Election Integrity – Does It Matter?
Note: By publishing an article on Election Integrity - we are not making a determination on the 2020 Presidential election - we are simply laying out the case for why Christians should care at every level about voter fraud, election integrity, and fair processes in our nation. We hope you are encouraged as you read this piece by one of our board members.
By Scott Jones
Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.[i]
Clearly God intends for us to select leaders who fear God and are truthful and honest. But how are we to do this? In the United States, a constitutional republic, elections are the principal means. Noah Webster believed voting is a solemn right. He wrote, “…let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men wo will rule in the fear of God”, citing Exodus 18:21. Webster went on to say that if the citizens neglect this duty, and unprincipled men attain office, then the results will be public corruption, incompetence, and waste of revenues.[ii]Our founders believed that preservation of the republic depended on obedience to the Bible by both the citizens and by those that they chose as leaders. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked person rules, people groan.[iii]
Elections in the United States are a democratic process. The democratic process is a stewardship that God has entrusted to the citizens. For this reason, citizens must be well-informed and vote for candidates that will govern by Biblical principles.[iv] In this regard, citizens should know what the Bible says about civil government, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide them. Who is the person who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.[v] Election of principled leaders promotes the ability of the citizens to lead quiet and tranquil lives in all godliness and dignity.[vi] Samuel Adams said, “…those who are to have a share in making as well as in judging and executing the laws should be men of singular wisdom and integrity.”[vii]
One Biblical principle that is essential to civil order is justice. The Lord loves fairness and justice.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; All the weights of the bag are His concern.[viii]
He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.[ix]
Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.[x]
He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?[xi]
God desires us to have righteous and just leaders.
The strength of the King loves justice; You have established order; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.[xii]
By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.[xiii]
It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness.[xiv]
In contrast, God looks unfavorably on wicked leaders who distort justice, take bribes, and change the rules of civil government (i.e. “move the boundary marker”).
‘Cursed is one who distorts the justice due a stranger, an orphan, or a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’[xv]
Therefore the Law is ignored, And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out confused.[xvi]
The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a person who takes bribes ruins it.[xvii]
The leaders of Judah have become like those who displace a boundary marker; On them I will pour out My anger like water.[xviii]
To recap, civil leaders matter to God, justice matters to God, and God desires us to exercise our civic responsibility to select, through elections, leaders that will govern by Biblical principles. Since God hates dishonest scales and moving boundaries, it seems reasonable that He looks unfavorably on dishonest elections. If Christian citizens neglect their duty to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, justly, and according to the rule of law, then they can expect corruption, incompetence, waste, and oppression in government. This will not accomplish God’s will and will not promote living peaceful and quiet lives. Even if many of our fellow citizens seem to favor corrupt elections if their guy wins, we Christians must not follow them. You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to join together with a crowd in order to pervert justice;[xix] We should always seek righteousness and justice in public affairs.
Thus, Christians have a moral responsibility to stand against dishonesty and fraud in the election processes, whether by illegal votes, by manipulation of technology, by unconstitutional changes to the voting rules, or by foreign interference. This is necessary to ensure that God-fearing, moral, righteous, and just men and women become leaders. Christians should not be so invested in their candidate that they tolerate fraud as the means by which they prevail. The prevention of election fraud is so strongly tied to God’s law that in 1904 the Court of Appeals in West Virginia cited the Ten Commandments as the basis for laws preventing election fraud.[xx]
Election of leaders has practical applications as well. To begin with it is a way to determine the will of the people. Elections also provide citizens with a nonviolent way to settle disputes and differences. Even the losing parties know that they will get another hearing at the next election. This is why our republic has existed in civil tranquility and peace for most of our history. Elections, fairly administered, also promote faith in the civil government. Fairness is implanted in our moral fiber as one of the many expressions of the image of God. When we know elections are fair and just, we can confidently support the outcomes, even where the outcome is not what we personally desired. Conversely, a fraudulent or unfair election promotes distrust, anger, and civil disorder. If a group of citizens believe an election was unfair, they will not have much faith in the opportunity to correct the situation in the next election.
In recent elections we have seen allegations of fraud and corruption that are worthy of a full hearing. Our courts should ensure that these cases are judged based on the evidence and are not dismissed on legal technicalities. Justice is necessary to ensure that the citizens can have faith in the election process. Equitable judgement is the duty of the courts, but it appears that today’s courts are more interested in forcing a baker to bake a cake that conflicts with his religious values than in adjudicating matters fundamental to the continuance of the republic.
So, what do we do when elections are corrupt, courts ignore injustice, and our leaders are immoral and oppressive? Do we give up? No, indeed. God is still on the throne and His Son Jesus is returning to make things right again: “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul delights; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.[xxi] While we wait for His return, we should be busy praying for justice and for our leaders. We should also be promoting Biblical principles in governance and leadership through elections and through the other civil means at our disposal. And most of all, we must proclaim the name of Jesus to the world around us. As Paul tells us:
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.[xxii]
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“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation"
Works Cited:
Barton, David, Brad Cummings, and Lance Wubbels, . 2012. The Founders' Bible. Newbury Park, CA: Shiloh Road Publishers.
Grudem, Wayne. 2010. Politics According to the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[i] Exodus 18:21
[ii] (Barton, Cummings and Wubbels 2012)
[iii] Proverbs 29:2
[iv] (Grudem 2010)
[v] Psalm 25:12
[vi] 1Timothy 2:2
[vii] (Barton, Cummings and Wubbels 2012)
[viii] Proverbs 16:11
[ix] Psalm 33:5
[x] Deuteronomy 16:20
[xi] Micah 6:8
[xii] Psalm 99:4
[xiii] Proverbs 8:15
[xiv] Proverbs 16:12
[xv] Deuteronomy 27:19
[xvi] Habakkuk 1:4
[xvii] Proverbs 29:4
[xviii] Hosea 5:10
[xix] Exodus 23:2
[xx] (Barton, Cummings and Wubbels 2012)
[xxi] Matthew 12:18
[xxii] 1 Timothy 2:1-4