Wasting a Vote- According to Whom?

There is a common school of thought that upholds the idea that the only vote that should be cast is one for a candidate that has a likelihood (by human reasoning) of winning their associated office. Is the counsel of limiting your vote to the leading candidates based on faithful stewardship or is it placing pragmatism over principle? Let us look to God’s Holy Word for the appropriate response to this question.

When Daniel was given the vision and understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from the Lord, he praised the One and Only True God. Included in Daniel’s praise was the following verse:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings (Daniel 2:21, KJV)

What a freeing thought that those that are set up as civil magistrates are placed there by the Lord Himself. He does not need our human scheming in order to accomplish a particular result. In no way does this justify complacency or a lack of involvement in the political process, but instead points out that the responsibility we have before the Lord does not extend to using the outcome of an election to justify our action. Instead, we are each accountable before Our Heavenly Father to be obedient to what He commands regardless of the outcome. As we consider how we are to vote, our concern should be on submitting our will to the Word of God. For those of us who claim the Name of Christ, we do not have the option to use our vote for political expediency.

There are many who will appropriately extol the virtue of someone who is willing to stand up against the ungodly based on principles and convictions even if that stand leads to being martyred for their faith. Yet, many who praise the courage of the martyrs will then condemn those who cast their ballot based on the same principles and convictions! That condemnation takes the form of raising the accusation that such a vote is wasted if the candidate is unlikely to be elected. Since we are to be advancing the crown rights of Christ on this earth through our obedience to His Word, it appears clear to me that the only votes that are wasted are those that are cast based on fear of men rather than based on a holy fear of the living God!

The Evil of Voting For the Lesser of Two Evils

You have probably heard it posited before (even by those who are well-meaning) that a legitimate use of your vote is to cast it for the lesser of two evils. However, is this counsel based on Biblical principles or is it based on worldly wisdom? In order to get the proper perspective on this issue, we must ask the same question that needs to be asked in any and every situation—namely “What saith the Scriptures?”

I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. (Psalm 101:3, 4)

As Christians, we are to be continually seeking to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. According to the above verses, our response to evil is to not set it before our eyes, to have a hatred for the deeds that result from it, and to keep those who have it in their hearts far from us. The last part of the verse summarizes how those who love God should view evil—we are to have NOTHING to do with it. As a consequence of this truth, we cannot succumb to the temptation of using our vote to support a candidate that is the lesser of the available evils. If there are no Biblically qualified candidates for the position on which we are voting, then we must not compromise principle and are bound to abstain from using our vote for any of the options that are before us. We will all have to give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and if we vote for evil (even if we deem it to be the lesser of the evils under consideration), then we have gone against clear Biblical teaching. Please remember that voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil!

How to Change History

When people's souls are changed so that they think differently and act differently, history changes. The consequences are eternal because souls are eternal.

~Geoffrey Botkin as quoted in So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin.

http://www.visionarydaughters.com/

Birthday Blessings My Beloved Bride!

This post is intended as a special honor to my dear and precious wife, Jill, on her birthday! I praise the Lord that I have been given a treasure in such a godly woman who is absolutely committed to the truth of God’s Word—including living by it and raising up the next generation to follow the path of righteousness. My beautiful bride is worth far above rubies and I am praying that the Lord will continually bless her with the following:

Wisdom – ”She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26, KJV)

Joy – “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” (Psalm 32:11, KJV)

Hope – “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 38:15, KJV)

Strength – “the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people.” (Psalm 68:35, KJV)

Peace – “the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11, KJV)

Patience – “That ye be ... followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12, KJV)

Jill keeps busy hands caring for our home and training our children through our commitment to home-schooling them. She is my dearly beloved bride and I am very blessed to be together with her on this journey of living a life dedicated to establishing a legacy of faithfulness!

Jill, may our Lord and Savior richly shower blessings upon you and may your heart be filled with those qualities for which I am praying. Happy Birthday, my precious bride and wife!