By CAL Staff
Christian Action League
September 12, 2016
One of the most basic duties of a good Christian citizen is to vote. Voting is actually a matter of Christian stewardship. In our Representative Republic, its part of what it means to obey the command of Jesus, who said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
The liberty to vote for our leaders is a privilege many other countries don’t possess. Moreover, this liberty has been purchased at great cost – the blood of many patriots. We dare not neglect it.
If you aren’t registered to vote in the upcoming election in November, you should make it a priority to contact your local Board of Elections without delay. The voter registration deadline is 25 days before the election.
For additional information about voter registration in North Carolina, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website and click on “Voter Registration.”
Just as important as voting, however, is being an informed voter. The late Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ has eloquently expressed the reason for this duty:
“Just as the untrained soldier is at the mercy of his enemy, the uninformed Christian is incapable of prevailing against the forces of evil in the world of politics. In order to serve God effectively as a citizen, you must know how to act for his glory within the framework of existing political systems and processes. Knowledge is essential to effective action. ‘The wise man is crowned with knowledge’” (Proverbs 14:18).
How can you become a well-informed Christian on social issues from a strong Christian worldview? When entering the voter’s booth, how can you be empowered with the kind of information necessary to make your vote count for Christ’s sake?
Assisting you in this way is a very important part of the Christian Action League’s ministry. We seek to keep you apprised of the issues. We want to help you understand them and interpret them in the light of Scripture. We want to equip you to engage in addressing these issues – speaking to your family members, friends, colleagues, lawmakers, and local officials about them.
Another way the League can help is by pointing you to resources made available by other ministries that share these same concerns.
This week, the Christian Action League wishes to highlight three resources, not provided by the League, but by our friends and partners in ministry. These resources should prove to be invaluable to you in making your decisions about voting and political involvement.
North Carolina Family Policy Council Voter Guide
First, the North Carolina Family Policy Council provides an excellent Voter Guide for the 2016 Election. It is impartial and nonpartisan, and exceptionally comprehensive. It contains information that you will not get from any other voter guide available. The Christian Action League highly recommends it.
The guide surveys over 340 candidates that are running for the following offices:
- S. Senate and U.S. House;
- C. Governor, Lt. Governor, and Council of State;
- C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals;
- C. Senate and N.C. House
It provides critical information about where the candidates stand on important issues such as sanctity of life, religious liberty, parental rights, educational choice, gambling, and much more. The voter’s guide is for free and may be ordered in bulk for your church, civic group, or other interested parties.
You can place your order by visiting their website at this page.
Where the Political Parties Stand on the Issues
Second, unlike days of yesteryear in American politics when there seemingly were very few differences between Democrats and Republicans, today the distinctions are stark. This is especially true regarding their positions on moral and social issues.
Wayne Grudem in his book, Politics: According to the Bible, rightly summarizes the case, arguing, “The differences between Republicans and Democrats today have great significance. These differences are not accidental, but stem from the differing convictions about several moral and theological issues.”
Some people say, “When I vote, I don’t consider the Party, but the man or woman running.” It’s not that simple. Candidates that align themselves with a political Party have agreed to represent its philosophy of government, as well as work for a particular political agenda – the Party platform. The vision of the Party for a state or nation drives its legislative initiatives or responses to proposed legislation. This aspect of the political dynamic cannot be ignored. It affects the outcomes on every level.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association provides a succinct description of the differences between the two Party platforms on key issues that should be of great concern to every Christian.
In the right margin of the homepage of the Christian Action League’s website, you will find a link to this information from the BGEA. Click on the icon that looks like a Capitol Dome (as seen displayed to the right).
You should know where the two major political Parties, Democrats and Republicans, stand on key matters like:
- Sanctity of Human Life
- Marriage
- Religious Freedom
- Federal Judges
- National Defense
- Terrorism
- Human Rights
- Immigration
- Internet Safety and Decency
- Addressing Poverty
- Law and Order
- Israel and Jerusalem
The BGEA breaks this information down in an easy way to understand, while also providing direct links to both the Democratic and Republican Party platforms.
Aiding Pastors and Churches in Navigating the Law
Third, absolutely indispensable to the political process today are pastors who are willing to speak out with a prophetic voice in our own time – to preach on the issues that pertain to the election – to equip God’s people to be “salt” and “light” to the culture as Jesus commanded. Without such direction provided by godly leadership, our nation ends-up with only “the blind leading the blind,” which results in the whole nation falling in the ditch.
Dr. Joel McDurmon of American Vision has eloquently stated, “The problem is that our pulpits and preachers today have abandoned the fullness of what Christ commanded us: to disciple nations and to teach them all of His commandments. That Great Commission includes the call, which our forefathers ably demonstrated, to speak truth to the public realm: to call out rulers, governments, laws, abuse, and to demand liberty and justice. In all our preaching today about iniquity and sin, we neglect to address inequity and tyranny.”
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a law firm that specializes in religious freedom concerns, says that one of the reasons pastors often remain silent is because they are apprehensive. They are afraid of navigating what they believe to be “the treacherous waters of socio-political, legislative, and tax exemption questions.” ADF says pastors are worried about what they can and cannot do by law.
In response to that need, ADF has provided an all-inclusive explanation of what pastors and churches are legally allowed to do when politically engaging. They provide a guide titled, Pastors Churches and Politics: A Legal Guide for Ministries on Political Engagement.
As ADF describes it, the guide is meant to help ministries and pastors navigate the laws surrounding tax-exempt status for religious organizations – like churches.
“It will equip you to identify what activities are permitted and prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code) and its regulations,” so that pastors can both shepherd their people and protect their ministries, says ADF.
The Christian Action League has also made this information easily accessible by placing an icon for the ADF guide in the right margin of the homepage of its website. Click on the icon that has a church steeple (as seen displayed to the right).
Daniel Webster said, “Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens.”
These suggested resources should aid you in your responsibility to be a good Christian citizen, especially during election season.