by PA Pastors Network Executive Director Dr. Gary Dull

****************

On November 3, Americans will head to the polls to vote for a Presidential candidate and various state and local officials.  The American Pastors Network  is encouraging Christians to vote biblically and with their faith convictions at heart.

“There is no doubt that voting is a very significant aspect of the Christian witness for truth that the Word of God calls us to portray,” said PA Pastors Network Executive Director Gary Dull. “Biblically minded Christians will be biblically minded voters for biblically correct issues, ultimately electing candidates God will use to glorify His name.”

Dull further expanded on these 10 reasons why Christians should vote:

1. To support candidates and issues that are biblically based. When Christians vote, they have the opportunity to support biblical truth by voting in favor of the issues and the candidates that are in agreement with scripture. Doing so has the potential to bring principles of righteousness into the public square that will exalt a nation, according to Proverbs 14:34.

2. To practice civil obedience. Americans have been given the opportunity by the Constitution to vote according to the 15th, 19th and 26th Amendments. Because the “law of the land” provides the right for the citizens to vote, and because Romans 13:1-2 teaches that Christian citizens should be “subject to the higher power,” voting becomes a matter of civil obedience. Thus, when Christians vote, they obey God; when they do not, they disobey God.

3. To uphold biblical values. When Christians vote, they have the opportunity to promote and uphold biblical values that the world knows nothing about. Philippians 2:13-16 tells Christians to “shine as lights in the world” and “hold forth the word of life.” Philippians 4:8 gives a list of things to carefully reflect upon that, when translated into guidelines for voting, will contribute to righteousness in the land.

4. To stand against evil in the nation. St. Augustine said, “Those who are citizens of God’s Kingdom are best equipped to be citizens of the kingdom of man.” Why? Because Christians understand the difference between good and evil. When Christians vote from a biblical perspective, they have the opportunity to “put the evil away from among” the nation as Deuteronomy 17:7 and other portions of Scripture teach.

5. To promote that which is morally good in the country. When Christians vote, they take the opportunity to promote that which is morally upright by supporting candidates and issues that are biblically correct.

6. To function as Christ’s ambassadors. When Christians vote, they fulfill the honor and responsibility of being Christ’s ambassadors, as taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20. It is a privilege to represent the Lord in society, and with each biblically sound vote they cast, Christians actively do so.

7. To be involved in government. Titus 3:1 encourages pastors to teach their congregations to be “ready to every good work,” which is in the context of functioning in government. Voting is simply one way to be involved in the good work of government by expressing biblical values at the polls.

8. To put our prayers into action. The Bible teaches Christians to pray for those in authority so they may “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,” according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2. When Christians vote, they take the opportunity to vote for those they have been praying for, who will promote biblical truth in the culture.

9. To maintain our freedoms. There are candidates who, given the chance, would remove the freedoms Americans hold dear. Attacks on the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Bible, all which stand for freedom and liberty, occur daily. Christian voters biblically support the blessings of “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), which will further guarantee the freedoms upon which the American civilization was established.

10. To function as “salt and light.” When Christians vote, they act in obedience to Matthew 5:13-16, in serving as the preservative conscience of the nation and shedding the light of the truth of the Scripture regarding the issues of life. The American Pastors Network is also partnering with iVoter Guide to inform Christians of the issues in their regions. The comprehensive, data-driven guide provides voters with side-by-side comparisons of candidates for the upcoming primary elections, allowing them to identify those who most closely share their values and who has the voting record to back up campaign promises.