On Voting and Prayer

05/30/2024

On Tuesday morning I stopped off on the way to church to vote. If Kathy and I had been in town last week, I would have voted absentee to avoid the long lines on voting day. But we were out of town, so I had to vote on Tuesday. As you probably know, there were no lines.

The timing of this special run-off election was significant. It was the timing that led to my first musing.

Election day was the day after Memorial Day, a day when we remember those who gave their lives to preserve our freedoms. I have the privilege of voting because of those who died to win and keep that privilege.

As I clicked my choice on the ballot, I was deeply grateful to the men and women who laid down their lives that I might have a say in choosing who will govern me. Not all people in the world have this privilege. I was a grateful voter on Tuesday.

My second voting booth musing had me reflecting on the role my faith plays in politics. When the New Testament was written, Rome ruled. Roman citizens certainly had many privileges, but even a Roman citizen didn’t get a vote on who would govern.

For that reason, the exhortation to Christians when it came to politics was simple. Submit. The Bible reasons that all authority, ultimately, is from God. So, submitting to governing authorities shows confidence in God’s goodness and justice.

Submission is also a good and necessary part of living out our own obedience to God in the USA. But there is a twist.

We don’t live in a totalitarian state or a monarchy. We live in a democratic republic. Our form of government invites participation from the governed. In fact, the proper functioning of our government demands participation. So, as I apply the New Testament’s command to “submit,” I find it reasonable to vote.

I pulled the ballot from the voting machine impacted by the thought that I was not merely having a say in who my representative might be. I was bringing a smile to God’s face by my participation in the process.

My third musing came as I inserted my ballot into the counting machine and realized that I was exercising agency in voting. My vote counts. I was making a difference.

However, as I walked through the parking lot to my truck, I kept thinking about how much difference I made by voting, got a bit sobered, and then was refreshed and inspired as the Lord turned my thoughts to prayer.

How much did my vote really count?

In the election on Tuesday, my vote counted for a good bit because of extremely low voter turnout. Unofficial results show a less than 5% turnout for the run-off races.

It’s a math thing. The fewer the voters, the more each vote matters. The larger the number of voters, the less one vote will make a difference.

Voting is one way to exercise agency in the public square. It’s one way to make your voice heard and to effect change. I’m thankful for the opportunity to vote.

But I was thankful on Tuesday and I’m thankful today that God has given us another avenue to make our voice heard: Prayer.

Prayer is much more personal than voting as our prayers catch the ear of our Father in heaven. The powerful people we vote for never know we voted for them. God knows and cares when we ask Him to do what only He can do.

We can have confidence that God will use our prayers to build our relationship with Him, change our character, and to actually effect change.

When we pray…

…according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15).

…in Jesus’ Name (John 14:13).

…while abiding in Jesus (John 15:7).

…in faith (Mark 11:24).

…with right motives (James 4:2-3)…

…God does things He would not have done had we not prayed.

Bob Burnside was one of the founding leaders of our church. I’ve never forgotten Bob’s wise comment about voting and prayer: “I vote because I think it is right for a Christian to vote. But I believe a lot more is accomplished when I pray than when I vote.”

Friends, let us pray!

Yours…His,

Dave