Should a Christian Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils?

The Men's Podcast

Welcome back to the podcast, men! We’re going to take a break from our Stormproof series this week to talk about the upcoming election and answer the question: should a Christian vote for the lesser of two evils?

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I’ve had multiple people in my congregation sending me videos from different influencers and pundits. Several of them are criticizing the church for not being more vocal about who to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Is the church’s role to tell you who to vote for or teach you how to think biblically so that you can vote in a way that honors God? I would answer that it is the latter.

• They cite that many pastors are encouraging people to sit this election out because there isn’t a godly candidate. Is that the right approach?

Is there a godly candidate?

If you feel that you are trying to vote for the lesser of two evils and you’re not sure if you should vote at all, consider framing it by voting for who would do the most good. Is voting for the lesser of two evils a valid strategy?

Jeremiah 29:1-9 These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,[a] 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.

• I’m going to sit out because there isn’t a Godly candidate. The Israelites were in a pagan country and were told to pray for the peace of the city, plant crops. They were told to be engaged in the community. God didn’t tell them to disengage because they had ungodly leadership.
• If you were waiting to vote for a godly candidate how long would you have to wait? When is the last time you could say with confidence we have had a godly candidate? We have church leaders that we think are godly, only to find out they have major character flaws. How much more does that happen in politics?
• Are we voting on their personal character or their policies? I don’t think it’s either/or. I think it is both/and. If you’re going to try and tell me that a candidate has great personal character, but they’re running on a platform that is full of ungodly policies, I’m going to push back on that.
• Instead of thinking through the lense of “lesser of two evils” how about “who will do the most good”? Who is going to protect the unborn? Who is going to protect religious liberty? Who is going to protect the definition of marriage? Who is going to prevent my 16 year old daughter from having to share a locker room with a biological male?

God is Sovereign

First and foremost, we should vote in a manner that honors God and honors the convictions the Holy Spirit has put on our heart. Not voting for a candidate we think is the right choice because we don’t believe they can win is a sign we might be trying to control things that are out of our control.

Daniel 2:20-22 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

• Vote your conscience
• People who say voting for someone outside of the two major parties is a wasted vote - I don’t understand that thinking. God is able to put into office who he wants to put into office.

Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

• Think of the context when this was written. Paul writes this in a time when officials weren’t elected. The powerful ruled by power. Corruption was just as rampant then as it is now, if not more so. In spite of that, Paul reminds us that those in authority are there because God has allowed them to be there.

Moving forward post-election

Believers should move forward with peace and encouragement regardless of who wins the elections. God is sovereign. Nothing is happening that he isn’t allowing to happen and our primary citizenship is in heaven. We’re called to pray for our leaders, whether our candidate wins or not.

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

• We’re engaged in our culture and community, but we don’t have to be anxious. We can be confident no matter who wins the election. We should stay engaged even if the candidate we personally vote for doesn’t win.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

• If your candidate didn’t win the last election, how often have you prayed for the president and national leaders?
• Pray for wisdom, pray that God would soften their heart and that they would honor him in their decisions.

Close

Proverbs 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.