What Does Scripture Say About Government Leadership and Voting?
A country is unique by its landscape, cultural tendencies, diversity, and socioeconomics. Among other distinctives, a country is shaped by its governmental structure and leadership. The United States of America has a brief and vibrant history, which is rooted in several attributes, including the freedom of speech, pursuit of happiness, and balance of governmental power. Although the United States has never been and never will be a perfect country, I consider it a blessing to live here. As with other nations, our country faces many challenges, which are, of course and in some ways, related to leadership. So, what does Scripture tell us about the role of government, voting, and making God-honoring choices as citizens of the United States? The Bible addresses some of these questions–directly or indirectly. Let’s take a closer look.
How should I view government leadership?
After outlining how Christ-followers are to love others who are hard to love in Romans 12, Paul turns the gospel application to governing authorities.
“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.” (Romans 13:1-2)
Our understanding of government and how to interact with government is built upon the foundation of God’s sovereignty. Verse 1 tells us that governmental authority is God-ordained, and God is the final, ultimate, and true authority. This verse should supply great peace to us because, not only did God institute the government, God is sovereignly in authority over the government. This reminds me of Job’s realization of God’s sovereign authority after enduring the trials he faced: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). Even Joseph saw God’s sovereign reign in the midst of hardships when he said to his brothers who betrayed him, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). I’m also reminded of the groups of people God sent to display his sovereign reign and to discipline his people in the Old Testament–Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greek, Roman. I consider the reign of God over the judges and kings of Israel. In all of these cases, God proved to be the sovereign authority. And, he still is! God is in sovereign authority over our government.
Romans 13:2 warns us to refrain from resisting the authority God has appointed because, if we do, we will “incur judgment.” Because God, as the sovereign authority, appoints government leaders, we must not resist or oppose them; rather, we are to submit to them (Romans 13:1). This involves trusting God’s supreme and unrestricted reign. Additionally, our submission to our governing leaders is to obey God and avoid his punishment, as well as a matter of “conscience” (Romans 13:5). Therefore, Paul goes on to request that we pay taxes in verses 6-7. We pay taxes because the government leaders are serving under God’s authority (Romans 13:6). Even Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17).
It’s important for us to remember that, although God reigns over all creation, his reign over his redeemed people (redemptive kingdom) applies differently than his reign over the civil world (common kingdom). For example, God makes promises to those who are redeemed by Christ: They will be righteous, take on the likeness of Christ, and receive eternal glory without any separation from God (Romans 8:28-29, 38-39). God is actively sanctifying his people to himself. However, those who are not in Christ are still under God’s authority, but they are not being sanctified by the Spirit. They are seeking their own sinful passions, and God’s allowing them to do so (Romans 1:21-25). God’s reign over his redemptive people draws them increasingly to himself; while, God’s reign over the common kingdom–although it is not absent of common grace–does not necessarily infer the world will honor God. So, we must not expect that people (and government leaders) who do not know Christ will look, act, and speak as Jesus does.
Finally, Romans 13:7 implores us to offer respect and honor to whom it is owed. Although the world judges people worthy of respect and honor by their words and deeds, as Christ-followers, we recognize that our value, worth, respect, and honor come from God alone. We know very well that we are wretched sinners, separated from God, when we are apart from Christ (Romans 3:23). We followed the ways of the world, the devil, and the flesh before Christ enlightened us to faith by his grace (Ephesians 2:1-9). But now, we are redeemed and reconciled to God because of his atoning blood (Hebrews 10:10-18). When God created us by his design, we didn’t deserve it. When he redeemed us, we didn’t deserve it. Nothing we did or could do would ever remove our sin and supply us right standing with God (Hebrews 10:4,11). It was completely a gift of God’s undeserved favor. Therefore, God’s love for us defines our new identity in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). We can now pursue–by the power of the Spirit–God’s design for our lives as image-bearers of the Holy Trinity (Genesis 1:26-28). God created us with worth and honor, and God redeemed us to be of worth and honor. Consequently, all people matter to God. You and I are people of worth and honor because God designed and redeemed us. Every human life is of worth and honor because God created them all. This is why respect and honor is to be given to every life, regardless of what people do, think, or say. This includes government leaders, even leaders with whom you don’t agree or oppose God.
What should I do if government leaders ask me to sin?
The simple answer is: You should disobey your government leadership if they ask you to sin against God. In addition, as Christ-followers, we should desire civil government to promote justice, but whatever justice it achieves is common to all people. Romans 13:1-7 verifies the authority of government officials to carry out justice. However, the kingdom Christ is of an entirely distinct perspective and character. God’s redemptive kingdom operates in a manner in which common, civil justice does not comprehend (Matthew 5:38-42).
So, there will be matters of conflict between unbelievers and those who are of the redemptive kingdom (Christ-followers), who also reside in the common kingdom (the world). This is one reason that one’s freedom of speech may be offensive to another. One’s pursuit of happiness may infringe upon someone else’s. While, all who pursue the fulfillment and happiness in created things instead of God will ultimately find themselves disappointed (Romans 1:22-25). God will not make all things new until the return of Christ (Revelation 21:1-2).
Consequently, at minimum, we are commanded by God to respect and honor those in authority, while we must discern by the word and the Spirit whether or not we are being asked to sin against God in each situation that arises. If we are asked to sin, we disobey man before God; yet, we must seriously heed the warning Paul gives us in Romans 13:1-7.
How should I vote?
Some may ask, If God is sovereign, why vote? If my vote doesn’t make a difference, why vote? As Christ-followers, our primary citizenship is in the redemptive kingdom of God, which we entered by the grace of God’s covenant. In God’s kingdom, Jesus is king and ruler, so we look to him through the written word to discern right from wrong, good from bad, and which path to follow.
Although we are, first, citizens of the redemptive kingdom, we are also temporary citizens of the common kingdom in this earthly life. Therefore, we vote as a right and privilege of citizenship of the country in which we are blessed to reside. We trust that the value of our votes are determined by God, and we vote based upon God’s guidance in his word.
When voting for candidates for government offices, we should consider the candidate’s stances on significant issues and the candidate’s character. God’s stance on issues like the value of life, prejudices, and caring for the poor are clear in Scripture. Yet, some of the nuances are not quite as clear, such as the way in which we are to best care for the poor. When we vote, we should discern issues with Scripture and the Spirit, guiding our conscience.
It is similar when evaluating the character of a candidate. As I mentioned earlier, we cannot expect someone who is not regenerated by the grace of God to take on the likeness of Christ or the values of God. Every political candidate is a sinner, just as you and I are sinners. We all need the grace of God to overcome our sin, but not everyone has received God’s grace. So, just as God is patient with us in our sin, we are to be patient with others–yes, even political leaders–in their sin. However, that does not excuse sin in anyone–whether it be you, me, or the political leaders in our government. It is very good if we have the opportunity to vote for a candidate who embraces and embodies the ways of Christ. But, if we don’t, we should seek God’s guidance through his word, prayer, and listening to the Spirit, so as to make a wise choice. In some situations, it may be wise to vote by emphasizing a candidate’s stances on important issues, while in other situations, it may be wise to vote for an unpopular candidate or not vote at all. We should trust God’s personal conviction, as he resides within us.
To trust God’s sovereignty by submission and voting can be extremely challenging, especially as we seek to live in God’s two kingdoms (redemptive and common). It’s helpful to remember that when we vote, we are not voting for our king because our King Jesus is already on the throne.
Another resource about living as a citizen of heaven and among earthly institutions is: Living in God’s Two Kingdoms by David VanDrunen. VanDrunen’s book has helped me gain understanding of how to interact with government in a God-honoring way.