JAMES 2:18-20: “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” NKJV
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OBSERVATION: What does faith have to do with voting? Many who are running for office are quoting Scriptures and making reference to their faith as they try to garner votes. Yet, how does a Christ-follower vet these statements, and how does their faith affect the way that they will vote?

To be honest, most people, including Christians, vote their pocketbook. Years ago the phrase was coined – “It’s the economy, stupid!” Yet, in the words of the great philosopher, Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does!” If we are going to truly allow our faith to guide us in how we vote we have to dig much deeper.

The future of a nation is not determined by its GDP. The future of a nation is determined by its morality. Year after year, as we have voted for our pocketbooks, we have watched a continual decrease in morality in our nation. The nightly news is filled with violence, burning, and senseless killing. And, if we are brutally honest, we are simply seeing the reflection in the mirror of our national morality at play.

Now, we cannot expect those who are not Christ-followers to uphold the values taught in Scripture. Yet, our faith calls us to do this. James makes it very clear. Truth faith is always followed by action. We are not saved by our works. However, true saving faith will always produce godly obedience and works of righteousness. And, this faith will both call us to the polls and guide us in how we vote.

There are two guiding principles that people of faith should use in determining which candidate and party they vote for. These two principles are the Ten Commandments (God’s moral code), and the sanctity of human life (God’s social code). Our society has thrown both of these under the bus. We cannot!

There are those quoting Scriptures, out of context, and without understanding, to sound spiritual as they uphold views that are counter to these two principles. We need to realize that anyone can quote a verse of Scripture out of context. Entire cults have been formed by this practice. Yet, the Christ-follower must look to the moral declarations of a Holy God and His concern for the sanctity of the unborn and the elderly, as guiding principles for their decision on how to vote.

Israel, as God’s chosen nation, was judged because they turned from God’s moral code and served other gods. They grew in their depravity to the extent that they were offering their children as sacrifices to the false god Molech. They watched as their children burned in the fire. We cannot even imagine such brutality. This is because the sacrifices that are made in our nation are made behind closed doors, in buildings of destruction that are cloaked as medical clinics.

If our nation is judged, if we witness the final slide into the mire and muck of depravity and social decay, it will be because we too simply stood by and did not exercise our faith. God is calling us to repent. God is calling us to pray. And, God is calling us to do our civic duty and vote.

“But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without voting, and I will show you my faith by how I vote at the polls.” (My paraphrase)

Lord, move in your people! This morning I repent of my sin. I cry out to you for our nation. Give me the grace and strength to let my voice be heard and my vote counted for the principles of righteousness and life!

In Jesus Name!