So—who are you voting for? Well, whoever it is, just remember: whoever is elected, is your boss for four years.
One question that has been asked over and over throughout the centuries of the church is, “Are Christians obligated to obey pagan rulers?” Well, when Peter wrote his first Epistle, the Emperor Nero was in power in Rome. Now Nero was a diabolical man. He was evil, self-serving, and bordered on insanity. He’s the one who set fire to Rome and blamed it on the Christians. Yet, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:13, “Submit yourselves…to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors…” Wow! That was a pretty tall order—and it still is.
“Submit.” That’s a strong word. Actually, in the Greek text the word really means—“submit.” We probably wish it would mean something else, right? But it doesn’t. It means to be under submission; to obey; to be in subjection to.
Now, obviously, when the ordinances of man contradict the ordinances of God, we need to obey God—which is why Paul lost his head, and Peter got nailed to a cross. But in every other area of legitimate government, we are commanded by God to obey pagan leaders.
Listen—we have the privilege of voting for our leaders. But, make no mistake about it—whoever is elected to a governmental position of authority is the one God will hold us accountable to. Submit is not an option. It is a command.
Hey—don’t take voting lightly! Pray about it—and then do it.