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Does It Really Matter If Christians Vote? A Pastoral Response

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One of the big questions U.S. Christians are faced with every November (especially every four years when Americans elect a new president) is: “Should a Christian vote?”

This question has been especially front of mind in the past decade. From Obama to Trump to Biden, voting booths have been flooded with Christians attempting to make a difference with their vote.

ChurchLeaders recently interviewed Paul Isaacs, vice president of national outreach for My Faith Votes, to get his thoughts on why voting as a Christian in America matters. My Faith Votes is a “non-partisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth.” The organization calls on Christians to “Pray, Think and Vote” to protect four core pillars of faith, which it names as “religious freedom, the sanctity of life, strong families and marriages, and compassion and support for those in need.” My Faith Votes says it aims to reach Christians to “stand boldly for these values in every election and in every community and city across our nation.”

Isaacs is a graduate of Bob Jones University and has served as a local church pastor, college minister and director of collegiate recruiting for The Navigators. He was also the president of Save the Storks, a pro-life organization. He has served alongside prominent Christians such as Kirk CameronMatt Hammitt (former Sanctus Real lead singer), and Museum of the Bible founder Steve Green.

ChurchLeaders: Why does it matter for a Christian in America to vote? 

Isaacs: As a Christian, I think one of the best ways to come to a reasonable answer is to look at what the Bible says. At this point, you may think, “The Bible never commands or instructs us to vote.” But let’s start with another question before answering the one being asked. Is voting a good thing? I think the entire world would agree that the power to have a say in the direction of their local, state and national government is a blessing. Voting is a gift. It is a peaceful way for Christians to promote Kingdom values that are good for all, even those who are not Christians. People from all over the world have come to the United States because of opportunities and freedoms that living here affords, and those opportunities exist because the people have the power over the government through the vehicle of the ballot box. But I’ll go even deeper than that in my explanation. If Christians don’t vote with a Biblical worldview, then who is voting, what worldview is being promoted, and what policies are being enacted as a result?

I believe that, as a Christian, [voting] is important for two overarching reasons.