Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

If we are faced with a decision between two representatives or politicians that are both immoral or unjust, should we vote for the 'lesser of two evils', or abstain from voting?

This is always a difficult scenario, and much of the answer depends on the severity of the injustice and immorality, and how large the gap is. The short answer is that we should do what the Holy Spirit is convicting us to do, not what our neighbor thinks we should do; and that yes, we are accountable for the decisions we make when we vote to promote immorality, injustice, or other evils.

Most, not all, Christians would probably feel that it was acceptable to vote for a politician who wasn't fiscally conservative over a politician who also wasn't fiscally conservative, but had also committed theft and fraud. They might vote for a politician that smokes and swears sometimes before they vote for a politician that wanted to legalize gay marriage or restrict religious liberty. No human is going to be perfect, yet we expect the leaders we vote for to uphold the law as well.

Yet most Christians would likely have difficulty deciding a hypothetical contest between Hitler and Mao Tse-Tung, or between Saddam Hussein and Stalin. In these cases it is not just a leader who fails to perform admirably, but leaders that specifically promote evil. If we were to vote for either, we would be promoting evil and injustice ourselves. If they don't uphold the law and human rights, then we cannot conscionably vote for them even if someone else is worse.

There are two extremes that often appear in politics. One is letting the 'perfect' become the enemy of the good, such as not voting for a candidate unless they agree with you on everything; even though you know another candidate represents more people but has no red flags of injustice or immorality. The other extreme is voting for someone you know is immoral and unjust simply because he is more electable or just 'slightly less evil'. The first extreme makes good people less likely to be elected, the second makes bad people more likely to be elected.

Listen to the Holy Spirit, and don't vote for a leader you deem is actually unjust or harmful. Most often, the choice of only two bad options is symptomatic of an underlying problem in society itself. It is these underlying problems that need addressing first:

1. Don't vote for bad leaders. Don't vote in favor of a 'little injustice' for one's neighbor because a politician agrees on a pet issue or because of their affiliation. Always research their record and moral stances. This has a cyclic and cascading effect, as a society that elects bad leaders ends up degrading, and more likely to vote in bad leaders in the future.

2. Pray for leaders. (I Tim 2:1-2) Prayer for our leaders is important, regardless of whether we agree with them or not or how bad they are. If they pervert justice, God will call them to account either in this life or at the judgement.

3. Consider other options. Campaigning for a just candidate, running for office oneself, discussing politics with friends, etc. Elections are processes that begins long before the vote is taken. If we know our choices are immoral or unjust, then we should get involved before we are left with only two bad options.

4. Our citizenship is in Heaven, not on Earth! (Phil 3:20) Our civic duty to vote and engage in earthly political process only stems out of our heavenly duty to promote justice. It's not about what we can personally get on earth, or even about protecting our own persons. Rather, it is about how we can best share the gospel, care for the oppressed, uphold just laws, and protect others.

5. Bad leadership in society is often the consequence of strife, wickedness, and dissension among the people (Hab 1:2-4). As long as we live in a fallen world, then society will tend to elect bad leaders for itself. There will be no 'perfect government' until the return of Christ.

May 06 2016 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Terry Galloway Christ follower, Bible lover, mission of sharing the gospel

First, each born again Christian should be in relationship personally with God to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, but we have the ultimate comfort that He is sovereign and in control over when people get saved, if they get saved and over all rulers and kingdoms.

For me, as I have been talking with God about this, I am continually reminded about several things. 1) God used king Cyrus (an unbeliever) to rebuild the Jewish temple. If you look up verses in 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Isaiah (such as Isaiah 45:1-3) you will see that he was called, anointed and given the Spirit of God for this purpose. Did the Jewish people not accept God's will with Cyrus being the one God chose? When you study our founding fathers they were not necessarily the best of men and some were pretty much the worst, but God used them to create this land of freedom of speech and freedom of religion with laws that are based on the 10 Commandments. 2) Over the years, many have given their lives for our freedom to vote and live. These people fit 1 John 3:16 that they loved us by fighting for our freedom. 3) God has things that He hates with lying being one of the things He mentions the most. We should consider this when voting for a sinful person to hold office. Who is the most entrenched with lying that there is little hope for change to feel guilt for sin and come to repentance?

God says in Revelation 21:8 that not just unbelievers go to hell, but COWARDS and all liars will be put in the lake of fire. These things can be what you WERE as in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. In Proverbs 6 God mentions twice that He hates liars. The Bible also says that a person who lies to someone proves that they hate that person (Proverbs 26:28) which would also mean that they are murderers since to hate is murder according to Jesus (Matt 5:21-22). God takes lying very seriously, and we should too, since the person who lies all the time belongs to the father of lies-- Satan (John 8:44,1 John 3).

Also we should look to see the fruit that comes from the tree. Is the person totally without concern for their sin or are they trying to put godly and wise people around them to teach them to change their lives? Look to see who they surround themselves with-- people of better character than themselves or those who encourage evil- even a holy war of having Muslim Brotherhood people (Islamic terrorists) in their staff. The people around them have the possibility of influencing them for good or evil.

Finally, I have to say, who is in the most agreement with God on the value of His babies? He clearly says that he values life, creates every life and finds the destruction of the lives He created an abomination. God may already have decided to give the USA judgment on this issue alone. The people of God need to pray continuously for God's forgiveness and mercy and that there will be a revival and fear of the Lord (the beginning of WISDOM) in this country. I know so many are praying 2 Chronicles 7:14.

We must love God more than anyone (Matthew 10) or our country, but with freedom of speech and religion, we are free to share the gospel with others. Some people want to take away our freedoms. Then how will we evangelize? I guess at the risk of martyrdom, I will not be silent. I am: Ephesians 5:11 
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
and Ezekiel 2 and 3. If I don't speak up by vote or words, their blood is on my hands. So since God says-- Luke 12:5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. I will vote for the person that I believe has the most opportunity for God to work with to do His will, help the oppressed (including Christians and Jews) and lean not on my own understanding. Trust the Lord!

August 12 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Charles Whiteside

‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Dan. 4:17)

The Father already has it set who will rule the kingdoms of the earth. He actually installs and empowers the basest, lowest, bottom of the gutter rulers in the kingdom of men. Imagine this. Christians joining in to vote for the basest, lowest, bottom of the gutter president. No we should not. We have a King over us who is not of the kingdoms of the earth. Praying for kings and authorities for peace to continue the ministry of our Lord is much different than joining hands with the kingdoms of the devil and voting his people into office, even when we imagine we are doing something good for God. Let God determine who runs the kingdoms of men but let Christians focus their eyes on the kingdom of heaven and leave politics alone.

September 20 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report