You Can't be a Christian and Vote for. . .

Is a Christian free to vote for any of the current field of possible presidential choices?

  • A Christian may vote for anyone he chooses. This has nothing to do with one's faith.

    Votes: 18 85.7%
  • A Christian may only vote for a candidate that is Christ-like.

    Votes: 3 14.3%
  • A Christian may only vote for a candidate that is a Christian.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    21

Tallguy88

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I would say yes, so long as he has proportionate reason to do so, based on a properly formed conscience.

None of the candidates are perfect, but some seem worse than others.
 
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graceandpeace

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I can't vote for any of the options, but the closest is, yes, I think a Christian can vote for whoever they choose - though I wouldn't say it has nothing to do with one's faith. I don't think it's possible to escape others questioning one's politics & faith, though.

Even when I repeatedly tell hard-right people in my life that I don't even want to discuss politics with them, let alone tell them who I'm voting for, I am inevitably pressured to debate the matter anyway. I've been told how stupid/evil/etc "liberals" are, etc, etc. It makes it really hard for me to love my neighbor as myself sometimes, & since some of the rhetoric comes from Christians, it hurts my faith as well. It's sad how tainted much of the discourse has become.

I used to be a reasonable independent, who could choose a mainstream Republican at times, but I've come to accept that time is gone. I am now a faithful Democrat. The party's values most closely match my own overall anyway.

Evaluating current candidates, they all have flaws, though I am most troubled by the two Republican front-runners. Some of the things said by these two are so, in my view, anti-Gospel, I am puzzled by Christians who support them. I don't judge them, but their support for these candidates bothers me.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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There are a number of "sufficiently Christian" candidates I could vote for. I don't look for a candidate to enforce a strong Christian agenda, but if I fear they will work against my beliefs they are off the list.

That's a good point.

I don't look to vote for a person simply because he is a Christian; however, I will oppose a person who will make life more and more difficult for the church and Christians.
 
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Jaxxi

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Is a Christian free to vote for any of the current field of possible presidential choices without his faith being called into question?
A Christian can vote for whoever he/she wants to vote for but I would think the Lord would have opened your eyes to the sick game being played and wouldnt have you waste your time. Personally I wont be casting my vote until the Second Coming because Jesus is the only candidate Im betting on at this stage of the game. No one else is worthy.
 
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Ezeretane

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That's a good point.

I don't look to vote for a person simply because he is a Christian; however, I will oppose a person who will make life more and more difficult for the church and Christians.

Very wise and well put !

I think we need to consider integrity of the candidates at least as much as we consider their views.

I agree
and I think that a vote is a very important power and maybe if more of us do it, maybe ( only maybe) christian choices in certain areas would be more selected
I think i will pray more seriously for the next election (and the candidates) in France : it really is an amazing opportunity to have a voice that count even it's a little one
 
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maryofoxford

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Very wise and well put !



I agree
and I think that a vote is a very important power and maybe if more of us do it, maybe ( only maybe) christian choices in certain areas would be more selected
I think i will pray more seriously for the next election (and the candidates) in France : it really is an amazing opportunity to have a voice that count even it's a little one


Your comment made me stop and think. I often forget that this forum is read and participated in by people outside my own country, and that not everyone gets a chance to have a voice in their government! People in the U.S. often take for granted that they have that right, and sadly have become complacent in our politics. It's this very reason that often allows bad or incompetent people to run our local and even our national government! We all should take advantage of the right to have a say. If we don't, then we also have no right to complain if someone that you don't like gets elected!

Yes, the Republican party has more people running this year for the PRIVILEGE to represent and serve this country. This doesn't mean that the party is split, or that it's bad that so many are running. It's wonderful for people to have so many choices! I truly believe that once the party has a nominee that Republicans will get behind that person, whoever it is! I'm guessing that this is one reason that many Democrats have voted Republican in these primaries. They really only have a choice between a Democrat (that they may not like) or a Socialist (Bernie Sanders calls himself that). Well, we aren't a Socialist country. Our founding fathers formed this country to be a Republic (with representational government). So unless they'd like to become Socialists, they don't have another Democrat to vote for!
 
