“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ‘Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.’ So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’
And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’
When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way” (Matthew 22:15-22).

To Vote or Not to Vote? That is The Question

To expand on that question, we might ask several more.

Should believers become involved with political questions?
Is it our duty to campaign for a party or person?
Should we take a position on the social issues of the day?
Should we vote at all?

These are not easy questions, and I really believe good Christians can come to different conclusions on this topic. I am going to share my opinion based on the inspired writings, history, and logic. Then I will discuss some moral issues that I believe are worthy of thought and commitment. Finally, I will explain what it means to me to vote for Jesus.

This isn’t a New Question for Seventh-day Adventists

In 1856, David Hewitt wrote in our church paper,

"My brethren, shall we spend our time in political campaigns, . . . when we so soon expect Christ in all the glory of His Father, and all the holy angels with Him, when He shall sit upon the throne of His glory?" Review and Herald, Sept. 11, 1856.

A month later an Adventist minister wrote,

"I cannot vote for a bad man, for that is against my principles; and, under the present corrupt and corrupting state of politics, I could not wish to elevate a good man to office, for it would ruin him."

Temperance – laws controlling or banning the sale of alcohol – was a hot issue at the time, and three years later it seems that Brother Hewitt and others changed their views. After a meeting at the Battle Creek Church, Ellen White wrote this in her diary,

"Attended meeting in the eve. Had quite a free, interesting meeting. After it was time to close, the subject of voting was considered and dwelt upon. James first talked, then Brother Andrews talked, and it was thought by them best to give their influence in favor of right and against wrong. They think it right to vote in favor of temperance men being in office in our city instead of by their silence running the risk of having intemperance men put in office. Brother Hewett tells his experience of a few days [since] and is settled that [it] is right to cast his vote. Brother Hart talks well. Brother Lyon opposes. No others object to voting, but Brother Kellogg begins to feel that it is right. Pleasant feelings exist among all the brethren. O that they may all act in the fear of God” (Temperance 255).

A short time later she added,

"Men of intemperance have been in the office today in a flattering manner expressing their approbation of the course of the Sabbathkeepers not voting and expressed hopes that they will stick to their course and like the Quakers, not cast their vote. Satan and his evil angels are busy at this time, and he has workers upon the earth. May Satan be disappointed, is my prayer" (Temperance, pp. 255, 256).

A greater issue in 1860 was that of slavery and the threat of the southern states seceding from the Union. It was certainly the most important election our young country’s history. In 1862, James White wrote, “Those of our people who voted at all at the last Presidential election, to a man voted for Abraham Lincoln. We know of not one man among Seventh-day Adventists who has the least sympathy for secession." Aug. 12, 1862

In 1865, at just the third General Conference Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist church, it was voted:

"Resolved, That in our judgment, the act of voting when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but that the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife."

And in Fundamentals of Christian Education we read:

“Dear youth, what is the aim and purpose of your life? Are you ambitious for education that you may have a name and position in the world? Have you thoughts that you dare not express, that you may one day stand up on the summit of intellectual greatness; that you may sit in deliberative and legislative councils, and help to enact laws for the nation? There is nothing wrong in these aspirations. You may every one of you make your mark. You should be content with no mean attainments. Aim high and spare no pains to reach the standard.” (p 82.)

One year before her death, Ellen White wrote,

“There is a cause for the moral paralysis upon society. Our laws sustain an evil which is sapping their very foundations. Many deplore the wrongs which they know exist, but consider themselves free from all responsibility in the matter. This cannot be. Every individual exerts an influence in society. In our favored land, every voter has some voice in determining what laws shall control the nation. Should not that influence and that vote be cast on the side of temperance and virtue?" (Review and Herald, Oct. 15, 1914).

So, What Does the Bible say About Voting?

Very little. Most nations were ruled exclusively by kings who exercised absolute authority.

