WHY AMERICAN CHRISTIANS HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus called His followers the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” These are metaphoric expressions of the influence He expects His followers to have on the world in which they live.

Light expels darkness, which is a type of ignorance and falsehood. The value of salt in Jesus’ day was as a preservative, slowing down the spoilage of meats. We are to be salt and light, resisting the moral corruption that is in the world and dispelling ignorance and falsehood.

We fulfill the words of Jesus through our words, deeds, and prayer. We also do it by voting for government leaders whose lives and policies are most conducive to our Christian mission and message.  

Our goal is not to create an “official” Christian nation, but to make disciples of Christ in every nation, as He commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. When the people of this nation, or any nation, live by the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament, they will be a more peaceful and happy people. As Psalm 33:12 says, Blessed is the nation, whose God is the LORD.

To carry out this Great Commission, we need political leaders whose worldview and policies are favorable to the Christian mission. Our Christian mission will either be opposed or accommodated by those who are voted into power.

In I Timothy 2:1-3, Paul instructed Timothy to pray for kings and all that are in authority with two clear goals in mind: (1) that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life and (2) that people may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul wants government leaders whose policies will accommodate the Christian cause. He wants Christians to be able to live free of persecution--able lead quiet and peaceable lives. He also wants there to be freedom for the preaching of the Gospel for he mentions how God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Neither Timothy nor Paul had the option of voting for government leaders, but Paul’s guideline for praying for such leaders can also be used at the voting booth. Although there are no perfect candidates, we can both pray and vote with Paul’s vision in mind.

John Jay (1745-1829), whom George Washington appointed as the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, understood this. Jay was a New York Lawer, governor of New York, and a Founding Father. In 1812, he exhorted American citizens that it was their “duty” to wisely choose their leaders. He said,

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. National prosperity can neither be obtained nor preserved without the favor of Providence (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, 93).

It is both foolish and immoral for Christians to leave it to the secularists and agnostics to choose those who will govern this nation. Such leaders would most surely oppose our Christian values and mission. Yes, American Christians have a moral obligation to vote in this election.

This article is derived in part from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. Eddie is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to educate America about the impact of the Great Awakening (beginning in 1726) on the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent. 

The First Continental Congress Was Launched with Bible Reading and Prayer on this Day in 1774

Deciding to put down the upstart colonists with force, George had sent 6 regiments of British soldiers who had locked down the city of Boston and closed its port. Concern had spread throughout the colonies and in Virginia Thomas Jefferson called for a day of fasting and prayer for June 1 asking that all the people would, "Invoke the Divine interposition to give the American people one heart and one mind to oppose all transgressions against American rights" (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 107). 

Because of the spiritual impact of the Great Awakening, the delegates agreed that they should open with Bible reading and prayer. Samuel Adams, a Puritan from New England, suggested they invite Rev. Jacob Duche, an Anglican minister of Philadelphia who was known as a man of deep piety and faith, to come and lead them in payer.

As the elderly, grey-haired Duche stood before the Congress, he began by reading the entire 35th Psalm, which powerfully impacted everyone present. It is a prayer of David for deliverance and begins with the words, Plead my cause O LORD with those who strive against me; fight against those who fight against me. The Psalm ends with praise for God’s deliverance.

After reading the Psalm, Duche began praying for the delegates and for the oppressed American states. His prayer was not politically correct for he prayed according Scripture and in the name of Jesus Christ, something many current public officials refuse to allow.

As Duche began praying, the Anglicans, such as George Washington and Patrick Henry, knelt according to their custom. The Puritans, according to their custom, sat with bowed heads and prayed. The Quakers, Presbyterians, and others prayed according to their own, unique customs.

But although their outward manners differed, there was a singleness of heart and purpose as they all united in prayer for God’s assistance and intervention for America. Duche lifted his voice in prayer, saying,

O Lord, our high and mighty Father, heavenly king of kings, and Lord of Lords, who dost from Thy throne behold all the dwellers of the earth, and reignest with power supreme over all kingdoms, empires, and governments. Look down in mercy we beseech thee on these our American states who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee they have appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support which Thou alone can give . . . Shower down upon them and the millions they represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting joy in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son and our Savior. Amen (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 108).

This was America's founding prayer and it was recorded in the official proceedings of this First Continental Congress. John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, of the impact of the Bible reading and prayer on the delegates, saying,

Who can realize the emotions with which they turned imploringly to heaven for divine interposition and aid. It was enough to melt a heart of stone. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seems as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read that day. I saw tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave pacific Quakers of Philadelphia. I must beg you to read that Psalm (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 108).

Rev. Duche was then invited to be the chaplain for the Congress and begin each session with Bible reading and prayer. He agreed and this first Congress became a place where God's word and prayer in the name of Jesus were valued and given priority. 

Sadly, these historical facts have been censored from the secularized modern versions of America’s history. It is, therefore, vital that we restore them to the American public mind for as Carl Sandburg said, "When a nation goes down or a society perishes, one condition may always be found; they forgot where they came from, they lost sight of what had brought them along."

This is a reminder of where we came from and what brought us along.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.