Christians and Elections—Part Two
Your role in an election as a Christian
We now continue from where we stopped in Part One, as we stay on our discussion on
Patterns gleaned from Scripture about Christians and elections (continued)
Thirdly, God warns that we should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). How then can we be involved in political parties with diverse ideas and people without compromising our Christian values? Methinks a Christian's involvement in political party activities should be that of being a light in a dark place. Unfortunately, confirmed reports of Christians in political parties involved in corrupt practices when appointed to public office are rife.
Fourthly, God rules in the affairs of men and gives the office to whosoever He chooses (Daniel 4:17, 25). God is not just interested in Christians, but all human beings. After all, those who are Christians now, were once outside God's special protection and preservation when they were not born again. The Bible states God's interest in all men when it notes that He
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4, NKJV)
Therefore, God's interest in the affairs of men is in His will being done, not in a political party or candidate. So, God appoints whom He wills (Romans 9:15-18) to office. One may then ask, "Where is the place of voting since God appoints whom He wills?" "Does that mean that we should not bother to vote?" The truth is that the natural man cannot comprehend God's ways (1 Corinthians 2:13-14).
A common principle of democracy is the tyranny of the majority over the minority. In a democracy, the minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way! This suggests the importance of voting and numbers vis-à-vis the majority. However, God is the decider and determiner of who leads a nation! The Bible notes that
exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another. (Psalms 75:6-7, NKJV)
And Nebuchadnezzar, the great ruler of the Babylonian empire which ruled over the then-known world, noted from his first-hand experience about God that
His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" (Daniel 4:34-35, NKJV)
Therefore, God puts people in office even in a democracy where people vote for one person or another. How the votes work for God's appointed ruler is unexplainable, but it serves God's purpose! For example, in Nigeria, we have had Governors put in office by the Courts, as against by the electorate—this would be one of the ways God puts people in office despite voting!
Finally, from experience, the issues that politicians raise in their manifestos or campaign platforms are usually not the issues they have to deal with when elected to office. Thus, we cannot tell how well a politician would govern after being elected. Therefore, our role as Christians must be to pray before, during, and after elections. Through our prayers, God steers the hearts of leaders and the affairs of the State so that we can enjoy peaceful and godly living in the land! Going by Scripture, it is God who appoints rulers over nations. When Hazael went to Elisha to inquire about the health of Ben-hadad, king of Syria, Elisha told Hazael what God had shown him that he, Hazael, would do to the people of Israel:
"Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child." (2 Kings 8:12, NKJV)
Hazael's response was:
"But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?" (2 Kings 8:13, NKJV)
Hazael did not believe he could do what Elisha, the prophet, said, yet that was exactly what he did when he became king of Syria! We are usually so sure that our candidate's performance will be the best there has ever been. Yet, these candidates would fail woefully without our continuous prayers after they have been elected to office! There seems to be something about a political office and the power it gives the occupant thereof that changes men's hearts and make them dangerously different!
Proffering counsel on how Christians should conduct themselves in an election cycle
The Christian's principal role in elections is to pray that God's preferred candidate would be elected, and that God would steer such a candidate to be a blessing to God's people and others in the nation. When God instructed us to pray for leaders, He did not ask that we pray only for Christian leaders! God demands that we pray for all those in leadership—good and bad! God's goal for governments, which also should be ours, is for us to live peacefully and godly in the land He has placed us.
So, whenever you prepare for any election cycle, though you may have your preferred candidate, your focus must be to pray that God's preferred candidate is elected. Remember that God chose Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, calling him "My servant" (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; Daniel 2:37-38) and Cyrus in Persia, whom He labelled "My shepherd" (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). These rulers were not Christians! God can choose anyone regardless of religious belief, ethnicity, ideology, and political affiliation. He is Sovereign. God does not take sides with any political party or candidate! He is neither conservative nor liberal, right-winger nor progressive. God's interest is in accomplishing His eternal purpose, which includes blessing His people and others with righteousness, peace, and the salvation of souls.
When God appeared to Joshua in the plains of Jericho and Joshua asked Him if He was for him or the enemy, the Lord responded thus:
"Neither, I am here because I am the commander of the LORD's army." (Joshua 5:14, CEV)
And at this, Joshua fell to his knees, bowed to the ground, and said:
"I am your servant, Tell me what to do." (Joshua 5:14, CEV)
Similarly, as Christians, we must understand that God is not for any one group of people. He is the Commander of the Universe! Our role is to fall on our knees, bow to the ground in worship, and ask Him for His instructions! We must cooperate with God and pray His will be done on the earth as He has decreed it in heaven. We are not to pray at cross purposes with God's will! As the Lord Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, our prayers during election season must be:
"My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?" (Matthew 26:39, MSG)
"My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way." (Matthew 26:42, MSG)
When you do not cooperate with God through praying His will, you may become an antagonist of God's approved leaders, as is commonplace today among many church leaders who, rather than pray for their civil leaders, vent against them! You may take part in an election by voting, or you may not vote at all. However, your crucial role in any election is to pray for the will of God to be done!
One of the reasons we pray is to unite our hearts and minds with God’s. You cannot pray contrary to God and expect Him to hear you or honour your prayer! As you pray the will of God, your heart and mind come into alignment and agreement with God’s will. Thus, your disposition in any election will align with God’s will.
Engaging in the frivolities of politics and the antics of politicians is a waste of time and effort. Therefore, rather than engage in the razzmatazz of electioneering campaigns, let us submit to God’s will and pray it into being.
Political analysts and pundits may pontificate on why a candidate would win an election, but God decides who He places in leadership over a nation or locality and why He is doing what He is doing. And that will be for the good of Christians and others (Jeremiah 29:11). We must not once think that God is not concerned for others! Whatever the outcome of an election, it will always serve God’s purpose—whether we think the result was good for us or not! Therefore, let us continually pray for the will of God in every circumstance, not only during election season!
Shalom!