By Larry Stover
Stover lives in Valley Grande and is pastor at Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene

This presidential election is wild! I’ve had more Christians ask me about voting than in any other presidential election in my lifetime (I’m 63).

We have never dealt with ethical and moral issues like we are facing today.  I’m quick to tell them that this election is not just about the next four or maybe eight years.  It will include decisions that will shape the future of America for several decades to come.

We have two options. We can either vote or stay at home. Just remember this, “If you don’t vote, don’t complain!”

There have been many Christians who have chosen not to vote for a variety of reasons. Some believe that since Christians belong to the Kingdom of God they have no faith in the government of man and see voting as a waste of time. In other words, if I really have faith in God, I should let him take care of matters and stay out of it.

These points and others can be debated forever, but, I personally believe it is the Christian’s right and responsibility to vote.

I recently read some excerpts from a book by Jeffrey L. Meyers, “Vital Truth: Christian Citizenship.” The author gave several reasons why he believed that it is a right and privilege for every believer to vote this coming Tuesday.

First of all, Meyers noted that God has granted us authority. Even though all authority belongs to God, He has put human beings on this earth to act as caretakers of His world.  According to Matthew 28:18-20, we are to make disciples of every nation, teaching them to obey God in every area of their life. That includes politicians! We need to disciple people to make godly decisions in government. That’s why we are to pray for our leaders.

Secondly, as Christians, we are to take a stand against evil.  If our citizenship is really in heaven, it will impact our lives as citizens of the United States.  The author noted historically, that during the 20th century almost 170 million people were brutally murdered by governments not ruled by the standards of our Judeo- Christian ethic.

Thirdly, Christian values contribute positively to society. God’s word not only makes sense, it gives a positive foundation to any nation that wants to make the lives of her constituents better. There is so much good that comes out of applying God’s principles to anything. At the very least, we should vote to keep people out of office that oppose God’s authority.

Lastly, practicing our right to vote sets an example for generation to come.  As a lifelong learner, I have discovered that individuals, families, and even nations that apply God’s principles and values to their situation will be honored with the best blessings that Heaven can give. I have also observed that those nations that refuse to obey the laws of God are doomed to function void of the presence and blessings of the Lord.

Our votes matter.  Our candidates have character flaws.  Don’t simply think that you are voting for the “lesser of two evils.”  It is more than that. Like all elections, these candidates will be setting precedents for the next 30 years as they appoint judges and Supreme Court justices, etc.

There are more than 90 million self-proclaimed Christians in America. This is not a time to stay home.

It is a time for us to take our Judeo-Christian beliefs with us to the voting booth and use our God given responsibility of voting to choose candidates that exemplify the name of Jesus Christ and his message to us.

This will involve some very difficult decisions on Tuesday but as a Christian believer, I must vote, and I will vote.

Enjoying the practice of voting makes life “Simply Beautiful.”