3 Key Reminders for the Midterm Elections

As we approach the midterm elections I want to remind the Church of our Christian stewardship and civic responsibility. It’s obvious that the midterm elections are much more than just filling seats with individuals, but there are a number of races that will decide issues that are critically important to the Christian faith. Our participation is vital.

Government is one of the three institutions God established, along with the family and the Church. Paul states in Romans 13:1 that “the (governmental) authorities that exist have been established by God.” Elections are a central part of how our government works. For many of us, in fact, voting is our most active and consequential role in government. Since God established the institution of government, He expects us to participate and exercise our right to vote.

As we approach the upcoming elections, keep these truths in mind.

Our hope is in God alone. The Bible is filled with examples of leaders who petition God on behalf of their nation, realizing that the real answers for the nation did not rest in human hands.

This is clear in the life of King Asa. Second Chronicles 14 tells us of a million man army from Cush that approached Judah. Asa prayed, realizing his nation’s only hope was found in God (v.11). The Cushite army fled. Tragically, Asa forgot this lesson. He relied on his wealth and alliances when threatened with a much smaller army decades later. The prophet Hanani told Asa that because he relied on political alliances rather than God, he would suffer defeat (2 Chronicles 16:7-9).

As David prayed in Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

God’s Word is our guide. When Jesus was tempted with issues of right and wrong, He set the example of going to Scripture for guidance. He modeled that good decisions are grounded in God’s Word. We need to seek God and His Word before we vote because we are so easily deceived. Proverbs 16:25 rightly warns us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Faith and action aren’t separate. From Joseph to Daniel, the Bible is full of accounts of those God placed in prominent positions and used powerfully — even in pagan empires.

The Bible never tells us to be passive observers of society. As a Roman citizen, Paul exercised his political rights and his knowledge of Roman law to further the gospel when he appealed to Caesar. This was not self-serving, but selfless obedience to God’s plan. In Acts 26:32, Agrippa told Festus that Paul “could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Be active, be engaged, be Spirit-led, and be Christlike. Pray for our elected leaders. From social media to the ballot box, let’s make sure our words and our actions in this election season are God-honoring. Your voice matters.