God, government and the ballot: Why sitting out is not neutral

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Why Christians should vote and be involved in Government.  

We see in several passages in God’s Word what we are to do.

Romans 13:1-3: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”

While there can be no doubt that Paul was telling people to obey authorities, bear in mind one important point many Christians overlook: the Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

By God’s authority, the founders wrote this great document. Since it is a living document that evolves with society, it never goes out of style. In these great documents, we have the right to vote. Remember, the preamble to the Constitution clearly states that our rights come from God (the exact word used is “Creator”). 

Since our rights come from God, to ignore those rights is to rebel against God.

You may be saying, “Pastor, I don’t know how to vote; the issues are too complex.” Granted, the measures we are asked to vote on are written by lawyers, and while the law says they can’t trick people, it doesn’t say they can’t use words some people just don’t understand.

Let’s see what the Word of God says:

Proverbs 14:34-35: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.”

We are to look for men and women who are righteous. No, no one is righteous without Christ—that leaves out a lot of people, for example radical Muslims, atheists, and agnostics. We need to look at how that person lives. “Preach the Gospel in all things; when necessary, use words” (St. Augustine).

Proverbs 28:12-13: “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding. He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Sin lurks in dark places, and it fears the light—not just physical light, but spiritual light. If someone refuses to open their past to scrutiny—for example, President Obama had all his records sealed before he ran for office—why, one wonders? 

I am not saying a person should be judged by their past; we all do stupid things when we are teenagers and young adults. But are we willing to own our stupidity? What man reveals, God conceals; what man conceals, God reveals.

1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

So the first step in discerning who and what to vote for is prayer—prayer, and when you’re done, pray some more. Do not rely solely on mainstream media for research, as they all have agendas. With the internet, there are millions of pages of information available to you. If the individual has ever held public office, look at how they voted; that is a matter of public record. 

Have they voted in a way that aligns with the Word of God? 

When they debate, is there evidence of grounding in the Word of God?

When it comes to the issues, this is actually a bit easier: Does the bill or referendum stand up to God’s Word? Then, does it stand up to the Constitution and Bill of Rights? 

When all is said and done, seek God’s face in prayer. Ask for His discernment on the issues and the people. Ask your pastor to explain the issues (do not ask him how to vote), because then he is voting twice—and you not at all. A pastor is a reference, not a political authority—as stated above, only God can claim that title.

Voting is not just a right; it is very much a responsibility for every Christian. It is a sign not only of your civic duty but also of your spiritual duty to God. It is an opportunity to have a positive influence on society and to ensure we uphold values that reflect our faith and dedication to God. The act of voting can be viewed as stewardship of the rights and privileges granted to citizens.

I love this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.”

Tragically, you can legislate immorality. For example, the Colorado Legislature is currently working on a way to legalize prostitution, presumably to create more tax dollars for them to waste on illegal immigrants. 

They say it is to honor the women in these professions—odd for a group of people who first can’t define a woman, second claim men make better women than real women, and go on to say that women are not smart enough to obtain an ID so they can vote. If I were a woman—and I am not; I am the other of the two genders—I would be very angry at the people making these claims. But the left is doing what they do best: exploiting people, in this case women.

I pray I have given you enough reasons to vote your conscience in the upcoming elections. Vote as if your God-given rights depend on it—BECAUSE THEY DO!    

Rev. Robert Babcox is the senior pastor at Orchard Mesa Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.