Some Christians try to stay above the fray of politics. They point to Jesus’ words in John 17:16, “They do not belong to this world any more than I do,” to emphasize that believers are to be in the world but not of the world. That is, they take these words of Jesus to mean that believers should not participate in earthly government matters. They cite Paul’s words in Philippians 3:20, “We are citizens of heaven”, to suggest that we don’t have the spiritual credentials or the calling to try to influence election outcomes.
But is staying away from politics really God’s will for His people? There’s an interesting detail in a New Testament story that shines some light on the issue. The story is found in Acts 27. The apostle Paul was a prisoner, being transported by boat to Rome for his trial. The journey was slow-going at first. The winds were against them.
With great difficulty, the ship made it to the island of Crete and docked at the port of Fair Havens. It was there that the passengers and crew faced a crucial decision: Should they stay docked or continue sailing? The date was around October 5, which was late for sailing. The dangerous winter season in that region, when waves grew treacherous, ran from about September 14 to November 11.
A vote was taken to decide whether the ship would continue on to Phoenix, a more suitable harbor on Crete, or wait out the winter in Fair Havens. Paul voted to stay in Fair Havens. He was a veteran seafarer who had traveled some 3,500 miles on the Mediterranean Sea. On top of that, he’d already been shipwrecked three times.
But Paul was outvoted. The ship set sail—and wrecked on the island of Malta.
But the interesting detail of the story is that Paul cast a vote. He spoke up. He got involved in the process. He knew what was right. He made his case based on what would be best for everyone aboard the ship. Unfortunately for everyone aboard the ship, his vote was outnumbered, and his opinion was ignored. But the responsibility that Paul felt to vote—to get involved in the process by voicing his opinion—can apply to all Christians today because we have a biblical worldview.
We have a book that tells us what’s right and what’s wrong. And it’s absolute truth. Because of it, we know what’s helpful and what’s damaging not only to ourselves but to our country. That’s why it’s important for us to cast our vote. We must apply our understanding of Scripture to the issues facing our nation, our state, and our local community. We must work to elect leaders who align with what we find in God’s Word.
We may not always be in the majority, just as Paul wasn’t. But our input is essential. Because “when the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).
