsibility to learn as much as one can about the candidates.

There are some elections that are tougher to make a selection from the slate ... sometimes, it is more of the 'lesser of the two duds'. Not exactly what we would prefer, but that's the reality sometimes.

Does this help?
Click to expand...

Of course, sometimes the lesser of the two duds, as you say, can be woefully inadequate.
 
Free said:
Followers of Christ ought to vote.
Click to expand...

Free: You see, I think you are stating it rather strongly, maybe. In terms of Romans 14, people should feel free to follow the dictates of their conscience. But I'm not sure I want to tell people 1) I don't trust any of them; 2) but I'm going to trust this or that guy.

I wouldn't tell ppl they mustn't vote, either.
 
farouk said:
Free: You see, I think you are stating it rather strongly, maybe. In terms of Romans 14, people should feel free to follow the dictates of their conscience. But I'm not sure I want to tell people 1) I don't trust any of them; 2) but I'm going to trust this or that guy.

I wouldn't tell ppl they mustn't vote, either.
Click to expand...
I am not so sure that Romans 14 applies, however, yes I did perhaps state it too strongly. Let me put it this way: Followers of Christ should vote; there is no biblical reason not to.
 
Free: What I meant was, some people think they should, others think they shouldn't; the passage says, for a lot of things, 'let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind'.

Another rhetorical question: are the people really sovereign, according to Scripture?

But maybe I'll bow out of the thread now.
 
In terms of Romans 14, people should feel free to follow the dictates of their conscience.
Click to expand...

Farouk, it's true. People are free to do just that.

Yet, if they don't (by choice) exercise their responsibility to vote, they are abdicating that responsibility, and thus silencing their right to complain when they don't agree with what's happening. (It doesn't guarantee they will be silent, tho. )

Because we don't typically know personally the candidates for the DC spots, we do have the responsibility to learn as much as we can about those candidates before we cast those ballots.

A couple of decades ago, I read a study whose results were that people knew more about their favorite pro-sport team than they did the people they were voting for .... a sad commentary of the time.
 
farouk said:
Free: What I meant was, some people think they should, others think they shouldn't; the passage says, for a lot of things, 'let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind'.

Another rhetorical question: are the people really sovereign, according to Scripture?
Click to expand...
I know what you meant by referencing the passage but that passage is speaking of things sacred, not secular. I'm just not so sure we can just extend that verse to cover everything.

What I am saying is that to say Christians shouldn't vote is to create a false dualism between the sacred and secular, as though God cares about the one and not the other. God is concerned about all of life and as followers of Christ who are supposed to be involved in helping bring about Christ's kingdom on Earth, we should be involved in all aspects of society.

God is even the one who, in some way, places those in government and authority over us (Romans 13:1-7; 1Pet 2:13-17), so doesn't it stand to reason that we should be involved when we can?

farouk said:
But maybe I'll bow out of the thread now.
Click to expand...
No need to bow out.
 
Free: Well, okay; I'll just say this: eschatologically and dispensationally, I'm not of the view that if only evangelicals would go into politics more, then somehow more and more they will usher in the reign of righteousness.

I guess I'm with Uncle CI and his Scofield notes on that one. It's the rapture that comes next, (1 Thess. 4); meanwhile, 'evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived'. Frankly, I don't trust any of them.

But I realize there are different eschatological viewpoints; I guess I'm just too much of an incorrigible old dispensationalist!

Blessings.

PS: I probably have said all that I have to say about all this, really.
 
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farouk said:
Free: Well, okay; I'll just say this: eschatologically and dispensationally, I'm not of the view that if only evangelicals would go into politics more, then somehow more and more they will usher in the reign of righteousness.
Click to expand...
I don't agree with that either. I'm just saying that we are to be involved wherever we can, in whatever capacity, as part of Christ's kingdom business, and that includes politics and all manner of "worldly" affairs. Again, my main point was simply to say that there is no biblical reason for followers of Christ to not vote.

farouk said:
I guess I'm with Uncle CI and his Scofield notes on that one. It's the rapture that comes next,
Click to expand...
I don't agree with that either. :)

farouk said:
(1 Thess. 4); meanwhile, 'evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived'. Frankly, I don't trust any of them.

But I realize there are different eschatological viewpoints; I guess I'm just too much of an incorrigible old dispensationalist!

Blessings.
Click to expand...
That's alright. I just don't see this as an eschatalogical issue.

Blessings to you as well.
 
...I'm just saying that we are to be involved wherever we can, in whatever capacity, as part of Christ's kingdom business, and that includes politics and all manner of "worldly" affairs. Again, my main point was simply to say that there is no biblical reason for followers of Christ to not vote.
Click to expand...
Nice whan we can agree Free
 
We are called to be good stewards of what we get. we are also called to follow leadership. in the USA we have been given a system of government that allows freedom, we do this with and through voting. SO yes we are called to vote as well. we are warned if we are not good stewards God will take away what we do not care about.
 
I'm with Free - why not vote?

If you choose to not vote, I also believe you have no right to complain.
 
The subject of politics is an interesting one for a Christian. The subject is essentially the art of getting what you want. I was involved in politics many years ago. I thought that it was the obligation of a citizen. Like sewer work, I thought it was unpleasant but necessary. I came away from the experience convinced that politics is irredeemable, utterly corrosive, and corrupting.

During times of empire and legions, the prospect of politics is only of interest to the suck-ups and wannabes like the Herodians. Christians are told to endure their government and pray for the officials.

Democracy is not a good thing. This might be gleaned from the fact that it never truly exists. When France tried it, it was a disaster. The reason it appeared to work in America is that more people were Christian. Christians are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit and demonstrate more self-control. As a result, Satan has used Christianity to give a good reputation to democracy.

Wherever democracy is attempted, chaos rules. The people in the Middle East do not need democracy, they need Jesus.

Democracy has been heralded in the U.S. such that many Christians defend it more strongly than Christ. Satan loves to hold out the carrot that if Christians work a little harder or try a little more, they will be able to get what they want. He takes people captive with this by getting Christians into the world and the flesh and away from their Savior.

We are told not to be unequally yolked. I think this means we can vote. However, I would be hesitant to vote for someone as the "lesser of two evils".
 
Nick said:
I'm with Free - why not vote?

If you choose to not vote, I also believe you have no right to complain.
Click to expand...
so what if you have these to vote for?

obama:
pro gay rights/abortion and also big goverment and poor history of getting things done
romney:
as governor of mass /romney care which funds abortion. forced the rcc out of the state with not allowing them not to allow gays to adopt, gay marriage legalised in his state..also a big goverment type. and has flipp flopped on abortion.

im not voiting when romney gets the nod from the gop and theres no difference here tween the two as far christian values.
 
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