Originally posted for the 2016 election. Updated for the 2024 election.
Romans 14-15 discusses disagreements among genuine believers and warns us that in some areas we can agree to disagree. But this isn't true in areas where Scripture offers clear guidance. For example, we can allow differences regarding methods of baptism, but not regarding adultery or murder.
In our upcoming election, we can hold different views about issues like welfare and taxes.
But God's Word speaks clearly in these areas:
1. LGBTQ lifestyles – A key element of the Democratic platform is the promotion of LGBTQ lifestyles. They approve of surgical mutilation of underage children and censorship of biblical counseling in this area. See A Public Holiday Mocking Our Lord and U.S. State Dept. on Conversion Therapy.
2. Abortion – Past Republican platforms have been solidly pro-life. This election, I would call their platform mildly proabortion.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are wildly proabortion. On the one hand, they claim they aren't in favor of abortion up to the day of delivery, but they reject all limitations including time limits. And they overwhelmingly voted against medical care being given to babies born alive during abortions. See Be Sure You Fully Understand This Fact.
These are not issues where genuine believers can agree to disagree. Instead, it's our Christian responsibility to expose these evils and warn fellow believers not to help promote them (Ephesians 5:11).
Some believers have prayed about this election and feel they can vote for neither party. I disagree with this view, but I consider it a Romans 14 difference, and I still respect those who hold it.
However, if a fellow believer tells us they're voting Democrat, God wants us to lovingly warn them that they'll be held accountable by God for promoting evil (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).
Necessary note:
In the last few months, whenever I've written about voting, I've stuck to the biblical issues, not the personalities. If I mentioned a candidate, it was directly related to something they said or did in regard to the issues of abortion or LGBTQ lifestyles.
When it comes to personal lifestyles, I don't respect or approve of Trump's personal values nor do I respect or approve of Harris' personal values.
Despite what some people claim, we are not voting for a king, queen, or dictator. We are voting for a platform that expresses the values that a candidate and his/her party are promoting in our nation.
In addition, I have objectively pointed out where the Republican platform has moved backward, going from strongly pro-life to mildly proabortion (example). And I've pointed out other ungodly choices they've made (example).
Sadly, what I'm seeing in many Christians is a form of backward idolatry. Instead of focusing on the issues involved and the lives lost and damaged, they are focusing on a single man they don't like. So when I write about voting against unlimited abortion, I get letters from readers asking me why I'm promoting Trump. Instead of addressing the murder of unborn babies and the trans-mutilation of underage children, they focus on Trump.
I've even heard some people say that Trump's sins are worse than abortion and the trans-mutilation of children. If you believe that what one man has done is more offensive to God than the killing of millions of babies nationwide and mutilating hundreds of children through trans-surgeries, you are not thinking clearly and you are letting your hatred for Trump affect your judgment.
Satan loves this. He wants us to focus on personalities and let nationwide evil prevail. He has seriously blinded unbelievers to God's truths, and many Christians have allowed him to blind them as well (2 Corinthians 4:4).
If you think you can vote for a proabortion candidate with God's blessings, you're wrong. And you don't need to take my word for it, you can take God's:
"Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, 'Look, we didn’t know.' For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve." Proverbs 24:11-12
"Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17
"Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
✜✜✜
If a Christian teacher tells you he's voting for Harris, I would take him/her off your list of reliable Bible teachers.
BLN
...and all God's children said...AMEN!...blessings...laney
ReplyDeleteVery well said Gail! Bible Love Notes have been such a blessing. I thank God for leading me to your site, because I can't even recall how I came to it. God bless you and yours.
ReplyDeleteWe rely on His Holy Sirit and our hoe in Him,thank you, helful message, blessings, shalom
ReplyDeleteI totally struggle with this. Politics and my personality do not mix. If have been struggling with what my heart really feels. Is it pride? Or self righteous? Or do I have legitimate feelings. Thank you for addressing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for having the courage to take a stand on what is truly important. Abortion and LBGTQ are our Sodom and Gamora. No candidate or party is over or under these sins.
ReplyDeleteWhile I respect your view, I think God and His Holy Spirit should lead and direct our lives and decisions in all matters including voting. You focus on abortion and LGBQT but rarely do you comment on social justice/criminal justice, civil rights, systemic racism, death penalty, immigration, wealth inequity, tax law, etc. You and I are Christians not based on who we vote for but who we accept as our Lord & Savior. And God judges his servants as only he sees the heart and knows his own.
ReplyDeleteI purposely do not get into subjects that have some Romans 14 differences. I believe that all of those subjects you mentioned have some biblical principles that apply, but there are also aspects of those things where genuine believers can disagree.
DeleteIf my goal was political commentary, I would definitely cover them. And if you are saying that all of those other subjects are addressed correctly by the Democrats, you have been seriously propagandized. I could go into specific ways that Democrats have denied justice, civil rights, promoted woke racism, brought in criminal immigrants to terrorize parts of our country, and created people dependent on welfare. But we can agree to disagree about those things based on different situations and beliefs.
However, there is no biblical allowance for abortion or the promotion of surgically mutilating underage children's bodies. None. And let me ask you this: Would you rather be killed like an unborn baby or deal with inequalities in these other areas? Would you rather let a stranger decide if you child can have their genitals removed or deal with inequalities in these other areas? If you believe that killing millions of babies and mutilating hundreds of children is less serious than other inequalities a person suffers, you are seriously deceived.
God knows each heart, but He judges us according to His laws. He doesn't say it's okay for one person to murder their unborn child but not another. He doesn't say it's okay for one man to rape a woman but not another. He doesn't say it's okay for one man to vote for unlimited abortion but not another. The world wants God to be flexible according to evil human desires, but they won't find that kind of God in the Bible.
Romans 1:16-32 says it all:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.