Why vote this election season, love your neighbor

Up to 104 million Americans who consider themselves people of faith, including 32 million Christian churchgoersAccording to a recent survey, they are expected to abstain in November. This number is a sad reflection of the state of the American church, and the blame is placed on both those in the pews and in the pulpit who have deceived themselves into believing that faith and politics should be separate.

If every Christian in America voted and supported candidates and policies that were most aligned with biblical values, we would live in a fundamentally different country. The United States has a long history of Christian civic engagement and was founded by courageous believers who were strong in their beliefs and active in the political process.

In 1776, a Virginia preacher’s stirring appeal to his congregation that “there is a time to fight, and that time is now” helped form the 8th Virginia Brigade during the Revolutionary War. Pastors in the Thirteen Colonies rallied their congregations in support of independence, and the British called these bold preachers the “Black Robed Regiment” because of the black robes the clergy wore. One historian noted that “the teachings from the pulpit … served to strike the first blow to American independence.”

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Although not all of our founders were Christians, they were deeply influenced by Biblical morality and understood that our rights come from God and therefore must be protected. If we want these values ​​to last, we cannot remain complacent when it comes to involving our faith in politics.

Cast a vote to love your neighbor

After “loving the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,” Jesus said that the next greatest commandment is: “Love your neighbor as yourself” ( Mark 12:29). -31).

In recent years, “love your neighbor” has been distorted in ways that contradict what it actually means (i.e.: going through the charade of wearing a mask, getting the experimental COVID shot or posting a black square on Instagram).

“Love your neighbor” means many different things, but it is certainly not driven by guilt or peer pressure to act in ways that are contrary to the Gospel to promote anti-biblical social justice initiatives or greater government control. Instead, voting is one small way to love your neighbor by supporting policies that protect the innocent, “save those who are led to death” (Prov. 24:11), uphold natural rights, and lead to order in the chaos.

It is our civic duty and Christian responsibility to cast a vote to protect and not destroy innocence. There is no excuse for Christians to be apathetic in the political arena, especially since biblical issues are so intertwined with modern politics, especially when it comes to abortion, child protection, and marriage.

Loving your neighbor means protecting a newborn baby’s right to be born. Loving your neighbor means defending the innocence of children against radical ideologies or medical mutilation. Loving your neighbor means supporting natural rights, freedom, and God’s design for the family.

What is at stake?

We know what we’re getting with both presidential candidates because they both spent four years in the White House. It is clear whose policies most support life, religious freedom, prosperity, national security, secure borders and the family.

While the Republican platform is unfortunately a shadow of what it once was on issues like the right to life, it is best suited to preserving faith, family, life, and liberty. Its policies will preserve natural rights and promote human flourishing rather than destruction.

However, the Democratic agenda focuses on perversion and the ability to kill newborn babies in the name of “freedom” or “health care.” Christians cannot support (and must strongly oppose) such an evil platform that profits from deception, destruction and death.

Outside of the presidential race, ballot measures for local, state and federal leaders, as well as policy issues, will have a direct impact on your life, family and community. Ten states have abortion up to birth on the ballot, and countless preborn children will never see the light of day if voters enshrine abortion into law. Your voice matters and can make a difference in life or death and the trajectory of both your community and your nation.

At the end of the day, it is peoplenot politicians, who will be most affected by the votes you cast, and this is why voting wisely is a way to love your neighbor this November. No one expresses this better than author and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey, who often says, “Politics matters because policies matter because people matter.” Politics influences policy, policy influences people, and people matter.”

Hope of an eternal Kingdom

Fortunately, our hope is not in our country, in campaign promises, or in the outcome of the 2024 election. We know that the outcome of the election will not save us nor hinder God’s plan of redemption, for He is Sovereign over all, including the earthly authorities (Romans 13).

As believers in Jesus, we are heirs to an eternal kingdom, and as Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

While this is true, it does not mean that the outcome of the election does not matter or that we are exempt from civic engagement. On the contrary, it is truly the least we can do to vote to ensure that policies are put in place that will most honor God and those made in His image.

Until God establishes His eternal kingdom, it is good and right for Christians to engage politically as one way to love our neighbor. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul implores us, “Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.”

Politics is not excluded from this.

As our nation descends further into chaos and drifts from our founding values, each election has more consequences than the last. Christians must take the lead in correcting their course.