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maryofoxford

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Is a Christian free to vote for any of the current field of possible presidential choices without his faith being called into question?

If you don't vote, than I believe you've voted by your lack of a vote!

If you don't believe that ANY of the candidates represents a Christian view, than at least vote for the one who will support more than the others. (The lesser of 2 evils, so to speak).

Is it right to vote for a candidate that holds contrary views to your faith (when you have a choice of voting for a Christian that supports the Christian view, but may have poor financial ideas etc.)? No, I don't believe that it's right for a Christian to do that. By doing that and voting for someone that has stated their opposition to Christian views, when you have another choice, makes you liable for their sinful actions as your president.

I've heard many people say that they don't agree, because that person is the only one liable since they, personally, didn't sign any law supporting a sin. Also, because of all the good the person was going to do for the country otherwise. It's great that they might have great ideas, accept for the killing of innocent lives, but all the good in the world doesn't compare to the evil of taking an innocent life!

Feel free to ask yourself, 'If I voted for a man who I knew said he'd sign a bill that allows any doctor to take the life of any patient that he felt was beyond help, even without that patient's permission; but they had great ideas on how to get the people in this country jobs, etc. When I could have voted for a man that was against all taking of innocent life, but I thought his ideas on how to get this country more jobs was terrible. Am I guilty when the first person gets elected (with my help through my vote), signs that bill, and then my mom's doctor kills her w/o her permission? Or, when the doctor kills my child, w/o my permission? Would I bear the guilt for their deaths, when I could have helped elect a man that was opposed to doing that?'

Your actions have consequences. You may have been just a tiny cog in an evil wheel, but you still helped drive the engine!
 
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Kersh

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My issue is that there are at least two or three major party candidates who have consistently shown themselves to lack even a basic level of moral and ethical character. With these candidates, I couldn't care less whether I agree with what they have to say. I won't vote for such a candidate, even if this means directly or indirectly supporting a candidate who doesn't share my views.

Truth be told, I will probably vote third party. But, if there are no morally viable options, abstaining is better than actively voting for a morally corrupt leader.
 
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maryofoxford

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My issue is that there are at least two or three major party candidates who have consistently shown themselves to lack even a basic level of moral and ethical character. With these candidates, I couldn't care less whether I agree with what they have to say. I won't vote for such a candidate, even if this means directly or indirectly supporting a candidate who doesn't share my views.

Truth be told, I will probably vote third party. But, if there are no morally viable options, abstaining is better than actively voting for a morally corrupt leader.

I realize that there are many people that feel that way; however here is how I like to look at this problem.

Our Lord has told us to "Judge not, lest ye be judged (in the same way you judge)". (Mat 7:1) We've all sinned and we've all fallen. It's public knowledge that campaigning for President isn't easy. Most candidates are traveling with little sleep, and few, if any, days off. Then there is the very real possibility that those who earnestly feel that this country is in serious trouble, could become so desperate for people to realize another candidate may be fooling the public, that they fall to the temptation to sin in their own words, or deeds. On top of this, they have campaign managers that tell them what they should do or say. (It's easy to be tempted to sin, when a person hired to get you elected is saying you should do something, plus you're going on little sleep.)

Since, you or I would also have the likelihood of falling to the same sin, in the same situation; I think prudence would have us look, not so much to the man's actions under this kind of pressure, but to how this man (or woman) has lived their faith (often through their vote, etc.) in normal circumstances. This is what truly speaks to the nature of each person running.

It's very easy for one campaigning for the highest office in the land to pander to his audience (in the case of conservatives) to tell people he's a good Christian. He may even be seen going to church, while on the campaign trail. But, did he go to church before? Did he mind supporting evil, or behaving sinfully before?? If he fell to sin before campaigning, did he seek forgiveness and try to correct that fall, or did he only do that once the eyes of the nation were on him?

