Vote Smarter, Not Harder

A few weeks back we talked about How to Vote so that when you go to the polls, you can walk in with a prepared heart and mind. After all, Proverbs 19:2 says, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”

You probably have a general pulse on each candidate, but if you were quizzed on where they stand on key issues, would you pass? We get it, there’s so much news out there that it’s hard to know “up” from “down” these days. That’s why we’re here—we want to offer you a quick rundown of some important issues. We also want to help you think about how we can apply what the Bible says to each one. It’s true, God cares about these topics because He cares about people. In fact, God loves you so much more than you can comprehend. So, He cares about how these topics affect you, and all people.

We get it—politics can be intimidating and confusing to get into, but we encourage you to find out where the candidates on your ballot stand on the major topics. As we know, more than just the presidency, we will also be voting for numerous candidates at the federal and state levels. So, as you read through the next section, we suggest that you ask yourself, “Where do the candidates that I’m voting for stand on this?”

Let’s dive in.

Religious Liberty

Do you know where the candidates stand when it comes to the Equality Act? Basically, the Equality Act is a bill that, if passed, could force many churches to compromise their core beliefs. This act could change the laws around sexual orientation and gender identity. It could also change the current tax-free status of churches.

It’s critical that you know to what extent your candidate supports religious freedom. It’s also important to note that the laws presented in the Equality Act could affect all religions’ practices in the United States, not just Christianity.

Curious to learn more about the roles of family, government, and the church? Check out this message.

The Sanctity of Life (Abortion)

Do you know what the candidates believe about the sanctity of life? Do you know what they think about abortion? The Bible teaches that unborn children are human beings, starting from conception and through every stage until birth (Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41-44; Galatians 1:15). In fact, the Bible actually has a lot to say about the topic of abortion. Looking for more info? Check out this resource or watch our recent Porch message to help you learn more.

It’s important to understand what the candidates believe about abortion. Are they pro-life or pro-choice? Also, be aware of the candidate’s stance on using taxpayers’ money to fund abortions, because that will impact us all.

LGBTQ+

Do you know what the candidates think about how much input a parent should or shouldn’t have when it comes to their child transitioning genders? If a high schooler identifies as a different gender, should they be allowed to use the locker room that aligns with their preference?

On this topic, we can look at what Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

The Courts

Do you know what the candidates believe about the courts? One of the President’s biggest responsibilities is having the authority to appoint hundreds of judges. These judges are appointed to both to the Supreme Court, and the federal courts. It’s important to consider the question, “What types of judges would this candidate appoint if they were elected?”

Would they nominate judges who are in favor of abortion? Would they nominate judges who speak out against abortion? Would they nominate judges who value the traditional family unit?

We can look to Micah 6:8 for advice, which says, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Race

What do the candidates believe about the topic of race? Do they hold a biblical perspective? Do they want to defend and help those who are hurting?

The Bible tells us that all people are created in the image of God. God doesn’t show favoritism towards any of his people, and neither should we (Genesis 1:27; Colossians 3:11; Romans 10:12). We should pursue peace with all people and reconcile with one another, while understanding that God will ultimately judge everyone rightly (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Watermark has put together this resource to help you understand what the Bible says about racial injustice. Or check out the following message from our friend JD on How Racism Ends.

Marriage and Family

Do you know what the candidates believe about marriage and family? Does it seem that they believe God’s design for marriage and family is true, right, and best? God is the designer of marriage…it was actually His idea. Scripture tells us that He designed marriage to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Because this is true, Christians should vote for candidates who also believe in God’s design and intent for marriage. Check out this message from our recent series at The Porch, Matchmaker, to hear more.

Do you feel like you just drank from a firehose? We get that. And funny enough, we only scratched the surface on these topics. Are you in the market for additional content on voting that is biblically based? We thought you might ask. You should check out this resource for more.

And if you’re landing in a spot where you aren’t confident that you know what the candidates and their political parties believe about these topics, we recommend reviewing the overviews of both the Democratic and Republican parties on The Gospel Coalition’s website. Or take a glance at this simple comparison chart from the Family Research Council.

If anything, we hope you walk away remembering this: God is ultimately in control over who wins this election. He already knows who will take office in 2021, and we can trust that He will still be on the move. As citizens of the United States, we have the privilege of participating in voting in the country that we live in—don’t take it for granted (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1-7).

In it with you, and praying for you.