Don't Sit Home on Election Day

“I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be brought, and set there in the face of all men as on a candlestick.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Earlier this week, I saw a graphic that didn’t surprise me, but was disheartening, nonetheless. Actually, let me rephrase that. It didn’t just make me sad; the graphic made me angry.

The graphic in question showed that in the 2024 general election, when America was choosing its 47th President, only 56% of people who self-identify as Christians voted. That means that 44% of professing Christians stayed home on Election Day.

Like I said, I’m not shocked, just extremely disturbed by the laziness and apathy of my fellow believers. And so is Rev. Josh Howerton, Senior Pastor of Lakepointe Church in Dallas TX. Here is how Pastor Howerton views a Christian’s civic responsibility, including voting…

“When Christians do not vote, what they're doing is they are abdicating their leadership position in the constitutional republic that God has placed you in. And it's a form of passive rebellion against God in the exact same way that it would be wrong for a husband to refuse to lead his family, and it would be wrong for a pastor to refuse to lead his church."

Ouch… but spot on! Here’s some more biblical reasoning from Pastor Howerton…

“You cannot read the Bible about Moses, Daniel, Esther, Nathan, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, and think that the church and pastors should avoid addressing government and governmental leaders. You just can't do it. It's all throughout the Bible.”

Right again, Pastor Josh! Keep going…

"If the church won't disciple people, the world will. If godly leaders, godly pastors and godly voices all go silent or refuse to be clear on issues related to politics and government, then the only voices that are left are the godless ones.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. And then there’s this…

“What's happening right now is, the Church is not getting more political, politics are getting more theological, and politics are getting more spiritual. When the government moved past things like building roads, issuing driver's licenses, and teaching math, to things like redefining marriage, erasing gender, reframing abortion as reproductive rights and then using the government school system to indoctrinate everybody's kids into believing those things, … the Church didn't move, politics did."

BINGO! Now go out and vote…. and base your vote on biblical principles!

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President