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October 25, 2024

Writer's picture: Chris DawesChris Dawes

In Acts 14, we see another example of God’s will being determined by the vote of God’s people.


21 They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.


23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.


Several Biblical scholars take note of the specific wording in verse 23 as indicating a “vote” of sorts. The word for “appointed” is also translated “chose”, and is used in one other passage in 2 Corinthians. This process for appointing elders may have actually been similar to what was employed in the selection of the first seven Deacons in Acts 6. 


There are, of course, other examples of the will of God being revealed through the will of His people, and also plenty of examples to the contrary. 


As of the writing of this blog post, we are only a few days from our presidential election. Tensions are running especially high and everyone is reacting to this turbulence in different ways. One interesting fact I read in a recent Barna study revealed that there were over 100 million Americans that consider themselves “people of faith”, including 32 million regular church attending self identified Christians who were planning to abstain from voting this year.


This is disappointing to me, and I found another article that lists, from a Biblical perspective, why I think Christians have an obligation to vote. Dr. Krish Kandiah, president of the London School of Theology listed ten reasons Christians should engage in the election process in the countries in which they are citizens. 


1. Voting publicly recognizes that we submit to the authority of the political system in our nation as established by God. (Romans 13:1-7)


2. Voting recognizes the equality of all people and their right to speak and be heard. (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)


3. It is one way that we can obey God's command to seek the good of those around us and our nation as a whole. (Jeremiah 29:5-6)


4. It shows that we care deeply about who our leaders are as we are urged to offer prayer and intercession on their behalf. (1 Timothy 2:1,2)


5. It is a simple yet significant way we can do something about politics in our nation. "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing," Edmund Burke. (Psalms 34:14)


6. It makes a difference the way a grain of salt makes a difference, and that is how we are to influence our society for good. (Matthew 5:13)


7. It is a privilege not to be taken for granted. Those of us who reap the benefits of living in a democracy should play a part in upholding democracy.


8. Not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We need to take responsibility for our actions, as well as our lack of actions. (Luke 10:25-37)

9. Voting has biblical precedence, for example Acts 14:23 describes that the early Christians elected elders by voting.


10. Voting is part of our stewardship to use all the resources we have been given in ways that honor God; to waste a vote is to squander a gift.


To whom much is given, much is required. We, the people of the United States of America have been granted such an amazing gift. We must never take it for granted, or “bury it in the ground.” Instead, we should ask the Lord how every wonderful privilege  we enjoy as American citizens can be leveraged to help us “know Jesus and make Him known.”


PRN: Father, You are sovereign over all and yet you call us to “choose this day" whom we will serve. We confess that You are our only Lord, God and King and we invite Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in and through this coming election cycle. Please forgive us of our sin and give us the leaders You know we need, and not the ones we deserve. We surrender every privilege we have been granted as US citizens to Your Lordship. Be glorified as we cast our ballot in a few days. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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