The ABC’s of Voting

By Dale Weckbacher      

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

NKJV

Praying for leaders that we agree with is easy just as praying for those that like or love us.  However, to pray for our enemies or for leaders we disagree with or maybe even despise requires the intervention of the love of Christ in our hearts (Luke6:32-36).  1 Timothy 2:1-2 is therefore a double-edged sword that can cut right to our hearts. 

The last four election cycles in the United States have been a roller coaster ride with Democrats prevailing in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections and Republicans prevailing in the 2010 or 2014 off year elections.  In order for Republicans to return to winning presidential elections they must determine what differentiates their off year election strategy from the presidential election cycle strategy.  The answer I believe lies in looking at the ABC’s of voting. 

A)     Always vote – Those in leadership over the citizens of any country have the power to determine how the citizens of that country conduct their lives.  The Declaration of Independence of the United States says that the purpose of government is the protection of the citizens’ inalienable God given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  (1)  The authors of the Declaration of Independence went on to craft a Constitution establishing a limited federal government with power divided among three co-equal branches with a system of checks and balances to help insure the co-equal status of the branches of government.  (2)  In the United States, the citizens have an opportunity to elect their leadership but unfortunately many voters, including evangelical Christians do not vote because neither candidate meets their expectations of a godly leader.  When voters do this, the electoral victor is often the greater of two evils, not the lesser of two evils and the country suffers.

B)      Best candidate – No candidate for office will ever be perfect for we are all imperfect individuals (Romans 3:23).  One of the differences between voting for President and voting for members of Congress in the off year elections in the United States is that presidential elections come down to a choice between the Democrat and Republican nominee.  Granted, there are often third party candidates on the ballot but they usually do not win and a vote for one of them represents a denial of a vote for the Democrat or Republican nominee who will most likely win.  When neither the Democrat nor Republican candidate fails to meet the expectations of individuals, they often stay home on Election Day or vote third party.  In the last two presidential elections, those staying home or voting third party most likely cost John McCain and Mitt Romney victory.  (3) (4)  The path to victory this presidential election cycle is for voters in the GOP to vote for the best candidate.  In my opinion the choice this election is as simple as ABC, anybody but Bernie or Clinton.

C)      Call, connect, and convince – We all have but one vote.  However, we have a voice and that voice has never been louder with the advent of email, texting, and social media.  Bloggers like me can also start a blog for free using Google and promote that blog using social media and email.  In essence, this allows us to multiply our one vote legally by encouraging others to vote for the best candidate like us.  We can also take a page out of the Democrat’s often-successful get out the vote effort by taking others with us to the polls or even bussing them in if we have that ability. 

The 2010 and 2014 election victories by the GOP demonstrated that with the right strategy, Republicans could win national elections.  The excitement of the tea party movement in 2010 and the possibility of taking control of both houses of Congress in 2014 in order to block the Obama agenda excited the GOP base, creating a massive turn out leading to victory.  To begin winning presidential elections, the GOP must excite their base to vote for the eventual nominee.  However, how does the GOP accomplish this when the party goes through a brutal primary process dividing the party? 

This is where we as evangelicals must depend on the power of prayer.  No matter who the eventual victor is in this election, we are called by 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray for that leader.  Therefore, if we as Christians are called to pray for that leader, why not vote for the best of the Democrat or Republican candidates and then pray for God to cause that person to lead according to Godly principles.  This strategy does not represent a violation of a Christian’s deeply held beliefs for no one is asking anyone to deny Christ.  Instead this strategy is wise and in line, in my belief, with 1 Timothy2:1-2. 

I welcome your comments to this post. 

1. ushistory.org. The Declaration of Independence. www.ushistory.org. [Online] Ushistory.org. [Cited: July 19, 2015.] www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.

2. UMKC. Separation of Powers. law2.umkc.edu. [Online] [Cited: September 10, 2013.] http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/separationofpowers.htm.

3. Collins, Dr. Kevin "Coach". Evangelicals Plunge America Into Darkness, Stay Home on Election Day. www.westernjournalism.com. [Online] Western Journalism, November 8, 2012. [Cited: March 11, 2016.] www.westernjournalism.com/evangelicals-plunge-america-into-darkness-stay-home-on-election-day/.

4. Griffin. What went wrong in 2012? The case of the 4 million missing voters. www.redstate.com. [Online] Red State, November 14, 2012. [Cited: July 12, 2015.] http://www.redstate.com/diary/griffinelection/2012/11/14/what-went-wrong-in-2012-the-case-of-the-4-million-missing-voters/.