As soon as I turned 18 years old
I registered to vote and have been voting as a good citizen of the USA since. I
always considered it my civic duty and a privilege of my freedom. These were my
thoughts on the subject…
Voting
is really just giving your opinion on the matter. All of the opinions of all of
the voters, interest groups, and sometimes the opinions of the Electoral
College (never quite understood that but their opinions count) are put into a
big pot and out pops the opinion of the collective. Those who do not vote I call “The Beatles”
because they choose to just “Let It Be.” And so it is. Our country goes with
the opinion of the voting collective. That shows us, the Christians, the
spiritual, moral, and political temperature of our city, state, and/or nation.
Usually it shows how much we all need Jesus. Snap. All finished in 24 hours.
Last Sunday the pastor of my
church was preaching on 1 Peter 2: 13-17:
“Be in
submission, for the Lord’s sake, under every human form of authority whether it
is to the king (*or the supreme person of governmental power) or to the people
in immediate authority over you. These people have the power to punish those
who break the law of the land or to approve those who obey it. Because it is
the will of God, live rightly. Obey your authority no matter how ignorant of
God’s plan they may be so that they cannot find fault in you. Though you are free to realize you destiny in
Christ, do not use this freedom to disobey them because you live under His
authority who called you to obey their leadership. Show proper respect to all
people. Especially love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Worship and revere
God. Properly honor your king (*).”
My Pastor Wade pointed out a
truth I had not realized in all my years of exercising my right to vote. He
said that the voting booth is a point of submission to God. It is actually
falling under the leadership God has placed over you. No matter the outcome of
the election, for a Christian, it is a statement of obedience and submission.
I had always detached this
national freedom from my spiritual freedom. I had “separated church and state”
because I had heard I was supposed to do that sooooo often. But for a Christian
that should not even be possible. 1 Peter 2:13-17 says so.
What an “aha” moment! Now as I
enter the voting booth I place my submission under the authority of God’s will
for my leadership. I recommit my desire to follow God no matter the outcome. I
place His will for my leader in His hands to control. I worship and revere my
sovereign God who is in control of everything.
If I stay a little
longer behind the voting curtain, forgive me, I’m just praying.
The voting booth has
become my place of worship.
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