Does The Bible Tell Us How To Vote?

Does The Bible Tell Us How to Vote?

By Pate Hutson

What the Bible says about how we should vote? Granted, there wasn't much voting by the common person in Biblical times, but there is, none the less, a guide. Here it is:

Exploitation of Workers and Poor:

Jeremiah 22:15,16 "Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

Micah 2:1-3 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves.

Isaiah 58:3,6,7,10 Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers....Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Mark 12:38,39 Watch out for the teachers of the law . . . . They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.

Economic issues are pro-life issues: Micah hits hard on economic injustice, and uses extreme language to show how much of a life-and-death matter it really is.

Micah 3:1-3 Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?

Greed, Love of Money:

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore . . . . greed, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

I Timothy 6:5,9-10 . . . men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain . . . . People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I Peter 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

The Company They Keep:

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Isaiah 32:5 No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

Wealth and Power:

Micah 3:11,12 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us." Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field.

Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.

Ezekiel 34: 13,20 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? . . . . Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

"Gentle and Humble": Quoted from Matthew 11:28

Pro-life: Proverbs 24:11,12 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Mis-using moral teachings to promote another agenda:

Luke 12:2 Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known

Homosexuality in Scripture:

Cast the First Stone: Jesus said, in John 8:7, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

I am not sure how ANYONE can call themselves a Christian and vote for the Republican Ticket. Sure, there are exceptions on individual levels, but for the sake of God, the ENTIRE Republican platform is about disenfranchisement, keeping the poor uneducated, misinformed, and deeply in debt.

Jesus was very clear about how we should treat our neighbor. He was very clear about sitting down with our enemies, helping to poor, tending to the sick, and the active practice of forgiveness!

To my brothers and sisters who say you are a Christian and continue to vote for the Republican ticket.... Please, Please Please think about what you are doing! Was the mission of Jesus Christ to help the corporations? Was his mission to limit health care for the masses? What did the Christ think of greed or exploitation? Was his death on the cross representative of the entire human race, or just the people who think and act like you do?

Think about how you cast your votes the November. Remember, those of us who believe in the ministry

of Jesus need to weigh how his mission will be carried out by our elected officials. The Bible is clear about the ministry Jesus created! Are you going to honor his death and resurrection by combating poverty, improving health care, fighting racism and discrimination, and attacking greed?

If you vote for a political party who does everything possible to FIGHT the mission of Jesus should you really call yourself a Christian?