Why Christians Should Vote
Providence Has Given Us a Meaningful Voice
By Matthew Adams - Posted at Mining the Riches:
I voted this morning.Normally, that would not be particularly noteworthy. I walked into my polling place, checked in, cast my ballot, and went on with my day. It did not take very long. But today is a special election day in South Carolina, and elections like this have a way of exposing something about the way we think about our responsibilities as Christians and citizens.
Presidential elections receive enormous attention. People plan for them and social media becomes nearly unbearable because of them, but special elections, primaries, local elections, and runoffs can pass almost unnoticed.
Christians should resist that tendency.
If God in His providence has placed us in a country where ordinary citizens have a meaningful voice in choosing those who govern them, then exercising that privilege should ordinarily be regarded as an act of Christian stewardship.
Voting is not the most important thing South Carolina Christians will do today, but that does not mean it is unimportant.
Citizens of Heaven Who Pray for God’s Will on Earth
Christians possess a citizenship that transcends every earthly nation.
Paul reminds wisely reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20).
That means our ultimate allegiance is not to America, a political party, a president, a senator, or any other earthly authority. Jesus Christ is King. His kingdom will remain when every nation presently appearing on a map has disappeared.
But heavenly citizenship does not produce earthly indifference.
After all, the same Lord who teaches us that His kingdom is not of this world teaches us to pray:
Paul reminds wisely reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20).
That means our ultimate allegiance is not to America, a political party, a president, a senator, or any other earthly authority. Jesus Christ is King. His kingdom will remain when every nation presently appearing on a map has disappeared.
But heavenly citizenship does not produce earthly indifference.
After all, the same Lord who teaches us that His kingdom is not of this world teaches us to pray:
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).That is a remarkable prayer.
Every time Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are asking God to advance His kingdom, overthrow the works of darkness, bring sinners under the saving reign of Christ, conform His church increasingly to His Word, and cause His righteous will to be honored throughout the earth.
We are not praying for escape from the world. We are praying for God’s will to be done in it.
