What a great word from David Platt! Before you Vote: Seven Questions Every Christian Should Ask is a great resource for those that desire to honor the Lord with their earthly citizenship. We are all laser focused on the outcome and contested results of the 2020 election, but if we take a step back…we can see that this is not the first time in the history of our country that there has been a lot at stake. How much more then should a Christ follower with an eye towards eternity evaluate their present circumstances?
As I post this review, every single commercial that comes on during the bowl games is related to the upcoming Senate runoff here in Georgia on January 5. I have voted. I don’t know who will win. God is sovereign and He will still be on his throne no matter what happens January 5th. I want to love my neighbor well and serve my community by pointing them to Jesus. That is a commitment I can honor every day that God gives me breath.
I highlighted several things while reading and posted those notes below…
- God commands us to pray for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:2–4 Location: 38
- In a country where the church is often divided over political positions, my purpose in this book is not more partisanship. My hope is to fuel deeper affection for Christ while fostering healthier conversations among Christians as we participate in a presidential election. Put another way, my chief concern in this book is not who wins on election day. My chief concern is infinitely more important. I’m concerned with where you stand in Christ and where we stand as the church on election day and in the days thereafter. Location: 95
- QUESTION 1: DOES GOD CALL ME TO VOTE? Location: 109
- This world is not a democracy. This world is a monarchy, and God is the King. Location: 128
- Government is a God-ordained institution for the purpose of promoting good and restraining evil. The purpose of government is to provide for the good of people and to punish bad conduct among people. By the design of God, government “bears the sword,” meaning government has the authority to enforce laws and penalize law-breakers. Location: 184
- Followers of Jesus should be submissive citizens of government with ultimate allegiance to God. Location: 187
- So what does God require of us? According to our short survey of Scripture, we conclude that God requires people to do the following: Reflect his just governance by working to promote good, punish evil, and protect all people from harm. See Genesis 1:27–28; 9:1–7; Psalm 8:5–8 Subject ourselves to and support government for the flourishing of all people. See Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17 Do justice—that which is right for all people as exemplified in the character of God and expressed in the Word of God. See Jeremiah 22:3; Micah 6:8 Pray and work for the welfare of the nation in which we live. See Jeremiah 29:7 Love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. See Matthew 22:37–40 Steward any responsibility we have in governance for the good of all people affected by our government. See Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Daniel 4:27 Based upon the biblical commands above, and the unique grace that God has given us as followers of Jesus and “governing” citizens in a representative democracy, it seems we have a responsibility before God and one another to steward our vote for the sake of good, God-glorifying governance. Location: 231
- In the end, what’s most important, and what I am definitively advocating for based on God’s Word, is the realization that how we use our vote is a matter of faithfulness before God. For our vote is a unique privilege and responsibility that God has entrusted to us by his grace, and God calls us to use every means of grace he grants us to love him above all and love our neighbors as ourselves. Location: 262
- QUESTION 2: WHO HAS MY HEART? Location: 265
- Even if we lose every freedom and protection we have as followers of Jesus in the United States, and even if our government were to become a completely totalitarian regime, we could still live an abundant life as long as we didn’t look to political leaders, platforms, or policies for our ultimate security and satisfaction. We can still have hope, peace, joy, and confidence regardless of what happens in our government, as long as, we look to Jesus alone for these things, and all of our hope hinges on him. Location: 282
- God’s image is stamped on every human heart. In other words, though Caesar may be worthy of a coin, God is worthy of our hearts. Location: 310
- The lesson the Israelites learned from their first two kings was clear: evil leaders will let you down, and good leaders will let you down. In the words of Psalm 146:3, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” Location: 328
- QUESTION 3: WHAT DOES MY NEIGHBOR NEED? Location: 397
- “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” JAMES 1:27 Location: 537
- One of the main points of the book of Jonah (if not the main point) is that God loves all people in all nations, even enemy nations, and God calls his people to make his grace and glory known among them all. But if we are not careful, we—like Jonah—can prioritize the good of our nation above proclaiming the gospel in other nations. We can be more concerned about our personal desires in our own country than we are about the eternal destinies of people in other countries. Location: 575
- QUESTION 4: WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN POSITION? Location: 598
- QUESTION 5: HOW DO I WEIGH THE ISSUES? Location: 755
- Does the political party I support show any lack of concern for any vulnerable individuals and groups? Location: 805
- No matter which way you vote, you’re going to support a candidate or party that may not align with biblical foundations in every possible area. Location: 825
- QUESTION 6: AM I EAGER TO MAINTAIN UNITY IN THE CHURCH? Location: 926
- I read the powerful language of Ephesians 4:3, in which Paul urges Christians to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Location: 945
- “May God grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ROMANS 15:5–6 Location: 961
- QUESTION 7: SO HOW DO I VOTE? Location: 1,109
- God calls us to steward our vote for the sake of his commands, including his commands to do justice, subject ourselves to and support government, seek the welfare of our nation, and love our neighbors as ourselves. The most important decision we can make is to yield our hearts to Jesus, placing all our trust, allegiance, and hope in him alone. The driving force in how we vote is supreme love for God and selfless love for others, both in our nation and throughout the world. We work to know the Christian position on issues that are clear according to God’s Word in order to form a Christian position on less clear issues that require our wisdom. Before voting, we weigh issues in terms of factors like biblical clarity and practical consequences. No matter how we vote, we are eager to maintain the unity of the church around Jesus and his Word, not around our personal political convictions. Location: 1,112
- biblical clarity and practical consequences—It’s my hope that considering both of these factors will help us as we vote amidst a two-party system of American politics in which our convictions may not always completely align with either of the parties or candidates in an election. Location: 1,126
- Proverbs 3:5–8: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Location: 1,245
- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5–7 Location: 1,255