Why should we care?

I was surprised by the estimate that 25,000,000 Christians chose not to vote in the 2016 presidential election. Actually, surprised and troubled. Were that many believers so busy that they could not take the time to vote? Did they not care enough to vote?

Or did they just assume their vote would make no difference? We’ll never know.

But we do know that several of the closer races were decided by a few thousand votes or less, and throughout the history of our nation, many elections were lost rather than won because of voter apathy. For whatever reason, people don’t make the effort.

It’s hard to imagine first century Christians, if given the option to help choose their governors, would have dismissed the idea. But they hardly ever were given choices. Governments then, and even now in much of the world, rule the people which such a heavy hand that their voice matters little.

We’ve quoted the Founders’ comments before to the effect that our nation’s Constitution assumes a moral and religious electorate. If that is true, then the only thing required to lose the Republic is for the religious and moral people to stay home and keep quiet.

My hunch is that many of those 25,000,000 Christians are not even registered to vote, even though you can now register and print out a voter registration card online. (Registration in PA closed October 19.)

Many don’t want to risk their health by going to a polling place, but registered voters still have time to apply for a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot. My hope is that come November 3rd, everyone reading these words will be watching the election returns knowing that his or her vote has been counted.

If even eating and drinking are to be done to the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31), how much more the exercise of our rights as citizens of a republic. And if we are to pray for our rulers, should we not voice our opinion on who those rulers will be?

“First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. . .”
1 Timothy 2:1, 2


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