In the case of Marco Rubio (for example, and I don't know the answer to this), he's accused of missing a great number of votes in the Senate. That may be a fact or not. First, one should check that. Then, if he did miss that many votes, what reason does he give? There are good reasons for absences (as we all know) and bad ones. I've also come to learn (by searching during the last presidential election) that the vast majority of things voted on in the Senate are VERY mundane. (An ex. would be something like, "Should we spend 1,000 dollars on a gift to acknowledge so-and-so's contribution to Children of P.O.W.'s ?") Most are actually that kind of thing and pretty cut and dry. This is why you'll hear your representatives say that "they may have missed a lot of votes while campaigning, but they were always there when a very important vote came up." It's actually very easy to go online and see, when your congressman voted, and HOW they voted!

I also think that it's very important to remember that these men/women, while campaigning, have a HUGE number of volunteers (I volunteered making phone calls locally once), and not only is the candidate unaware of most of their volunteers, but they certainly can't control them, outside of making sure they're removed if they do something wrong (and that's IF someone let's the candidate know about it"!) But, there are people working for their opponents that will be only too happy to make sure the press knows all about someone "in the other candidates campaign" that screws up! They'll plaster it everywhere in order to bring their opposition down! We all need to be aware of this and use good judgement when supporting a candidate or choosing not to.

It all comes down to prudence. Think how Satan works, and that he will often send attacks at those who are trying to follow Christ the most (for they are HIS biggest threat). On the other hand, don't be fooled by a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Our Lord gave us ways to know whether someone is truly a Christian or not. Watch for their fruits, but not just when they know they're being watched. Be quick to forgive the person that's truly trying to live their faith, but fell. Slow to be fooled by someone standing on the street corner, in order to be seen as pius, while their history shows otherwise.

I truly hope this makes sense to you. I think that if a person doesn't like any candidate and so doesn't vote, then they may be allowing one of the worst to win the election. "All that's required for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing!"
 
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RDKirk

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That's a good point.

I don't look to vote for a person simply because he is a Christian; however, I will oppose a person who will make life more and more difficult for the church and Christians.

Depending on what you mean by that.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. -- 1 Timothy 2

Being unhampered in living "peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" is the specific thing we are praying for in praying for government authorities. This means only what it says: That they leave us alone to live as Christians. It does not say that the king's policies will be specifically Christian or enforcing of Christian values, only that the king treats us with "benign neglect"--that he leaves us alone.

An example of that would be the experience of the Jews while in the "Persian phase" of their Captivity. The Persians never stopped being pagan, but through the work of God, the Jews consistently found favor under the Persians to continue being Jews.
 
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Kersh

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I realize that there are many people that feel that way; however here is how I like to look at this problem.

Our Lord has told us to "Judge not, lest ye be judged (in the same way you judge)". (Mat 7:1) We've all sinned and we've all fallen. It's public knowledge that campaigning for President isn't easy. Most candidates are traveling with little sleep, and few, if any, days off. Then there is the very real possibility that those who earnestly feel that this country is in serious trouble, could become so desperate for people to realize another candidate may be fooling the public, that they fall to the temptation to sin in their own words, or deeds. On top of this, they have campaign managers that tell them what they should do or say. (It's easy to be tempted to sin, when a person hired to get you elected is saying you should do something, plus you're going on little sleep.)

Since, you or I would also have the likelihood of falling to the same sin, in the same situation; I think prudence would have us look, not so much to the man's actions under this kind of pressure, but to how this man (or woman) has lived their faith (often through their vote, etc.) in normal circumstances. This is what truly speaks to the nature of each person running.

It's very easy for one campaigning for the highest office in the land to pander to his audience (in the case of conservatives) to tell people he's a good Christian. He may even be seen going to church, while on the campaign trail. But, did he go to church before? Did he mind supporting evil, or behaving sinfully before?? If he fell to sin before campaigning, did he seek forgiveness and try to correct that fall, or did he only do that once the eyes of the nation were on him?

