How Should Christians Vote?

• How Should Christians Vote?
• Matthew 5:13-16
• Does the Bible tell us how to vote?
• “Politics and Religion don’t Mix”
Conservative?

“The Bible is the basis of my life”
Liberal?

“Economic issues more important than moral”
• Should we Vote?
• Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden….16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
• The Bible and Politics
• Genesis 9:1-6
– 1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them:"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. ...4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man... 6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
• The Bible and Politics
• Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
• Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

• God is in Control
• Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
• Daniel 2:21 He removes kings and raises up kings..

• Interaction with Government
• Matthew 22:15-21 The Pharisees asked Jesus: Tell us, therefore, Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
• Interaction with Government
• Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

• Interaction with Government
• Romans 13:4-7 For he is God's minister to you for good… an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
• Interaction with Government
• 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
• The Five Functions of Civil Government
• To establish justice – Romans 13:1-4; 1 Pet 2:14
• To insure domestic tranquillity – 1 Tim 2:1-2
• Provide for the common defense – Gen 9:6
• Promote the general welfare – Rom 13:4-5
• Secure blessings of liberty (God given)
• The Nature of our Government
• “Our Constition was designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other…Free government rests upon private morality.” – John Adams
• Does the Bible tell us how to vote?
• Prioritizing the Issues
• National Council of Churches list of issues?
– “You can’t read the Old Testament without knowing God was concerned about the environment, war and peace, poverty. God doesn’t want 45 million Americans without healthcare.”
• What issues God considers most important?
– Protecting innocent life (6th commandment)
– Protecting the sanctity of marriage (7th commandment)
• #1 Judicial Choices
• Exodus 18:21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; …
• Ezra 7:25 Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people… such as know the laws of your God…
• Isaiah 1:26 I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."

• #2 Abortion and Inalienable Right to Life
• Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,...

• #3 Biblical Marriage
• Genesis 2:24 Mark 10:6-9 But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,8 and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

• #4 Homosexuality and Moral Law
• Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

• How Should Christians Vote?
• Matthew 5:13-16

• NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League)
– Obama and McCain’s Pro Choice Voting Records
– When it comes to the presidential candidates, the choice for pro-choice voters is clear. Sen. Barack Obama has a 100% pro-choice record. Sen. John McCain’s record? 0%. (www.naral.org)


• "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."
Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007