“Politics is nothing but an expression of culture, so if politics is sick, it’s because the culture is sick.”
That astute observation was from the late Chuck Colson from a broadcast we aired a few weeks ago. President James Garfield shared a similar concern in 1876 when he said, “The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it’s because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption.”
In a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” our leadership is ultimately a mirror reflection of the culture that elects them. That explains the cynicism so many in the Christian community feel about almost every branch of government.
The question is, what principles ought to guide our voting if we hope to see change?
We’ll provide helpful answers today on our radio program “Voting As a Kingdom Citizen” with our guest, Dr. Tony Evans.
“We want to influence the influencers,” says Dr. Evans. “Christians have a responsibility to vote and make sure every level of influence reflects the values of the kingdom of God.”
That means Christians should not ultimately be committed to specific candidates, but to promoting God’s value system. Admittedly, it can be hard to find candidates who uphold Christian principles on every issue. The challenge is to find leaders who are at least sensitive to a God-centered worldview.
That commitment goes deeper than just the candidates for president. One third of the seats in the US Senate will be impacted by the upcoming election. Twelve governorships and eighty-seven percent of state legislative chambers nationwide are also up for a vote. Not only does that affect the direction of legislation at a state level, but judicial appointments within the federal courts as well.
Dr. Evans says, “I wish more and more that this country, whether you’re Democrat or Republican, would embrace the formation of family and the goodness of the biblical family. If we were more of that ilk, our nation’s problems would be much lower and our moral character much higher.”
There is a lot at stake in every election, and this one will be no different. The Christian community has a voice and the right to express it. But first we must recognize the influence we can have by voting as a Kingdom citizen.
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