A battle is raging all around us for the future of our nation. The current election is a key aspect of that battle, as the leaders we are now choosing will set the agenda for our nation on many urgent battlefields (including but not limited to abortion) which will have a huge impact on all of us in the next few years and beyond. Does God expect His people to get our hands dirty to make a difference in this battle, or would He want us to only cast our vote symbolically, choosing the most impossible “righteous” candidate even though we have no doubt that by doing so our vote will have no impact on the many critical battles impacting all of us?

Everyone knows that the current major candidates do things which are often embarrassing and sinful. Is it a sin to support such a political leader whose actions at times seem to show a lack of respect for God? Or does God actually call His people to honor and serve unrighteous leaders for righteous purposes?

Jesus said that all authority is given to Him, so our vote is a small measure of authority Jesus has delegated to each of us as stewards. With authority comes jurisdiction. Therefore, God expects us to primarily focus on the jurisdiction He has given us, to make effective use of our vote. We should use our vote to make a real difference in our nation, not just as a purity test to salve our own consciences (as we would then effectively be like the unfaithful steward in Jesus’ parable, burying our vote in the ground when we fail to find a perfect politician).

In the early days of the nation of Israel, Moses was instructed to “select men who fear God” to help with administrative tasks. This delegation of authority is considered to be foundational to the Republican form of government in nations like ours. Today, many who focus on ending abortion point to Moses’ example as their reason to refuse to vote for any candidate who doesn’t fully adhere to their narrow religious standards and immediatist anti-abortion strategies.  Such people typically not only refuse to vote for Catholics, they also exclude most Protestants from consideration.  

Yet the US Constitution specifically forbids any religious test for public office. Religious freedom is not only a core value upon which our nation was built, it is essential to the most basic principle Christ taught: the Golden Rule (“do unto others as you would have them do unto you”). If we seek a nation where we have the freedom to worship and serve God according to the narrow dictates of our own consciences, how can we seek to restrict the religious freedom of others? 

Obviously our religious beliefs will impact our decisions, but we may be rebelling against our own basic principles (and disobeying God) if we focus primarily on religious tests when we vote. Even if it were possible to ensure that all of our leaders were true Christians (by whatever definition we choose), wouldn’t we then be effectively denying representation to a huge segment of our population, setting the stage for a backlash which would likely spark a new revolution such as the one which started our nation (with “Christians” now assuming the role of King George)?

Christians who support “unrighteous” candidates today are accused of being “idolaters” and “compromisers” by abortion opponents who apply religious tests to elections, as they claim that such compromisers “own” every one of their candidates’ sins.

But many of the greatest heroes in the Bible were people who served heathen rulers whose actions were often idolatrous and evil. The actions of people like Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai were not judged based upon the evils of the rulers they served and honored. Instead, these heroes’ actions were focused on protecting the lives of God’s people and allowing them to serve Him.

As a youth, Daniel committed himself to remain undefiled, and his many years of faithful service to narcissistic (and idolatrous) kings never changed Daniel’s priorities (and never caused Daniel to “own” his leaders’ idolatry). Daniel respected the God-given jurisdiction of the leaders he served (even if he sometimes found it necessary to respectfully disobey their orders or inform them of coming judgment), but Daniel’s primary focus was to faithfully fulfill the demands of his own God-given jurisdiction.

These priorities continued into New Testament days, as the Apostle Paul urged Christians to graciously offer prayers of thanksgiving for heathen political authorities, with the goal of leading “a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way” (and untainted by the political authorities’ sins). Faithful Christians were active at various levels of the pagan Roman government, even in Caesar’s own household, with no indication that their service to an idolatrous ruler was inconsistent with their faith. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the priority of God’s people and governments focused upon allowing God’s people to serve Him in peace, so that people could serve God willingly and not under compulsion. Even when we serve unholy masters, we do so as unto the Lord.

Therefore, respecting religious freedom should be a key priority essential not only for the functioning of a just government, but also for healthy houses of worship.

Abraham Lincoln’s leadership had an extremely positive impact on our nation, leading us out of slavery while maintaining the fragile unity of a fractured nation. While Lincoln spoke often of God, he was not a member of any church, and he refused to align himself with any of the religious factions which existed in his day, choosing instead to seek freedom for all of the factions, even for the burgeoning Mormon movement which was involved in major controversies.

How could a religious freedom focus impact efforts to end a holocaust? I consider that in the second half of this series, “Voting to end the American Holocaust.” Tap here to read it.

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These are some of the scriptures and other texts upon which the concepts expressed above rest. All Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18)

“Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.’” (John 19:11)

“As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, ‘A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.” But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.” When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, “Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” And the second came, saying, “Lord, your mina has made five minas.” And he said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.” Then another came, saying, “Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”’” (Luke 19:11-23; see also Matthew 25:14-30, which is similar and relates to what is written above)

“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” (Exodus 18:21)

“…no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (US Constitution, Article VI)

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

“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.” (Romans 13:1)

“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’ And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-45)

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)

“I said to the king, ‘Let the king live forever!’” (Nehemiah 2:3a)

“Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever!’” (Daniel 6:21)

“And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, ‘If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?’” (Esther 8:2-6)

“For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.” (Esther 10:3)

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” (1 Peter 2:13-18)

“All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.” (Philippians 4:22)

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” (Martin Luther)