6 Guidelines for Christian Voters
With the NZ election approaching on 17th October, here are some suggested guidelines on how a Christian should vote:
1. Make God’s Word your primary voting guide. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 110:105).
2. Pray before casting your vote. Ask the Lord, first, for guidance as you vote. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him…” (Prov. 3:5-6). Pray also for the candidates even the ones whom you do not like (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
3. Vote for a candidate who upholds Christian principles. Are his/her views on important social and moral issues biblical? Religious freedom. Will the candi-date hinder you from exercising your faith in Jesus Christ, or will he/she pro-tect your liberty as a Christian? Sanctity of human life. Will the candidate promote abortion, or will he/she fight for the sacredness of life in the womb? Marriage. Will the candidate endorse (so-called) “same-sex mar-riage,” or will he/she uphold the biblical definition of marriage—a union be-tween one man and one woman only? Each candidate should be evaluated in light of these and other moral questions. As followers of Christ, we must not “give approval to those who practice” what God has declared to be mor-ally evil (Rom. 1:32).
4. Vote for a candidate who is able to lead our country with justice. Remember that you are not voting for a pastor, but for a prime minister. The candidate might not share all of your theological views, but if he/she is committed to a fair and righteous judicial system, then you might want to consider voting for this candidate.
5. Vote for a candidate who has already demonstrated his/her ability to lead well. Look at the candidate’s track record and ask these questions: What did he/she do to improve our economy, stop crime, and maintain peace and order in our land? Did the candidate abuse his/her political power to serve his/her own interest? Was he/she immoral, corrupt, dishonest, or greedy?
6. Cast your ballot in good conscience. Admittedly, it can be challenging to find a candidate who is both gifted in leadership and righteous in character. However, God knows our struggle in this regard, and yet he calls on us to participate in the process. So, if you’ve sincerely sought the Lord’s guidance, you can cast your ballot with peace and confidence, trusting that your obe-dience will be pleasing to the Lord.
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These guidelines are adapted from an article posted by Brian G. Najapfour, titled 10 Guidelines for Christian Voters at https://biblicalspiritualitypress.org/2016/04/22/10-guidelines-for-christian-voters/
accessed 12 Sep 2020.