Are Believers Obligated to Vote?

ARE BELIEVERS

OBLIGATED TO VOTE?

I guess the most confrontational argument for voting is when someone says, “People have died to give you that right!” It has become increasingly difficult to get believers to see the kingdom of God as exclusive and at odds with all earthly systems. All of us work and buy food and pay for housing, but those things are necessities and part of being “in” the world”. But it is so easy and so tempting to make the jump from being “in” the world to being “of” the world. And there are many things seem to go along with that concept. Here are just a few:

* Common sense

* Others

* Family members

* Upbringing

* Preachers

* General acceptance within the church

And there are other things that provide a subtle support for being active in the world’s systems. The question itself about being obligated seems to make sense on a horizontal level, and when you add a hint of guilt along with a disparaging of the fallen, you can see how easy it is to succumb to that kind of pressure. And unless you can willfully and clearly see things through the prism of the Spirit, and through the exclusive prism of God’s Word, then you will remain trapped in the temporal and earthly.

Let me make it clear once again so there is no misunderstanding. Those of us who believe God has led us out of this Babylonian system have no claim to being perfect, and in fact that step without being accompanied by a deeper seeking of Christ would be little more than an outward, cosmetic change. So I do not speak from any pedestal, I speak from a place along the path which leads to Him. Having made that clear, those of us who have rejected the carnal system of politics sincerely believe being involved compromises one’s spiritual walk and imprisons our hearts and minds.

I have seen the fruits and have experienced the fruits of being invested in politics. I know it breeds a competitive spirit. It is almost impossible to have a spiritual affection for those on the other political side. And it does just that, it creates earthly sides. You no longer see a liberal politician as one in need of Christ, but you see them as a kind of enemy. When they are interviewed or speak on television, your flesh rises up.

And there are many subtle affectations when we are given over to the spectacle of fallen politics. Because the economy is not good many believers will support those who they believe will help bring about a more prosperous environment. And part of that we believe is by cutting government programs, including those directed toward the poor. And little by little our hearts grow cold toward the poor and we soothe our consciences by suggesting much of the money is wasted on people who do not deserve it or who take advantage of the system. That may well be the case, but still the evil one uses that to harden our hearts toward the poor.

Believers suggest that they should not be forced to give to the poor through the government, it should be voluntary. I am sure I do not even need to fully reveal the blatant hypocrisy in that remark. In fact, anyone who really does care about the poor and is serving and ministering to them would be glad that some of their tax dollars go to the poor, even if some do take advantage of the system. Again, when you jump into a muddy pig pen you become covered in mud and you cannot see clearly. You begin to make judgments based upon your present perspective and the earthly perspectives offered through the system itself, and you are influenced by those around you who are active participants in that same pig pen.

But that is not the path that follows Jesus. That is a path filled with bondage. The chains may be invisible, and the chains may even be viewed as freedom, but they present an ever growing climate of spiritual bondage. And having been on both perspectives of this issue, I will say something I truly believe. It is impossible to have a clear view of Jesus Christ while being tethered to the fallen system of politics. Politics affects everything. It tears at the very fabric of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It demands you to have and exhibit allegiances that are antithetical to the person and teachings of Jesus.

Politics is a hard taskmaster. It invades you heart and mind and especially in election years it speaks to you daily. It claims to be in conjunction with spiritual issues, and it also tells you that you can do both. You can aggressively speak for America and political issues while still speak for Jesus. It does not matter that in a grocery line you are much more likely to share your political thoughts with someone else in line then you are about your personal relationship with Jesus. That in and of itself should reveal to us what happens in divided loyalties.

The average church goer speaks easily and forcefully about the “gay agenda” while millions of those same people live every day and never witness to anyone. That is a disgrace and has over the last few decades transformed the Christian faith into a series of moral issues with the name “Jesus” quietly pasted upon it. And the specter of the political agenda has not just become a small part of the evangelical community. It has become a main driving force. And in that climate spirituality suffers even though we might retain some of the superficial language.

We are not obligated to do anything the world tries to dictate to us. Even though wars have been fought and man and women have died, that in no way overrides our spiritual mandates that come to us through God’s Word and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. And even if you as a believer do vote that does not mean you are obligated. We are obligated to serve and obey Christ. Period.

“But my vote counts for something!” Does it? You should not be seeking money, so what exactly are you suggesting your vote does? Many times since Roe v. Wade there have been a Republican president and a Republican majority in both houses of congress. Abortion is still legal and readily available. See, you have fallen for the continuing pro-life drone, but when a “pro-life” president gets elected, somehow his priorities do not include confronting the abortion issue. He has used his pro-life credentials in order to gain votes, but his heart was elsewhere.

I have some news for all believers. We are in the minority. It isn’t even close. And why do we have to grovel at the ballot box in order to see change? Because we have rejected the spiritual weapons of warfare. Could it be possible that millions of professing believers will spend more time in the voting booth than they have in the prayer closet in November? Just that inference is an amazing indictment of all the western church claims to be. Voting outwardly claims a level of trust in the system. This is a pluralistic system which invites all gods, including unbiblical expressions of Jesus, to the political party. This is an antichrist system in which believers have been willing to be used and manipulated.

Voting is a compromise that does not just compromise on that day or month or even year. Its compromise is alive and growing inside everyone who believes in the system. And if you say you do not believe in the system but still participate, then that is a blatant compromise. Many believers see a semblance of the way the political system is against Christ and His teachings, but there is an element of fear attached to leaving it. Like Jesus exhortingPpeter to leave the boat, many believers who in principle agree with my assessment still cling to the political scraps. I can relate. In fact, I felt God leading me out in 1999 but because my friend put the abortion guilt trip on me I voted for President Bush in 2000. And coincidentally, I life in Florida!

So I realize all the different things that swirl around in your head. I know the peer pressure. I know how you feel guilty about the founding fathers and those who died protecting America. I know all of that. But this I do know, it is time for individual believers to surrender completely to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ regardless of what that means and the practical expression of that Lordship. Perhaps the Lord is coming soon. Perhaps not. But in either case the Spirit of God is calling us to leave Egypt and rejoin the journey to the Land of Canaan. Are you afraid? Do you need a company to go with you? Do you feel like you might enter a wilderness? Fear not!! God has manna that you have not tasted yet! God has a fire by night and a smoke by day that will lead and guide you! Jesus desires to break bread with you with an intimacy that you have not known. Away with the grave clothes, and obey the voice that says “Come forth!”

When I was a child there was a program called “Rescue 8”. It was about firemen and their adventures. They were once called to help an 8 year old boy who had gotten his hand stuck in a candy machine. They tried and tried to get his hand out but to no avail. But then one of the firemen asked the boy if he had a candy bar in that hand. The boy said that he did, and as soon as he released the candy bar his hand slipped out.

Go ahead, my friends, release the political candy bar. It’s all melted anyway. My exodus was a process and many of you are somewhere along in that process. So perhaps this obscure blog presented by a bona fide nobody can be used of the Spirit in your heart and life. I pray that in all things Jesus Christ will have all the preeminence. So are believers obligated to vote? I would suggest a different question: Are believers obligated not to vote?