Dr. Ray Pritchard Christian Blog and Commentary

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!

If You Believe in the Sovereignty of God, You Must Vote

  • Dr. Ray Pritchard
    Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based ministry serving Christians in 225 countries. He is the author of 29 books, including Stealth Attack, Fire and Rain,… More
  • Updated Nov 03, 2008
This will be my final, small contribution to this overly-long political campaign that thankfully comes to an end tomorrow. I have one and only one word of advice to my Christian friends.

If you believe in the sovereignty of God, you must vote.

Of all the things that have bothered me during these past few weeks, and believe me, there has been plenty to keep me stirred up, perhaps the biggest one is this. Time and again I have heard Christians say, “God is sovereign” as an excuse not to vote and not to get involved. Lately I have heard it almost as a voice of defeatism. “God’s raises up leaders. The election is in his hands. He’ll have the only vote that counts.”

Yes and no. 

God is sovereign, but that doesn’t mean our vote doesn’t count. Remember that God ordains both the means and the ends. He told Joshua, “I have given you Jericho,” (Joshua 6:2), but the people still had to march around the city. If they didn’t march, the walls wouldn’t fall.

Christians make a terrible mistake if they use God’s sovereignty as an excuse not to get involved and not to vote. That’s like saying, “God is sovereign so I’m not going to pray” or “God is sovereign so I’m not going to witness."

I can imagine a Christian deciding on principle not to vote because he chooses not to participate in any elections. I don’t share that view, but I understand it. But I’m not thinking of that situation. 

Maybe you are sick or otherwise detained or unable to vote for some reason. Again, I’m not speaking to those situations. I’m talking to Christians who are hiding behind God’s sovereignty as an excuse not to vote.That’s a terrible misuse of a precious biblical doctrine.

I’m heading to the polling place early tomorrow morning to exercise my right as an American citizen. And I’m doing it because I believe in God’s sovereignty, knowing that my vote matters on earth and it also matters in heaven. 

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com . Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.