The election is coming on Tues Nov 6, are you ready?
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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
-Rom 13:1-2
I thought this map is helpful for those who are following the election closely. This is where we stand (according to polls) going into the presidential election. Remember, 270 electoral votes are needed to win.
It’s obvious (I hope) that the Bible does not endorse any specific political party or individual (other than Jesus). In fact, Paul was writing at a time when the “governing authorities” were the oppressive Roman government with Nero (who eventually killed Paul) as the head.
The Bible does, however, make some principles clear, and we are so blessed in America to be able to choose those to whom we subject ourselves.
I believe there are 3 basic principles that the United States was founded upon:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
-US Declaration of Independence
I believe that what is meant by “pursuit of Happiness” is actually “personal property” as we see it in the US Constitution:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property
-14th Amendment, US Constitution
People, men and women, all cultural and racial backgrounds, are created in the very “image of God” and as such are His representatives here on the earth. That makes every single person valuable.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.-Gen 1:27
The 10 Commandments make it clear that murder is always wrong:
You shall not murder.
-Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17
So there is an inherent right to life in the Bible.
God speaks to Moses and lets him know that He cares about the situation of His people, God does not want bondage for them:
I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them
-Exod 6:6
God is a God of freedom, that is why He sent His Son to save us!
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
-Gal 5:1
The Bible tells us that there is a right for every person to be free, we should vote to protect that right of individual freedom.
True happiness, that which is not affected by our circumstances, comes by the grace of God:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice… I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
-Phil 4:4,11
So, the acquisition of material goods is not a prerequisite for true happiness, however the Bible does presuppose that individuals have the right to own personal property.
You shall not steal.
-Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19
Jesus Himself tells His disciples to protect themselves and their property when they are traveling (which speaks to the 2nd amendment as well):
But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
-Luke 22:36
The Bible supports the right of personal property, and your right to defend it.
These three key principles are what I use when I cast my vote:
- Individual Life
- Individual Liberty
- Individual Property
When I am given the privilege of voting, I ask myself this question “which choice will best defend these three rights?”
That’s it, no political party, not “this candidate” or “that candidate,” it doesn’t have to do with the faith of the candidate (or lack thereof), it is (for me) all about increasing these Biblical values in our community through our political system.
I hope you take the time to vote on Tuesday (or perhaps you already have).
Ask yourself this question, “which choice best supports these biblical values” and vote accordingly.
What do you think? What other questions do you ask yourself when you vote? Tell us in the comments below:
