As a rule, I don’t get into politics or endorse candidates. My reasoning for abstaining has nothing to do with a fear that the IRS might remove our tax-exempt status, but because we only have, as a church, the bandwidth to be “about” a handful of things, and I want us to be about the gospel and the community of the saints. The unity the church is built upon goes far deeper than divides over what policies are more helpful for the country and the mission we are on much more urgent than who gets put into the White House. Besides, practically speaking, talking about politics is touching a skunk—once you touch it people cannot be around you without thinking about that encounter.
That said, as believers, we must think about all dimensions of life through a biblical worldview. Superficial thinking—even when well-intentioned—is not honoring to God. I encourage you to study the Bible, study the platforms, and vote your conscience.
That is the one thing I can say for sure: you should think through these things carefully and vote according to your conscience. I’m pretty sure 1 Timothy 2:1-4 would imply, in our day, a responsibility for Christians to go vote. I know that the “command” in 1 Tim 2 is to pray, not to vote, but to pray for something and then not use God provided, ethical, peaceable means to pursue it seems hypocritical to me. (Paul, of course, did not talk about voting one way or the other, since this was not an option in imperial Rome!) I realize mine is an interpretation and application of a principle, and an argument from silence, and that humility is thus in order. Still, I think it is legitimate.
Here is an article by Kevin DeYoung that I found helpful, showing that Christians should not just throw up their hands and ignore voting & politics altogether, despite the dizzying annoyance of political discourse.
What Am I Doing When I Vote? – Kevin DeYoung
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