Southern Baptist President Urges Voting

Southern Baptist Convention Urges Voting–What Does the Bible Teach?

Yesterday, the so-called “Christian Post” ran the following story:

Southern Baptist Head: Christians Should Be Involved in Politics

Christian Post – March 26, 2008

The president of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination dismissed the idea that politics was too “dirty” for Christians and instead urged believers to be involved in the political process.

Dr. Frank Page, president of the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), discussed politics and American society during an interview with Donald E. Wildmon, the founder and chairman of the American Family Association, in a video made available online Tuesday…

He also recalled how Christians are called to be the “salt and light” in the world, and that through political involvement believers can make an impact on the culture for Christ.In particular, Page urged Christians to vote this November for the next U.S. president whether their favorite candidate is on the ballot or not.

“Unfortunately, you’ve got a lot of foggy notions out there that electing the right person is going to change everything,” Page observed, according to OneNewsNow, the website of the American Family News Network (AFN). “The reality is we’re in a system of checks and balances, and not one person can do everything.”

He warned against the thinking of not voting in the presidential election because of problems perceived in the three major presidential contenders.

“There is no perfect candidate; you must vote – and particularly this fall,” Page urged. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080326/31688_Southern_Baptist_Head%3A__Christians_Should_Be_Involved_in_Politics.htm.

This differs greatly from the official position of the Living Church of God:

SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD

The Bible teaches that Satan the devil has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9), that God’s people need to be separate from the world’s systems (John 15:19; Revelation 18:4).

This separation means that those called of God live a different way of life and that we are in a real sense Ambassadors of God’s government (Ephesians 6:20; 1 Peter 2:9-10). Thus, historically, the Church of God has taught its members not to participate in secular juries or worldly politics.

We, thus, in the Living Church of God, do not vote in presidential elections.

Did you know that the only clear time the Bible records that anyone “voted”, it was the Apostle Paul (while he was still Saul), voting to have Christians put to death?

Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them (Acts 26:9-10).

And while the above is not of itself a blanket condemnation of all voting, it is the only time the word “vote” or “voting” is in the Bible. And it does show that even religiously zealous/conservative individuals do not always vote correctly and can do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

That and more from the Bible on this subject is included in the article Should a Christian Vote?