Titus 3 - Why You Should Vote on November 3rd?
Click to Read or Listen to Titus 3
Verses for the Day
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
What Does This Mean?
Today there seems to be only distrust by disdain for our government. A lot of people have stopped watching the news. Or, they get in a really bad mood after watching it. Why? Because there is nothing positive or seemingly redeeming about it. However, I believe despite the amount of diviseness and vitriol which spews forth every day from both political parties, we need to both be aware of what is happening in our world and stay involved in the political process. And think today and other biblical passages would back that up.
The most obvious way to do this is to vote on Tuesday, November 3rd. This is one of the most sacred and important rights and freedom we have in our country as we live in a democracy. People fought and died for us to be part to have the right to vote. I have heard people say, "I don't want to vote because they are just so tired of politics!" Or, "It doesn't matter because this particular party is going to win anyways. My vote really means nothing?? This is one of the dangers of all polling which can be vary from one poll to the other, and also be "dead wrong!" Though we may not like what is going on in the world, the bible tells us we should be "in the world but not of the world". After all Jesus calls us to be the salt and the light. We can't be either by sitting at home planted in front of our TV's or computers.
Christians often fall in one of two camps. One is, "Jesus is coming back soon, so why does it matter? The world is run by Satan anyways. I would rather wait in my "holy huddel" and protect myself from the evil inflluence of the world."
Or, others think the government is the solution to all of our problems. They think the government should be in charge of providing "everything to everyone". There were many Christian movements that thought that the church through the government could create the perfect "utopia on earth". This was most typied by the "Social Gospel" movement in the late 19th century.
"The Social Gospel and Care for the Poor: The modern Democratic social vision has deep historical roots in the 20th-century Protestant Social Gospel movement and Catholic social teaching, which emphasize that faith requires collective, systemic action—not just individual charity—to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and lift up the marginalized (mirroring passages like Matthew 25 or Micah 6:8) (study.com)
Some people think this is unbiblical because, "It shifts the focus from spiritual salvation to external, political, and material activism." (The Postsript Show)
So is there a more moderate position that reflects what Paul is saying in Titus 3 and also in Romans 13. So what is Titus 3:1-2 saying, does Jesus talk about how we should relate to governement?
First of all, let's remember Jesus' most famous statement when they ask him if they should pay taxes or not? Now realize that people had just as much disdain for the Roman government, as we do now for our governemnt. For Jesus to teach them to pay taxes, he would have been accused of supporting the oppressive Roman government. If he said "no" they shouldn't pay taxes to evil Rome, they would accuse him of being a lawbreaker.
The religious leaders led by the Pharisees used this to try to trap and embarrass him in front of the crowd. So what did Jesus say,
"So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."
Similarly Paul teaches Timothy the same basic concept when he tells him to teach the people to, "Obey the governing authorities, be obedient, be peaceable and considerate, and gentle toward everyone."
In Romans 13, Paul instructs them to obey the governing authorities for they are God's appointed agents to bring God's wrath order in society and punish lawbreakers. He points out that even those who have been given authority to govern have been appointed by God. You might say, "Well I can't see how God appointed so and so to be in a political position of power???" At the very least because He is sovereign, He is allowing them to be in power and they will be accountable to Him one day.
So what does this mean for us as Christians in our world today?
1. I have seen politics divide so many families, friendships, and churches. I think if I were the devil I would use this scheme all the time. If he gets us to take our eye off God's kingdom coming on earth as it is heaven and focused on worldly affairs, we will not accomplish the mission he has given us. I.e. The Great Commission.
2. In our country we live in a democracy where every citizen has the right to vote in who will be in office as the governing authorities. Therefore we have a chance to vote for which candidate best reflects our Christian values in all areas of government. I.e. Morality, fiscal responsibility, protection of our citizens, protection of our relgious freedoms, and the protection of our democracy against those who would do us harm.
3. Try to be an example of someone who can engage in healthy discussions about political issues without turning it into, "It is my job to convince them that I am right!" Seek first to listen and understand than to show off your knowledge. Politics has become so highly emotional that the arena for respectful debate and conversation is almost entirely gone. There is a wide chasm between Democrats and Republicans, and quite a bit of demonization of the other on each side.
So, the bible doesn't tell you how to vote, or which political party is right or wrong. But it does tell us to submit and be obedient to the governing authorities whatever political party they may be. It doesn't say to be obedient only if you like the one in office. But in our country if we don't like who is in office, or they don't represent your religious and political views you can get involved in the political process.
Note: There are exceptions given for civil disobedience when the government commands you to do something against your Christian faith. Or, tries to take away your freedom to worship God. See Dietrich Bonhoeffer's story in Naxi Germany for the best example of this principle. The apostles in Acts also said at one point when they were being asked by the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, to to not preach the gospel, "We must obey God rather than man!" Acts 5:29.
4. Finally, remember what Jesus said, "Give to God what is God's and Caesar what is Caesar's". Though we are to pay taxes, vote, and be obedient to the governing authorities, our primary purpose on earth is to be about bring about God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This world and iis passing away and the government will never solve all its problems. Jesus is the only one who can bring true transformation to a human heart and to our society.
Jesus, help us to be in the world but not of the world. We know that this world will eventually pass away but your kingdom will last forever. Help us to lead such good lives that others in our community will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
We pray for all those who govern that they realize that their authority comes from you, and they will one day be accountable to you for how they use it. We pray for our upcoming midterm elections that those who most reflect Your values would be elected into office. Amen.
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