Might As Well Go Along Quietly

An election is fast approaching. Many Christians are distressed at the condition of our country, and they are equally distressed over the choices they have in elections. Why is “none of the above” ever an option? While it is not appropriate to use a Christian pulpit as a partisan platform, it is equally unacceptable for Christians to be left without biblical direction as they seek to honor God in their calling as citizens. As you seek to serve Christ in your voting, remember the principles as you employ the method of casting a ballot.

Here are some of the key principles:

First, never forget the sovereignty of God. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1). The ruler of our nation is not the people, not the Congress, not the President, not the Supreme Court. The ruler of our nation is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in His hand; we are under His scepter. The issue is not whether we will as a nation “make Jesus Lord,” but whether His Lordship will be for our blessing or our undoing. Remember the counsel given in the second Psalm. The kings of the earth, our rulers included, are exhorted to kiss the Son, lest He be angry (Ps. 2:10-12). The sovereignty of God over our political affairs means that we may have only one of two attitudes. We may rejoice as we consider how He will bring all His purposes to pass, or we may lament as we confess our own sins — because He is bringing all His purposes to pass. Excluded is the option of being self-righteously indignant about “those scoundrels in Washington,” or worried about whether God will wake up in time to save our country. Christ is not as powerless as the Baal taunted by Elijah. So our first principle is that Jesus Christ is King of kings.

The second is that neutrality is impossible. Many Christians speak as though neutrality were undesirable. What is actually undesirable is the condition called “kidding yourself” — neutrality is impossible.

“. . . so it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes . . .” (Dt. 17:18-19).

“Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood” (Ps. 94:20-21).

The fact that we hold to a distinction and governmental separation between church and state does not mean that we insist upon a separation of morality and state, or God and state, or Jesus and state. And if we refuse to separate morality and state, then we must also affirm the only source of all righteous law — the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So the second principle is that religiously neutral law cannot govern the realm of politics. The laws we enact will either represent the will of God or they will not; they will either be gathering or scattering.

The third principle is that we must respect our enemies. The authorities which exist have been established by God. Those who kick against them, kick against God (Rom. 13:1-7). Political or moral opposition does not bring with it the option of lifting our hand against the Lord’s anointed. Neither may we use our tongues against them in a way which blasphemes. The way some Christians have spoken of the established powers is monstrous — they have taunted them far too much and resisted them far too little. Clearly, opposition or resistance to lawlessness in political office is allowed and required. John the Baptist rebuked Herod, and David resisted Saul. But do not rail against those whom you must oppose. Fight like a Christian.

The fourth principle is that we must vote our conscience. For many years, Christians have been holding their noses, and voting for the lesser of two evils. But as this pattern continues, today’s lesser of two evils somehow turns out to be far worse than the worst option of twenty years ago. It is not my position to endorse anyone here, or urge you to vote for a particular candidate. But it is appropriate for me to say that you should vote for those who fear the Lord. This is not a requirement that you find someone who is not a sinner.

“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Ex. 18:21).

If you vote for political disobedience, don’t complain when you get it.

The last principle is that Congress is not the light of the world, and neither is Congress the salt of the earth. The reason our culture is falling apart is because the salt — the Church — has lost its savor (Matt. 5:13-16). When this happens the Church is trampled on by men, which is how our Lord wants it. The reformation of our culture cannot happen with the Church in its current condition. Politics is no savior, but politics will be saved. God has promised that the nations of the earth will come to serve Him faithfully, and this will include our nation at some point. Political answers are never political, but the true answers will have political ramifications. So if our nation cannot be saved unless the Church is reformed and overhauled, and if our nation will be saved, then this means that the Church will be restored in authenticity. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish it. We might as well go along quietly.