A Christian's Guide to Voting

The Guide Below is from Faith and Action:

Faith and Action in the Nation Capital
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"HOW TO PICK AN ELECTED LEADER: What the Bible Says About Voting For the Right Person
About The Authors: Twin brothers, Rev. Rob and Dr. Paul Schenck, lead Faith and Action, a Christian outreach to top government officials in Washington, DC, and in state capitals around the country. Paul and Rob have ministered on Capitol Hill for 15 years. Both men hold degrees in Bible, Theology, Religion, Christian Ministry and Divinity. Paul is also a pastoral associate for Priests for Life.
Rob is an ordained Evangelical minister, chairman of the Committee on Church and Society for the Evangelical Church Alliance and president of the National Clergy Council and Faith and Action in Washington, DC. The Schenck’s have effectively presented the following guidelines to audiences of Christian voters around the country. We pray you’ll find these ideas helpful as you make your selection for President of the United States, the Congress and state and local officials.

TEN NON-NEGOTIABLE CRITERIA IN CHOOSING OUR TOP LEADERS
Deuteronomy 17:14 – 20: “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
In the above passage, God lays out clear guidelines for how His people are to select their leaders. In this case it is the top authority, namely, the King. Because the monarchs of the Ancient Near East were the “chief executives” of their governmental system, the criteria for choosing the king also applies to our choice of our chief executive - the President of the United States.
As you approach casting your ballot, these guidelines, laid down by God Himself, will help you to pick the right man or woman for the top job in American government. These criteria will also apply to your choice of public officials on all other levels of government, including local, county, state and federal officials. It is our hope and prayer these guidelines help you and yours to pick the right person(s) to serve and lead our country in these trying times.

1. He/She must be God’s Man/Woman
Verse 15a: “[Y]ou shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God
chooses…”
How can we be sure we’re picking the man or woman God wants for this position? By prayer! The simplest step is often the most difficult. Begin by praying, “Lord, I want to be sure to pick your man or woman for this (these) position(s). Help me to choose wisely and be obedient to your prompting. In the end, may your will be done though whomever wins. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

2. He/She must understand you, your family and your community.
Verse 15b: “[F]rom among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you . . .”
The person we vote for must be familiar with the people he/she is to serve in office. They must personally understand your way of life, your values, and the things that are important to you. They must “speak your language,” so-to-speak; share the most important things in common with you. It is in this way that they must come “from among your brethren.”

3. He or she must not be power hungry.
Verse 16: “[H]e shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses . . .”
In ancient times horses represented power, much as they do today, as in an engine’s “horsepower.” The candidate you’re looking for must understand that “public service” is not a route to power. This individual must be a servant-leader. In our system of government it is the law, based on the Constitution, that holds power, not individuals. We must select individuals for public office that understand they are expendable and only useful as long as they serve the interests of those who elect them.

4. He/She must be faithful.
Verse 17a: “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away...”
This can just as well apply to a woman as to a man. This person must practice fidelity— both in private and in public. Not only must this candidate be a moral person, but he/she must be faithful in marriage because it’s the most basic contract that can exist between two persons. If a person can’t keep a promise to a spouse—the person closest to them— then they can’t be trusted in their promises to the public.

5. This candidate must not be money hungry.
Verse 17b: “[N]or shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”
The candidate God chooses understands that service is not a means to self-enrichment. Money is not evil in itself, but the Bible says the love of money (greed) is the root of all evil. Public service is an act of self-sacrifice. It should cost someone something to serve others. We are looking for a selfless individual who is ready to give up comfort and convenience for the betterment of others.

6. This person must have a personal, working knowledge of the Bible and Judeo-Christian morality.
Verse 18: “[H]e shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.”
“Law” in this instance refers to the totality of God’s will and word for human living. The “law” was also God’s moral code, His rules for right and wrong. This person must be personally acquainted with what the Bible teaches. Notice, too, that attaining this knowledge must happen in the presence of the Levitical priests. In other words, authorized religious teachers, not just anyone, must properly teach them. Look for the pastors, teachers and other religious counselors in a candidate’s life.

7. The candidate must generally know the Bible and seek to obey every part of it, not just what he or she prefers.
Verse 19: “[H]e shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law . . .”
The person you are looking to elect must be God-fearing and generally Bible-literate. He/she must be a Bible reader and see the Scriptures and what the candidate teaches and lives as vitally linked. There are many people who seek public office who pick and choose what they like in the Bible while ignoring or even violating the rest. This person must respect the entirety of God’s Word and seek to obey it. Note it says, “...learn to fear.” This person doesn’t have to be a perfect Christian--no one is--but he/she must be open to “learn” how to better serve God; they must be “teachable.”

8. The candidate must be humble.
Verse 19a: “[H]is heart may not be lifted above his brethren . . .”
We are seeking a humble, self-effacing person who understands he/she is a servant, not a master. In our system of government those who hold public office serve the Constitution, the government it frames, the law and the people. God’s candidate will know that he/she must humble himself if he is to be exalted in the eyes of the people. To be a great leader requires that one must first be a great server. Great leaders understand where they fit in the scheme of things. Most importantly, they understand they are accountable first to the people and ultimately to Almighty God.

9. This person must be balanced.
Verse 20a: “[H]e may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the
left…”
One might read this and declare that we should all be voting for an independent candidate - neither “to the right,” nor “to the left!” All kidding aside, we’re seeking a “balanced” individual. He/she has his/her priorities straight. This candidate is not an extremist, not a sell-out to one ideology or the other, but considers what is best for the people he/she serves. He or she won’t put party, platform or personality above principle.

10. This person seeks to leave a lasting and positive legacy.
Verse 20b: “[T]hat he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children…”
The winning candidate will look far beyond the immediate and into the future for the sake of generations to come. This person isn’t just concerned about short-term political gains or his/her next career move. This is about future generations yet unborn who will inherit the results of decisions made in the present. This person must have the “big picture” constantly in mind and in heart.

Conclusion
What about the candidate you are considering? How close does he/she come to the ideal presented in the passage above? Take this Election Guide and compare the candidates to it. Place it next to you as you fill out your absentee or early-vote ballot, or carry it into the voting booth with you. Take the time you need to pray and consider each criterion and what you know about the candidates. May the Lord guide your decision and use it in the end for His glory and for the benefit of the American people, our great Republic and the nations of the Earth that are affected by the decisions we will make."