Winston Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of Government – except for all those other forms.”

That is easy to believe in these weeks before an election, when we can’t help but see attack ads and misleading campaign fliers, when candidates avoid answering questions time and again, when the media twist statements and positions to advance their own narratives, when it can seem as if no candidate is talking in depth about important issues that face our country or city or schools.

Yet in a world of fallen humans, all beset with sin – “all those other forms” of government fail spectacularly. In this country, “we the people” have an opportunity – an opportunity to have a voice. Should we use it?

By all means.

Let me remind you of some biblical principles, and then list some considerations as you decide how to use your voice.

Three Biblical Principles

Principle 1: Followers of Jesus are aliens, exiles, sojourners in any earthly country.

Peter addresses his first epistle to the scattered elect “exiles” or “aliens” or “sojourners” (1 Peter 1:1). He later refers to God’s people as “foreigners” or “temporary residents” (1 Peter 2:11). The picture is thus similar to the Jewish exiles in Babylon in the sixth century before Christ – living as foreigners, away from their own country, wishing they could return. But remember the letter the prophet Jeremiah sent those exiles, found in Jeremiah 29. They will remain in Babylon for 70 years – thus, for the rest of most of their lives. But God’s promises remain. They are to hold firmly to those promises – and, in the meantime, they are to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Just so with us. In Christ, God makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We obviously are “in the world,” but we, like Jesus Himself, are not “of the world” (John 17:14). We are aliens, exiles, foreigners, temporary residents here – indeed, ambassadors from King Jesus, as we make His appeal to those around us. And we seek the welfare of the country where we live both through that appeal and in other ways. Voting for the best candidates is one of those ways.

Principle 2: There is no political solution to our fundamental problem

We’ve already said that democracy is messy because we are fallen – we are rebels against God who are prone to self-righteousness, self-centeredness, ingratitude, pride, anger, hatred, groupthink, racism, corruption – the list could go on and on (see Romans 1:28-32 and 2 Timothy 3:2-5 for longer lists). Sin is so pervasive that “none is righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). So if on the off chance we elect the very best candidate for every single office – we will still have elected sinners who will fail.

So all the utopians speak nonsense who say, “If we can only get rid of so-and-so, if we can only defeat this party, if we can only dominate this court or that legislature, if we can only elect this president or end global warming or end abortion – then we will save our country and all will be well.” No. The only hope for an enduring Kingdom that cannot be shaken is Jesus – and He promises He will bring it about, in His time, when He returns.

But that does not mean no improvements can be made! Thus our next principle:

Principle 3: In this world, glorify Jesus by working for improvements in your circle of relationships and in your city, state, and country.

The Jewish exiles had no illusions about transforming Babylon into a perfected Jerusalem. But they could work for improvements – and they did. God commands us to do the same. We can have the greatest impact in our own circles of relationships as we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, as we let our light shine before others so they see our good works and give glory to our Father (Matthew 5:16). But we can have at least some impact on the wider society – and at times in history, “some” has become “major.” Read, for example, of William Wilberforce and the eventually successful effort to end the slave trade.

Furthermore, even if we end up having zero impact on the wider society, loving our neighbor, working for the welfare of our city and country, and serving as ambassadors of Christ by proclaiming the Good News are worth whatever cost we bear. God has called us to this. He is glorified through the process – not only through the hoped-for result.

Considerations for this Election

1) Don’t believe media characterizations of candidates. Every media outlet has a political perspective, and many massage their stories to advance their preferred candidates. If you read or hear a particularly damaging excerpt from a candidate, search for the full essay or speech or interview. Often when heard in context, the excerpt is seen to be misleading.

2) Frequent media outlets that genuinely present contrasting views. I have found RealClearPolitics to do this far better than most – whatever your persuasion, every day you are likely to find something you think is great, as well as something you disagree with strongly.

3) Pay significant attention to judicial races, school boards, county commissioners, and state legislative races. In many cases these races end up having a greater impact on our lives than the national races. Yet because candidates have few resources, we don’t hear much about them. Under recommended resources above I’ve provided links to help you learn of candidates.

4) Consider seriously candidates’ position on abortion. In past years, when Roe v Wade was in place, there was little a congressman or senator at the state or national level could do to affect abortion policy. But after the overturning of Roe v Wade, there will be significant battles in NC and at the national level to pass legislation. Our country faces many important issues – but it is hard to imagine one more important, one closer to the heart of God than the protection of vulnerable, unborn children.

Please vote. Please work for the welfare of the city and country where God has placed you. Please glorify Jesus as you do so.

And then place your hope not in your vote, not in any political party or objective, but in His promise: “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20). Amen. Come, King Jesus.