By Dr. Douglas Groothuis
As the election draws near and politics is unavoidable, I offer a few reflections about the nature and meaning of voting, since so much confusion typically surrounds these issues. I have been writing about this and saying this for years, but here we go again.
The Theology of Voting
First, theologically, there is no voting for anything in the Bible. The only election is God’s unilateral election of the redeemed. The concept of political voting was alien in biblical times, although Israel’s faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God’s covenants appealed to the spirit and actions of the people in general (Deuteronomy 8, 28). When the Jews demanded a king, things did not go too well, as was predicted (1 Samuel 8). The closest to voting in the New Testament is when lots were cast for who would replace Judas as an Apostle (Acts 1). But that was not a matter of popularity, but a method used in the Old Testament and only once in the New Testament. Casting lots meant that the pertinent authorities could not decide, so they gave God the vote. This option is not open to us.
Despite this, the notion of a representative republic finds its deepest inspiration, not in Greek democracy, but in the Hebrew covenantal structure of civil government. I touch on this in Fire in the Streets, but for the richer argument, see Os Guinness.
Second, a vote for a candidate is not necessarily an endorsement of that person’s character or even of all of their policies. The ideal is voting for a good man or women. We had that option with Ronald Reagan, and I felt about the same in voting for George W. Bush twice given his character and most of his policies (especially considering the alternatives). However, “No Child Left Behind” was ill-conceived and ineffective and the war in Iraq now seems ill-advised and overly optimistic.
Third, although you do not get graded for your vote, voting without preparation is as foolish as going into an examination having not studied. But we should only vote if we are well-informed and can vote legally. Voting is a right that should not be abused through ignorance—the problem of “the low information voter.” If you are a political ignoramus, please don’t vote.
The Metaphysics of Voting
A vote simply means that you want person X to hold office rather another person Y or Z. It doesn’t mean that person X is morally upright or that you even like person X. But you are voting for the commander-in-chief not the pastor-in-chief or the moral philosopher-in-chief. We don’t have Platonic Philosopher-Kings or God-anointed kings or judges as in the Old Testament. Jesus is not on the ballot. If your church takes a vote for a new pastor or for another church leader, the situation is radically different. You must vote on character, doctrine, and fitness for ministry. And you have several candidates to choose from, unlike a presidential election. That is the metaphysics of a vote in an election for office.
The Morality of Voting
Voting for “the lesser of two evils,” is not evil even though it is also the evil of two lessers. To do so is not even wrong. It does not commit an evil but is simply a vote for a lesser candidate. It is not like deciding to steal instead of to murder, since stealing is the lesser of two evils. Most citizens have little say on who ends up on the ticket, so bad binary choices are all-too common. But we can vote, and we should vote (once we have studied the issues adequately).
In light of my reasoning, because I am a Christian conservative, I am voting for Donald Trump for the third time. I will don no MAGA hat nor attend a Trump rally, however, since he is a substandard candidate on policy and on character. However, the alternative is unthinkable, Kamala Harris. She is a far left, pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ, unserious politician, who also supports open borders, socialized medicine, and who is no friend of Israel against its terrorist enemies.
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