In the case of Marco Rubio (for example, and I don't know the answer to this), he's accused of missing a great number of votes in the Senate. That may be a fact or not. First, one should check that. Then, if he did miss that many votes, what reason does he give? There are good reasons for absences (as we all know) and bad ones. I've also come to learn (by searching during the last presidential election) that the vast majority of things voted on in the Senate are VERY mundane. (An ex. would be something like, "Should we spend 1,000 dollars on a gift to acknowledge so-and-so's contribution to Children of P.O.W.'s ?") Most are actually that kind of thing and pretty cut and dry. This is why you'll hear your representatives say that "they may have missed a lot of votes while campaigning, but they were always there when a very important vote came up." It's actually very easy to go online and see, when your congressman voted, and HOW they voted!

I also think that it's very important to remember that these men/women, while campaigning, have a HUGE number of volunteers (I volunteered making phone calls locally once), and not only is the candidate unaware of most of their volunteers, but they certainly can't control them, outside of making sure they're removed if they do something wrong (and that's IF someone let's the candidate know about it"!) But, there are people working for their opponents that will be only too happy to make sure the press knows all about someone "in the other candidates campaign" that screws up! They'll plaster it everywhere in order to bring their opposition down! We all need to be aware of this and use good judgement when supporting a candidate or choosing not to.

It all comes down to prudence. Think how Satan works, and that he will often send attacks at those who are trying to follow Christ the most (for they are HIS biggest threat). On the other hand, don't be fooled by a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Our Lord gave us ways to know whether someone is truly a Christian or not. Watch for their fruits, but not just when they know they're being watched. Be quick to forgive the person that's truly trying to live their faith, but fell. Slow to be fooled by someone standing on the street corner, in order to be seen as pius, while their history shows otherwise.

I truly hope this makes sense to you. I think that if a person doesn't like any candidate and so doesn't vote, then they may be allowing one of the worst to win the election. "All that's required for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing!"

I get what you're saying. I have been spending a lot of time reading the Books of Kings and Jeremiah lately. What gets me about reading what God had to say about Israel's and Judah's leaders is that what made them great or not-so-great was not so much their "policies" but their personal morality. We are told, for example 1 Kings 15:5 tells us that the asterisk so-to-speak of David's otherwise solid reign was "in the case of Uriah the Hittite." In other words, what made David great was not his policies as king, but his integrity.

I would suppose that the example of David would also go to your point as well. Yes, David messed up royally, yet God still held him up as the model of what a leader should be. So, there is room for grace. But, David ultimately took responsibility for his sin, repented, and let it shape him into a stronger leader. What I see from some of our candidates is just the opposite, either they are proud of their lack of character or they are in total denial. I can envision a possibility where the election in November is between one candidate who flaunts immorality and another who has gone to great lengths to hide their own. (And, I am intentionally avoiding naming names, lest we get off topic by debating about particular candidates). If these are the only viable options in November, I'm not sure if I can vote for the "lesser of two evils" with a clean conscience.
 
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Sketcher

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Is a Christian free to vote for any of the current field of possible presidential choices without his faith being called into question?
Partisan Pharisees will call your faith into question regardless of who you vote for, it just depends on what their political inclination is. These people project their will onto God's, and twist the meanings of Scripture to suit their agenda. Here's an exercise: If you can point out where the other side does this, see if you do this the same way with your favored positions.
 
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RedPonyDriver

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If someone has the audacity to call my faith into question over which candidate or political party I support...then I can do the same to them. I've found that when certain people are pushed on certain issues, they see how utterly unbiblical their stance really is.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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"Is a Christian" and "is Christ-like" are synonymous if both are really true.

If I may disagree with a mod. . . ;) A Christian is one who believes and clings to the gospel because he is aware of his inability to be Christ-like. In fact, that's the entrance exam. It's not one's ability to imitate Christ that make him a Christian but only his need.

Christ and Paul used fruit trees as analogous to the Christian life, which means we shouldn't expect apples from a young apple tree. . .
 
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98cwitr

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If I may disagree with a mod. . . ;) A Christian is one who believes and clings to the gospel because he is aware of his inability to be Christ-like. In fact, that's the entrance exam. It's not one's ability to imitate Christ that make him a Christian but only his need.

Christ and Paul used fruit trees as analogous to the Christian life, which means we shouldn't expect apples from a young apple tree. . .

Good topic but OT...I'll start a thread in General Theology if you'd care to join me. Back on topic! :study: ^_^
 
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