Dr. Al Mohler found himself in the cross-hairs of the evangelical left recently when he publicly stated that Christians are being “unfaithful” when they vote wrongly. I honestly cannot begin to fathom how any faithful Christian could even question such a statement. One could, as a faithful Christian question all sorts of things as it relates to voting. One could question whether one should vote for this candidate or that candidate, or even the other candidate. One could question whether one should vote for this party or that party, or even the other party. One could question whether one should vote for this proposition or that one. What one cannot do is affirm that a Christian could vote wrongly without being unfaithful. Every wrong that we do is an act of infidelity. Christians are unfaithful when we feel wrongly, act wrongly, believe wrongly.
Some of the objections Dr. Mohler faced were that he was guilty of violating the 1st Amendment and that any institution making such a claim should lose its tax-exempt status. One person even suggested that Dr. Mohler, in making his statement was teaching a works righteousness, denying justification by faith alone. Others suffered a relapse of Trump Derangement Syndrome though the bad, orange man wasn’t even mentioned. No one, however, actually spoke against what was actually said. That is, no one said either, “Christians are being faithful when they vote wrongly” nor “Christians are being unfaithful when they vote rightly.” Because, when you put it like that, it sounds kind of crazy. But to object to what Dr. Mohler said is to affirm one of those two crazy statements. There is no escaping it. The only way for a Christian to be faithful when voting is to vote rightly.
We can, of course, have a vigorous debate about what voting rightly looks like. I have publicly affirmed that no man who will not affirm his commitment to use every power of his office to protect every unborn child will ever receive my vote. I’ve had countless Christians rebuke me for this position. It’s possible, though I have trouble seeing it, that they may be right. If they are, I am being unfaithful. If they are not, they are being unfaithful.
Suppose there were three men running for the same office. Suppose their personal lives were virtually identical. Their policy positions are virtually identical. Their experience levels are perfectly identical. The only difference between them is that one believes in a flat tax of 9.5%, another in a flat tax of 9.3% and the third a rate of 9.1%. Is there only one faithful vote? Of course there is. Might it be difficult to discern which is the faithful vote? Sure. But there is a right answer, grounded in the right application of the law of God.
Voting is an activity of profound moral import. All those chastening Dr. Mohler, should they as Christians ever find themselves in a tight race against a Nazi Satanist running on a platform of forced abortions and legalized sex trafficking, they too would insist that voting wrongly would be an unfaithful act for the Christian. Which means, ipso facto, that those objecting to Dr. Mohler agree with the principle he expressed and disagree with the application they perceived him to make. Which, finally, means they’re yelping because they want to vote for pro-abortion candidates, or to put it another way, they want to vote wrongly, and unfaithfully.
Wheat and Tares. Bless you brother. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Very well stated. Thank you..
It is this kind of abstinence from “politics” that has wrenched from our nation Governance by God’s law. It also twists the minds of the one who fails to think according to the pure law of God. So often in conversation, gospel presentation, and the like, politics comes up. And usually it’s a “Christians shouldn’t be involved” worldview. Thing is, it’s clearly not that simple. Political wrangling, rhetoric, and manipulation, etc, is surely something disciples shouldn’t engage in. Yet failing to think through the issues, the policies that take lives and offend Christ Jesus and such, should be opposed. Is this not the sense we get from our founding fathers? Is this not the teaching of scripture?
Daniel , I think you are on to something Brother. The sad reality that I see in my neck of the woods here from most professing Christians, is they have forgotten their first love. We need vote for sure , but we need be mindful of our true identity in Christ is an imputed righteousness, our identity is not in politics. That imputed righteousness should produce a humility , and love and patience for the lost. Our desire for change is good, if it is focused on the converting of souls via the gospel. I am not interested in pulling the “American Christian” veneer back over the darkness where it was for so long, so it can stay in the shadows and fester. Let it be exposed, and let the laborers labor for truth. How bad are things when all we really have left here that matters, is the Gospel? Perhaps we are living in the best of days after all? Just some random thoughts of a guy whos opinion means not much. I am but a worm. Be well in Christ, and thank you for provoking thought!