Principles vs. Personality - Voting with Ethics

What a time we are in right now! It is election season and it seems like everyone and their mother are coming out from under the rocks. Everyone has an opinion about everything and some probably shouldn’t express their opinions. Like ever. But free speech and all that so cest la vie. I confess, some Christians I know have surprised me with their opinions on political topics. I’ve probably suprised them as well. But I think herein lies a major problem: we should not be approaching these as political issues, but moral ones. Therefore, if they are moral issues, we should be asking “What is God’s opinion?” Not “what is mine” or “what is popular?” As we approach the voting booth, it is crucial to prioritize principles over personality or over our dislike of one candidate over another. The allure of charismatic candidates can distract Christians from objectively examining their policies and the moral implications of their governance. We should assess candidates based on their actions and adherence to ethical standards, not merely their public personas or what mainstream media says we should think. In the wake of election season, the authority of God’s principles in the life of a believer is something we must ascribe to.

For Christians, there are aspects of our faith that are confessional: things we confess as truth but cannot completely and scientifically prove. However, that does not mean these things are untrue. It does not mean there is a lack of logic to these confessions. This is a part of what having “faith” looks like: confessing our belief in and our allegiance to the things of God as revealed through Scripture.

So what are some of these “confessions”? The most basic of these is our belief in God. We recognize we cannot factually, fully and scientifically prove the existence of God. However, we come to the logical conclusion of the existence of God through observing Creation (nature, history and humanity) and by revelation and authority of Scripture and we confess this by faith. The belief in Christ as our Savior is a “confessed” belief that is the result of revelation by the Holy Spirit and our acceptance of it by faith (Rom. 10:9-11). The belief in the divinely inspired (God-breathed) nature of the Word is also not something we can scientifically prove, but it is something we believe, confess by faith and logically conclude (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21). We confess that Scripture is the self-revelation of God and his standards for everything he created, especially for humankind. The Word of God is fundamental and needed for faith, ethics, and individual and corporate growth. In a world filled with shifting morals, ascribing to and standing firm on the standards of God are imperative. Scripture serves as the ultimate foundation from which we derive morality. For a Christian, values, morality and ethics should be informed by and conformed to God’s values, morality and ethics. We should not try to conform the Word to our personal opinions and values. When we make that mistake, we arrive at unbiblical ideas and will make decisions according to what we feel and desire, elevating the self (humanism) above God’s standards. In short, our perspectives should be informed by God’s perspective.

The foundation of a Christian's ethical worldview is built on the truth of Scripture. Scripture guides us in understanding what is right and wrong. Allowing God's Word to define our values shapes our identity as believers, giving us a clear compass in a morally ambiguous world. As Christians, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we live our lives according to the rule, law and standards of our King (God) above all else. We are subjects of the King and though we live here and abide by earthly laws, our first allegiance is to someone and something higher than all of this world (Phil. 3:20). By recognizing and acknowledging God as King, we acknowledge his word is good and authoritative. We are compelled by love, devotion and faith to apply his principles to our decisions. It should influence how we make choices and how we vote while we live here. The Word helps us to navigate the complex world of injustice, selfishness and ever-changing morals. We could make the argument that though society and technology have changed throughout history, the inner workings and the sinful nature of man have not. Logically, if the teachings and revelation of God were applicable then, they are still applicable now, because mankind itself has not changed at its core. The Word straightens out our priorities and helps maintain a worldview that impacts every aspect of our lives, including our roles as voters in this free nation. We must look at our society through a lens that reflects God’s perspective and not be swayed by popularity, dislike, lies or emotion-driven rhetoric. This includes exercising empathy (not toxic empathy) and love while standing on truth even when it’s not popular or ruffles someone’s feathers. Realize you will always ruffle someone’s feathers somewhere. Would you rather be popular with God or with secular society?

How should we address issues like justice, morality, human dignity, and life? We look to God’s principles to guide us in evaluating candidates and policies. Issues such as the sanctity of life, marriage, and social justice are not political talking points…they are moral issues. If God’s word is the basis for Christian ethics, then we have an ethical duty to uphold what he says is the standard.

Vote according to principle, not personality, ethnicity, race, gender or any of those foolish things that fall under identity politics and emotional jargon. Voting according to biblical ethics means scrutinizing how candidates’ policies align with God’s standards as outlined in Scripture. Sanctity of life, protecting the innocent and justice should be at the forefront of a Christian voter’s mind. These are primary issues right now. When Christian voters incorporate biblical principles into their politics, the impact is transformative. We have the chance to influence legislation, shape cultural norms, and contribute to a society that upholds the dignity of all individuals and the standards of God. We have the liberty to share the Gospel. This is important in our free nation where the First Amendment guarantees the freedom of religion and the right to express beliefs publicly. Moreover, the integral voting requires integral ethics. The Constitution emphasizes justice and the protection of individual rights and life, but not if those rights are hurting another’s right to life…Things should not be political “rights” if they are ethically immoral in God’s eyes. Prioritizing biblical principles over personality helps align our opinions with God’s opinions. We want to build a nation that honors Him. In a time when moral clarity is desperately needed, embracing God's standards will lead to meaningful change and a better way of life for all, overall. As we vote, let’s do our best to honor the principles that reflect the heart of God and his perspective. Let’s reform a broken society to one that protects innocence and embodies justice, mercy, righteousness and love… Even if it ruffles some feathers.

References (for further personal study)

CSB Bible

ESV Study Bible

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020.

Ward, Timothy. Words of Life: Scripture As the Living and Active Word of God. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009).