However, the Bible says quite a bit about being a good citizen of the country you live in. In Deuteronomy 1:13, Moses reflects on how, following his father-in-law's advice, authority was distributed among the tribes and families of Israel. “Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.”

In his first letter to Timothy Paul writes,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

In his letter to the Romans, he expands on this concept with details that make this independent American cringe just a bit,

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Romans 13:1-7.

Peter is in harmony with Paul,

“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13-17).

Of course, Jesus, himself, says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's” (Matthew 22:21).

The book of Proverbs makes some valuable observations.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

There are many lessons in these verses. I want to focus on three that have impacted my thinking about voting.

First, it is clear that our Father expects his children to be good citizens of the country they live in while in this world. And maybe not just “good’ citizens but the best. The duties and privileges of citizenship look different at various times and in different nations.
Second, righteous and sober leaders improve the standard of living for everyone under their rulership. Sinful and selfish leaders create tyranny and misery.
I draw the third point from a broader reading of Scripture. Those who find themselves in positions of power cannot please God by abdicating that power. Joseph was second in authority only to Pharoah when Egypt was the greatest nation on earth. Moses was called to lead millions of stubborn slaves for forty years of wilderness wanderings. David was called to be king of Israel. Daniel was called to be the chief advisor to three different kings.

In the government designed by the founders of the United States of America, every citizen is a king. The people are given supreme authority. It is an abdication of that authority to be ignorant of issues that impact the prosperity of the nation. It is an abdication of duty to be silent in the face of evil men making evil decisions. It is an abdication of responsibility, I believe, to fail to vote for persons and issues that might stem the tide of tyranny that must eventually cause the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13 to become the enforcer for the dragon.

And there’s the rub. We know what is coming. We know the future of this country and the world.

“When [apostate] Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near” (T5 451).

Does knowing what is inevitably coming excuse me from resisting the rise of tyranny and oppression?

There are many issues that concern God’s faithful people today. Some are so disturbing that we cannot find the will to even investigate them seriously. Pornography. Abortion. Sexual perversion normalized and celebrated. Homelessness. Lawlessness. Drug abuse. Child trafficking.

For the founders of our country, our church, and Ellen White, one issue rises above all others. The founders made their commitment clear. They enshrined it in the first amendment to the Constitution.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has an entire department designed to be devoted to religious liberty with branches in every part of the world. We publish a magazine titled Liberty. We lobby Congress and provide legal assistance to people of any religion whose jobs or freedom are threatened because of their beliefs.

The importance of religious liberty runs throughout the writings of Ellen White, but it takes a special place in The Great Controversy where chapter 35 is titled “Liberty of Conscience Threatened.”

“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed!” (GC 563).

“In past ages, when men were without God's word and without the knowledge of the truth, their eyes were blindfolded, and thousands were ensnared, not seeing the net spread for their feet. In this generation there are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations, “science falsely so called;” they discern not the net, and walk into it as readily as if blindfolded. God designed that man's intellectual powers should be held as a gift from his Maker and should be employed in the service of truth and righteousness; but when pride and ambition are cherished, and men exalt their own theories above the word of God, then intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance. Thus the false science of the present day, which undermines faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages” (GC 572).

“Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured” (GC 581).

Conclusion

I hope the thoughts shared here prove helpful in some way. I pray you will consider seriously your rights and duties as a citizen of the United States or whatever nation you reside in.

Are you aware that Jesus lost an election? When offered a choice between Jesus and Barabas (a rebel and a murderer), Barabas won in a landslide. When given a choice of kings the citizens of Jerusalem responded, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Jesus was neither surprised nor discouraged by His apparent failure to win the popular vote. He had already replied to Pilate’s inquiry, “My kingdom is not of this world.” As you consider the following statements, I pray the response of your heart will echo our Saviour.

I will render onto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.
I will not allow my political opinions to damage my witness for Jesus.
I will obey the laws of my country unless they contradict the laws of my God.
I am committed to obeying God’s Word above the laws and traditions of men.

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