Why Christian Citizenship - Why Vote
By Carol Sewell
What did the Founders believe?
Before we can fully comprehend the Constitution and the men who wrote it, we first have to understand their worldview. The founding fathers were well educated in the Bible, and most of them were religious. They learned to read from the Bible, and they studied its truths. Men equally well versed in the Bible wrote most of the other books that they read. Therefore, the founding fathers approached everything they did from a Biblical worldview. These men believed that the Bible was the basis for good and just laws, the instrument for truth and liberty. True freedom, they believed, was a gift from God.
Our constitution was written from a Biblical worldview perspective by men of God.
However, it is not enough to know only what the founders believed. We must examine what we truly believe about God and the Bible. When we gain these foundational understandings, we can begin to effectively steward our civic responsibilities in ways that truly make a difference in both our culture and our government.
"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind."
Dr. Benjamin Rush, Signer of Declaration, founder of the Bible Society, Philosophical Society, Academy of Arts and Sciences, Abolitionist Society, Father of Modern Medicine, Father of Public Schools.
Why Vote?
Taking freedom and liberty for granted, Americans have grown fat and lazy. Forgotten are the sacrifices that make it possible to live in the most free and prosperous country in the world. Many people around the world do not have a voice in their government and, instead, live in fear without freedom to worship as they choose, to own property, to speak freely or to control their economy.
The early American colonists cherished these basic rights that we take for granted. We are blessed to live in the United States of America. It is time for us to step up and take responsibility to protect what has been given to us.
Did we not all rejoice in the early 2000’s, when we watched the Afghan and Iraqi people set free and then participate in free elections? After deliverance from oppressive regimes, they turned out in massive numbers to vote in free elections for their new leaders and representatives. Even with the threat of death by sniper fire or suicide bombers, they willingly risked their lives to stand in line and exercise their right to vote. For the women, this intimidation was particularly fierce since the role of women in these cultures, especially Afghanistan, has been so oppressive. Covered by their native attire from head to toe, the women in Afghanistan conquered their fear and voiced their opinion by voting for the first time. Yet, in America, we let little things like bad weather keep us from voting. Heaven forbid that we might have to stand in a long line in the rain. This form of apathy is especially evident at the local and state levels.
As registered voters, we are able to bring about change in our nation. As the preamble to the Constitution reads, we are a nation of “We, the people.” Voting is both a privilege and a responsibility and should not be taken lightly or for granted. There are many places around the world where the privilege to vote is absent; in other areas the elections are rigged in advance so the people actually have no voice in their government at all. It is only through prayer and vigilance that the United States is still a nation of “We, the people”. Our votes can and do make a difference.
Many people choose not to vote because they do not think their vote will make a difference. However, if just one person on every street or in every voting precinct had thought that way through the years, the course of history would have been very different. Many elections were won or lost by only one vote. In fact, several of our states, including California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington, became states by just ONE vote. In 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, became a U.S. senator by ONE vote. The Declaration of Independence hinged on just ONE vote. These are just a few examples of how one vote made a huge difference. Each and every vote represents the voice of a citizen of the United States of America. One voice speaking out can change the course of history.
With this in mind, voting should be considered a very important privilege. Not voting should never be considered a viable option. Up until we reach voting age, our lives revolve around our relationships with God, family, friends, teachers and peers. The question “What would Jesus do in this situation?” has often applied only to these few areas as we lived out our faith. However, once we become an adult, we have to accept added adult responsibilities which must be taken seriously. “What would Jesus do?” also applies to first educating ourselves on the important issues of our society, learning the truth of the history of our Founding Fathers, understanding our political process and how it applies to us on a daily basis as well as the consequences of our actions. Once educated, we can follow “What would Jesus do?” and truly become salt and light in our civil society.
With each season of life, our responsibilities vary in degree of importance and difficulty. Many people are so involved with fun, work, family and life in general that the idea of civic duty is forgotten or ignored. As Christians, what is our role in a secular society and government? Is God really involved in government?
Carol’s next article “God and Government” answers these questions.
This article written by Carol Sewell is the part of a series in which we explore the American system of government and its foundation in Biblical principles. You will find yourself equipped to articulate your beliefs, put them into action and pass them to the next generation.
Check out our Christians Engaged Store where Carol’s book “What Were They Thinking” is available for purchase.