As I’ve traveled across the nation this year, I’ve had many opportunities to share about my work mobilizing Christians to engage in the political process. What continues to surprise me, however, is that many believers tell me they do not plan to vote because their vote “doesn’t matter.”

Some tell me, “I already know who is going to win in my state.” Others claim, “I don’t know any of the people on the ballot. I wouldn’t even know who to vote for.” Still others tell me that it doesn’t matter who gets elected, because the problems will still be the same.

Regardless of our opinions, it’s important to look at what God’s Word states about the importance of being involved in our communities.

This year we started the Christmas season by watching the Frank Capra classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, which stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. We have seen this movie many times, but this year we were struck by the contrast between Bedford Falls and Pottersville, and we saw in it a message for times such as ours. Sadly, it seemed to us that our world today looks much like Pottersville.

Part 16 - Application for America (Part 2)

Jesus instructed his followers to be salt and light because a silent Church and silent Christians spell disaster for any culture. If the salt and light are removed, despair, darkness, and death will reign in the real world today, just as they did in the fictional Tom Sawyer cave of the 1840s.

Without a prepared text he was at times inarticulate. His gift was not brilliance or wit as much as it was incorruptible character. He spoke simply, clearly, and from his heart about his journey to this time and place.

Praying for our leaders is something we all should do, and it is incredibly important because if our leaders and government go off track, it becomes more and more difficult to “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (I Timothy 2:2)

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)

God’s Word shows us the best way to live. Believers are supposed to live righteous lives marked by virtue. We are supposed to honor and obey the government. But when the wicked rule, they harm the people by enacting unjust laws and unbiblical policies. So Scripture also authorizes civil disobedience, that is, obeying God’s law when doing so requires disobeying human edicts. But biblical civil disobedience doesn’t mean we can just do whatever we want, and it doesn’t mean we can disobey any law we don’t like. So what should we do when the government becomes unjust? And what should our civil disobedience look like?