Does God Care If We Vote Or Not?

Many times in my life as a pastor I have stood in front of a congregation and encouraged them to use their voice for good. This would certainly include the privilege of voting. I remind them that silence is seldom golden, unless it is used for withholding a critical expression. Silence simply means that you feel and believe something, but choose to withhold it because of the ramifications of speaking it out loud. I’ve also stood and challenged people that God has called His followers to be invested in their own lives and the lives of their fellow human beings. Invested by caring for others, helping others and loving others.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

These simple words should be our life directive, but our culture has been on a long slide down to the point where we focus on more of what we are against rather than what we are for. The barrage of mudslinging political ads is almost nauseating regardless of the side taken. We hear about what people dislike about their opponent, when they just paid a huge sum of money to be given the chance to tell their potential constituencies what they actually stand for.

Maybe we common citizens, could set the future stage, by being for good, kindness, care, and love. Voting is our nations gift to choose who leads in our communities, states and nation, not a chance to vent about who we hate. Voting is an opportunity to have a voice and be heard and should always follow God’s call to pray for those who eventually lead us regardless if they are our favorite or not.

So does God care if we vote? I think He cares more about how we use our vote to do good, to save life, to protect people and to accomplish His will in the earth. As for me, I would say please vote, because if you don’t, then your silence has rendered you voiceless in doing good.