You can be a Christian and vote Republican.
You can be a Christian and vote Democrat.
You can be a Christian and vote independent.
You can be a Christian and choose not to vote.
It isn’t a sin to be one or not be another. It is a sin to vote red and treat immigrants as less than human. It is a sin to vote blue and not speak against voluntary abortion.
Our culture, especially recently, wants to tie together Christian faith and political involvement. As if somehow God Himself endorsed a particular candidate.
Yet the moment you suggest—or boldly declare—a Christian must vote a certain way, you assign the vote higher importance than the relationship. It’s as though you claim to be an American Christian, not a Christian.
If you say, “All Christians should be Republicans” and don’t also say “All Republicans should be Christians” with the same fervor, your priority lies with the political party.
If you say, “Democrats love their neighbors, as Jesus commanded” and don’t also allow for “The Bible says ‘thou shalt not kill’ and abortion is killing” as at least a conversation, your priority lies with the political party.
Christians need not represent blue or red. No amendments supersede the Commandments. And if your political fervor causes you to struggle to love your neighbor, you need to take it down a notch.
If you choose to vote for a candidate because you believe they will defend morals you believe most closely align with your interpretation of Scripture, then you cast your vote as a Christian.
If you choose to vote against a candidate because you believe them to be of immoral character, then you cast your vote as a Christian.
Yet please understand your Christian neighbors may vote differently.
Take comfort in this: God is not saving the world through democracy. The fate of the Kingdom of God does not depend on now, nor has it ever, a political contest.
If you accuse your neighbor or friend or parent or child of not being a “true Christian” because they tick a different box on their ballot, you miss the point entirely.
Patriotism—the love of country—is not a Christian ideal. Nowhere in the Bible is there a command to “love thy country” or take pride in your political stance. Don’t be naive—political parties care more about Christian voters than they do Christian morals.
Many churches do encourage voting a certain way, for a certain candidate, with certain justification. That does not mean Christians should necessarily mimic the behavior of those churches or their leaders. The purpose of churches is not political advocacy.
Churches ought to preach unity, not division. What a tragedy to split the body of Christ down a political aisle.
Voting for President, Governor, Mayor, or Representative is not a vote for a savior. You’re not casting a ballot for your spiritual example or your faith model. Your vote will not and cannot place the Spirit in nor remove Him from any room in the capitol.
We’re not even voting for a perfect candidate against a terrible candidate. Try as some might to persuade you otherwise, we always vote for the “lesser of two evils” in an election. We pit inherently flawed, self-serving, dishonest people against each other and choose to pretend as though one behaves contrary to all human behavior.
In fact, the only time in history we had the opportunity to vote for a perfect person, we chose Barabbas.
So please, stop hating your neighbor for putting out a yard sign for a candidate you find reprehensible. Stop saying Christians must vote a certain way. Stop acting as though any candidate is above reproach.
Your responsibility, Christian, is to bring the gentleness and civility of Jesus to the political process.
If Jesus would endorse either candidate (which I doubt), perhaps your neighbor who votes differently is misled, or has been lied to, or lacks discernment. Even if there were a “right” and “wrong” way to vote, would the goodness of Christ not still cover those who make a mistake?
The focus should be the gospel, and Jesus does not save based on political affiliation or voting record. The people you slander are the people Jesus died to save. How much more important it is for your heart to be filled with love than for your political preference to come out ahead.
Learn to accept different points of view. Realize people can love Jesus and want to see His Kingdom come and His will be done and believe different political approaches will move us closer to that reality.
And above all, keep “Christian” above “American.”
alexjjlarsen.com 
Good blog. Great wisdom in keeping Christian above American. I also think as brothers and sisters in Christ, as we stand/vote for righteousness – which I do think we have an obligation to seek (vote for), it can be helpful, wise, and also necessary to give guidance, opinions, thoughts..all of it – about the candidates, parties, and what they are representing. In my lifetime – of all the elections – this one is clearly the most polarized. Above all, I serve the King of Kings. Because I love Him – I will and should defend those He created and loves beyond measure. I should also stand up against His enemies.
One line stands out loud and clear to me when an audience member at a Harris rally said – “Jesus is Lord” – and Kamala’s reply was – “you’re at the wrong rally.” That was clear to me. I am unwanted, uninvited, and the ONE who matters the most to me, is not honored by that candidate. A line in the sand was drawn. She revealed what is truly sad – we are a post-Christian nation.
It is more obvious this election that we are forced to vote for the lesser of two evils. But in reality, democratic process has always offered flawed candidates and the choice has always been the lesser of two evils. Maybe we are seeing a post-christian nation offering up candidates that have shifted dramatically toward evil.
So while I love your optimism and your nuggets of wisdom – I do think it’s different and extreme this election season. I will pray for the leadership, whatever the outcome. I don’t hate those who vote different – but I do struggle with someone who is a student in the Word, abiding in Christ, indwelt with the Holy Spirit – and can support any candidate who is so anti Jesus Christ.
One last thought from dad – Churches and Faith based nonprofits in America have always had religious freedoms, but an anti-Christian posture in the highest government office will chip away those freedoms. Considering our family and the ministries we serve – this is a big deal. But we trust and REST in our Sovereign and Holy God.
As a mom, I wish you were growing up in a different time. But as a Christian mom – I am confident in Christ who is the one who gave you life at this time in history. What might He do in and through all of you!! Wowza! Amazing. And I do hope you keep your optimism – it’s a good thing because of WHOM we love and serve.
XX00
LikeLike
A couple thoughts:
1. Is this the most polarized, or is media just more prevalent in average American life? Elon Musk is actively campaigning for Trump and owns one of the largest sources of media in the country (if not on the planet). Several mainstream media have explicitly chosen “a side” as though we have only two options, and news is no longer neutral or even balanced, on either side. Almost all political commentary is taken out of context and manipulated to fit a preexisting point of view.
2. If (and perhaps when) the government “attacks” faith-based nonprofits and churches, the most likely result is a financial attack in the form of tax implications. Yes, donors losing the tax write offs would cause some to cease giving, which is a difficult budget consideration. Yet (optimistically), imagine churches supported by people who give with nothing to gain—people who give generously only because they believe in the work being done. Imagine organizations operating with enthusiastic support from donors who don’t need incentives to promote the missions.
LikeLike