The Privilege and Responsibility for Voting

” . . . now here is the king you have chosen and whom you have desired . . . ” I Samuel 12:13

The American Patriot’s Bible has a section on The Privilege and Responsibility for Voting.  Benjamin Rush, one of America’s Founding Fathers, said, “Every citizen of a republic . . . must watch for the state as if its liberties depended upon his vigilance alone.”  The most basic democratic participation of citizenry is voting.  When we vote, we help determine who will lead the nation, make the laws, and protect our liberties.  Unfortunately, the church and people of faith fail to vote, is it any wonder that policies are enacted that are contrary to believers’ core values?    

Not participating in the civic and political arenas not only violates historical precedent but ignores what America’s leaders have always taught by example:

If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office—individuals who will seek Devine guidance in the affairs of the state. ~ Billy Graham

The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics . . . God cannot sustain this free and blessed country which we love and pray for unless the Church will take the right ground . . . It seems sometimes as if the foundations of this nation are becoming rotten, and Christians seem to act as if they think God does not see what they do in politics.  ~ Charles Finney

Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.  If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.  If it be  intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them to the national legislature.  ~ President James A. Garfield 

. . . God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God.  The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good, so much as for selfish or local purpose; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues, will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of citizens will be violated or disregarded.  ~ Noah Webster