Voting is a responsibility that every American should take serious, but especially Christians. It should not be a popularity contest, but a decision based on Biblical principles. As Second Great Awakening preacher Charles G Finney once said:

[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them….Politics are a part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as part of their duty to God….and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics].

If this was true in 1868 how much more true is it today? We as Christians cannot stand by in silence. The time to get involved and vote is now. So, how do we elect righteous leaders?

1. Obtain a sample ballot from your county. Many times they are available on the county’s election website.
2. Pray and ask God to give you wisdom. Recognize that there are no perfect humans, therefore no perfect candidate, but God can use even imperfect people to perform His will.
3. Examine the candidates to see where they stand on the issues compared to what the Bible says about those same issues. (Valuing what God values even in voting reveals priorities. God created 613 laws in the Old Testament, but specifically gave Moses His “Top Ten” list in Exodus 20. Issues surrounding life, marriage, and property are found in God’s “Top Ten” list. You can also find political/governmental matters regarding religious freedom, self-defense, taxes, etc. throughout the Old and New Testaments.)
4. Prioritize God’s values when voting. Consider the candidates’ positions compared to God’s “Top Ten” list. Thus, protecting unborn life and preserving Biblical gender standards are more important than problems like taxes or highway construction. Whether a candidate is running for school board or President of the United States, look for his or her record on Biblical morality and religious liberty issues as the best indicator of how each will act on every other issue.
5. Research candidates to know what they believe. You can learn about what candidates believe in many ways: check their websites about key issues or simply call their campaigns and ask and check with your politically-active Christian neighbors or friends about certain candidates and their beliefs. A candidate’s endorsements may also tell you a lot. For example, are they being endorsed by National Right to Life or Reproductive Freedom for All? Additionally, you can check out ChristianVoterGuide.com to find voter guides on many candidates and issues.
6. Vote Biblical values, not personal preference!

Click here to track Federal legislation and find out how your Congressman and Senators are voting. Sites like On The Issues provide a wealth of non-partisan information on voting and candidates (including biographies, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings). Another way to access voter information for your state is to use a search engine (i.e., google, bing, or yahoo) and type in “voter guide” or “voter information” along with key words like “pro-family” or “Christian” and the name of your state. Also check out our article on Steps for Viewing Candidates Scorecards!