BIBLICAL CASE FOR VOTING PART 1
It is true that to make a biblical case to vote has some difficulties. Yet, it appears that this is a necessity. I have spent some time searching the net about voting for the lesser of two evils. It has been mainly a wasted task although I did find a few posts that are reasonable. These will be included at the end of part 2.
To begin with, the premise of voting for the lesser of two evils is but a partial truth. It is just as surely (voting for the lesser of two evils ) a voting for the greater of the two goods. This is true however constrictive or minimal the two goods (greater or lesser) may be. If the choice is framed this way (voting for the greater of the two goods) it makes for an easier understanding, forthright reply & wider dialogue.
The heart of the argument for not voting for the lesser of two evils is that by voting you are participating in evil. Let us look at what the word participate means in the nt greek.
ARTICLE - The word “participate” or “take part in” comes from the Greek word “sugkoinoneo” (4790), and means have fellowship, to share in company with, to be a partaker of, co-participate in. Are there different levels of participation? Yes, you can actively participate by being a part of the evil deed (Psalm 26:4-5, Proverbs 4:14-16, Jeremiah 15:17, Romans 16:17), or you can passively participate by not stopping the person from doing the evil deed (Numbers 20:1-13, Numbers 20:23-29, Numbers 27:12-14, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 141:5, Matthew 18:15-17, Luke 17:3-4, Galatians 2:11-14, Titus 3:10-11, James 5:19-20, 1 John 5:16), or by not reporting the evil deed (Leviticus 5:1, Proverbs 29:24).
So how can you avoid participating in evil deeds? By walking uprightly in your heart before GOD (Proverbs 15:1-5, Proverbs 2:7, Proverbs 10:9, Proverbs 28:18, Deuteronomy 12:28, Ezekiel 18:5, James 1:22-25, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:7-10, 1 John 5:2-5, Revelation 22:14), and separating yourself from evil doers (Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 14:7, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 2 Timothy 3:5—ways in which someone can hold to a form of godliness but deny its power (Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 33:30-31, Matthew 23:27-28, Titus 1:16), James 1:27, 2 John 1:10-11).
So, if by voting for that person who would make for the most common good - is this act to “have fellowship, to share in company with, to be a partaker of, co-participate in”evil? NO. The argument to not vote has just lost one of it’s two legs.
Next let’s look at conscience in the nt greek. Conscience - syneídesis (from 4862 /sýn, "together with" and 1492 /eído "to know, see") – properly, joint-knowing, i.e. conscience which joins moral and spiritual consciousness as part of being created in the divine image. Accordingly, all people have this God-given capacity to know right from wrong because each is a free moral agent (cf. Jn 1:4,7,9; Gen 1:26,27).
"Conscience (4893 /syneídesis) is an innate discernment, self-judging consciousness"
Rom 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”
Barnes' Notes on the Bible says this (in part) about this passage. Their conscience - This word properly means the judgment of the mind respecting right and wrong; or the judgment which the mind passes on the morality or immorality of its own actions, when it instantly approves or condemns them. It has usually been termed the moral sense, and is a very important principle in a moral government. Its design is to answer the purposes of an ever attendant witness of a man's conduct; to compel him to pronounce on his own doings, and thus to excite him to virtuous deeds, to give comfort and peace when he does right, to deter from evil actions by making him, whether he will or no, his own executioner: see John 8:9; Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16; Romans 9:1; 1 Timothy 1:5. By nature every man thus approves or condemns his own acts; and there is not a profounder principle of the divine administration, than thus compelling every man to pronounce on the moral character of his own conduct. Conscience may be enlightened or unenlightened; and its use may be greatly perverted by false opinions. Its province is not to communicate any new truth, it is simply to express judgment, and to impart pleasure or inflict pain for a man's own good or evil conduct.
Barnes speaks on the “morality or immorality of its own actions” & also “attendant witness of a man's conduct” So, we have here, as we do about participate, that a person’s actions are spoken of & that is what the conscience judges. Here again, if by voting for that person who would make for the most common good - is this act an “immorality of its own actions” or “attendant witness” of a voters evil conduct - NO. With voting are we talking about “man's own good or evil conduct.” NO. The argument to not vote has just lost the second of it’s two legs.
Matt 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” What was the purpose of salt - to hinder decay & also to season & flavor. How can we do this (hinder decay & flavor) as American citizens - by voting for those who would best lead this nation in allowing for more religious liberty.
Matt 6:9-10 “Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” We hallow & honor God’s name by the thoughts we harbor, the actions we both engage in & by those we do not engage in & by the way we live. We hallow & honor God’s name by making it possible (as far as we can) for the most moral good to be done to the most people. Such a choice is available to all of us in this election. Which candidate will allow for the GREATER GOOD? Which candidate will allow for more religious liberty & less government sponsored moral evil? Who will & who won’t squander the finances of this nation?
