Voting and the Lesser of Two Evils

by Frank Walton

In politics, one will never find the perfect candidate among flawed humanity. So then, one will often vote for the least objectional candidate with whom they agree the most.

Hence, when people vote for the least objectionable candidate, they say, "This choice is the lesser of two evils." To which someone else may say, "The lesser of two evils is still evil." Should we feel guilty in voting for a less than ideal candidate?

It is not evil to vote for a flawed human-being for political office. Look at God's example in using civil government, comprised of sinful humans, to function for secular order.

Civic governance is ordained by God for earthly law and order (Romans 13:1-4). The apostle Paul: "For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God" (Romans 13:1-2). Paul wrote this during the time of Roman Emperor Nero, who was a well-known debauched and extravagant tyrant. Yet, Christians were still to "honor the king" (I Peter 2:17). Christians have a democratic right to vote, which was not available in the first century. However, the apostle Paul's example is to exercise the political right he had as a Roman citizen for good (Acts 16:37; 25:11). This apostolic example is a precedent for using our right to wisely vote.

God has a hand in allowing certain rulers to rule within certain limits (Acts 17:26). God told the prophet, Daniel, in Babylonian captivity that King Nebuchadnezzar was allowed by God to reign. "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25). So, if picking a ruler with some moral flaws is evil, then God is guilty of evil! This is a false dilemma because God allows flawed rulers, like pagan king Nebuchadnezzar to reign and exert political influence. In fact, God "voted" (chose) for the ruler Nebuchadnezzar to take the Jews into captivity (Jeremiah 27:6-7). God also raised up the crass judge Samson to deliver the Jews from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). So, in governance, God may use a flawed person to accomplish a secular end.

What is the rationale for Christians voting in secular elections? David Lipscomb, a well-known preacher in middle Tennessee in the late 1800s to early 1900s, believed and taught that Christians should not vote but leave it totally up to God's sovereignty to select whomever He wanted. However, in Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls Christians to be "salt of the earth" (a preserving agent against societal rot) and "light" (a positive agent for righteousness and truth). Voting is a way to help select the candidate who will do the most good (light) and the least harm (salt).

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