“I think it is a disgrace that half the Christians in America aren’t even registered to vote, and of those who are, only half go to the polls. . . . When we withhold our influence and participation, we yield by default to those who promote immoral and destructive policies.” – James Dobson, Psychologist & Author
I read an article written by Dwayne Hastings in SBC Life discussing the issues of Christians and Churches in the Electoral Process. The article points out that the biggest fear of churches getting involved in the election process is the loss of their tax-exempt status. I can certainly understand this and have in fact experienced this same fear as I thought about the upcoming election year and what the church could do. We certainly save thousands of dollars each year in purchasing things for the church that are tax-exempt and it comes down to the question; is it really worth risking the tax exempt status of the church to play a role in the electoral process? The good news is that churches do not have to make this difficult decision because we can play a valuable role in the election process and it is perfectly legal.
“Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.” – Billy Graham, Evangelist
The law says that tax-exempt organizations cannot be involved in partisan politics; however there is nothing wrong with taking part in the civic processes of our nation. The main difference between a Christian voter and a non-Christian voter is that for the Christian, our faith dictates our decisions. We don’t separate and segregate our faith from our everyday lives which includes politics. As Southern Baptists it would be wrong for us to set aside our beliefs and place God on the backburner when we come to the voting arena. It is that very faith that should dictate how we vote and it is the U.S. Constitution which guarantees all Americans the freedom to vote in such a manner, including Christians.
“Vote your values instead of your political affiliation or pocketbook. Don’t get stuck on a politician’s label. Look for candidates who promote decency, accountability, and responsibility framed within biblical standards.” – Richard Land, President, ERLC
According to the SBC Life article, “The rules for all tax-exempt organizations are simple: No endorsing candidates. No favoring one candidate over another. Any outreach for voter awareness or voter registration must be broad-based; in other words, you have to make your efforts available to anyone who wants to participate. And when you are addressing the issues, you need to address a wide range of issues. That’s it. There is nothing to be concerned about. The law is on your side, despite what some fanatical state-church separations would like you to believe.”
“Ultimately, our loyalty belongs not to any political party or candidate but to God Almighty. And when the time comes, I believe God may ask each of us about how we voted and why.” – Richard Land, President, ERLC
It is important for Christians to register and to vote. Unfortunately the fear that drives churches into silence causes church members to “fail to see the connection between their faith and their role as citizens.” This causes church members to either not vote at all or to miss the importance of voting in the first place. It is the pastor’s job and obligation to help church members understand the process and to encourage members of their respective congregations to vote.
“No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” – Ronald Reagan, U. S President
“Churches can host nonpartisan voter registration drives, as long as they allow anyone who wants to register to vote to register and those involved in the drive don’t encourage registering so individuals can vote for candidate X over candidate Y. If they chose, churches can distribute a compilation of candidates’ responses to questions on the issues. The compilation, often called a voters’ guide, should contain no editorial opinion, no bias in the reporting of the candidates’ answers or in the questions posed, and cover a wide range of issues.” – Allowing Church members to take a good look at each candidates answers to important questions will help them to make the connection between their own beliefs and faith and the beliefs of each particular candidate. This gives Christian voters the opportunity to vote for the candidate with similar values in life.
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote . . . that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams, Founding Father
Fear is the biggest enemy to the electoral process. Many people do not want Bible-believing Americans like Southern Baptists to be a part of the electoral process so their agenda is to scare churches and Christians into not voting at all, or they attempt to trick them into voting outside of their own values.
“Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God. . . . God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.” – Charles Finney, Evangelist
Our faith and values should not only effect how we live our lives, but it should also effect how we vote. That is what Hastings calls “values-based voting.” We must first evaluate our own values, hopefully derived from the Godly values of scripture and then examine the convictions of the candidates. Christians should vote with purpose for those candidates whose positions square with their own scripturally informed ones.
“In the United States of America, you have a choice. You have the right to sit at home on Election Day, or you can exercise your right to vote. As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a choice as well. You can turn your back on society and keep the Light of the Gospel to yourself, or you can stand up and step out and engage the culture with the Truth, especially in the voting booth. It’s your decision.”
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is striving to help churches and individuals better understand their rights under the law. They have created a website called iVoteValues.com which provides excellent resources for churches that appreciate the role they can play in the civic affairs of our nation.
We encourage you to register to vote. There are voter registration cards located throughout the church building and if you would like more information please contact the church office.
Craig Tanner
