Answer: Citizens who possess the right to vote should recognize it as a solemn privilege, one that should be used responsibly and seriously.

Those who have consecrated their lives to God and to the performing of His will, have as citizens, the privilege of voting in secular elections as one of their human privileges. Hence we should use it or leave it unused in harmony with the Lord’s will, as the interests of His cause or duty require. If ever the interests of God’s cause or a consecrated person’s duty to his family or others call upon him to exercise his earthly privilege of voting, he should vote, otherwise he should refrain from voting. It is a matter for each one to decide for himself before the Lord.

That a consecrated Christian could properly use his citizenship rights to protect his stewardship in the Lord’s service may be seen in the example of St. Paul. When Festus, who sought to please the Jews, made a proposal that would have resulted in St. Paul’s death and thus the stopping of his ministry, St. Paul made use of one of his earthly rights – his Roman citizenship – in an appeal to Caesar, to prevent the suppression of his ministry (Acts 25: 9-12). On other occasions, he also made use of his rights of Roman citizenship to prevent injury to his further ministering to the Lord’s cause (Acts 16: 22, 35-39) (Acts 22: 24-29). There are times when consecrated parents should vote in school elections in the interest of their children; and other times when one should vote in national elections to retain their current employment which is needed for the support of their families.

But as consecrated Christians, let us bear in mind that we are like aliens and strangers in this present evil order of things, that our heart’s desire is in our citizenship in God’s coming Kingdom. The Apostle Paul said, “Be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12: 2), that is, do not become entangled with the things of this world. Again, he said, “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3: 13) – a position in God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “Ye are not of the world” (John 15: 19); and again, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18: 36), meaning this present evil order of things.

We conclude, therefore, that the chief duty of the Christian is to avoid entangling alliance with worldly systems, and to devote himself to preparing for God’s Kingdom. All good citizens should desire righteous people in office, but a righteous government cannot be established by imperfect men and women, hence the hope of the Christian is in the Bible teaching that Christ Jesus will, in God’s due time, set up His Kingdom, and establish righteousness in the earth.

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