![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/vote-200x300.jpg\")
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.<\/p>\nby Frank Walton<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/em>Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God<\/em>” (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.<\/p>\n 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<\/em>” (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.<\/p>\n 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 <\/b>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).<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[310],"class_list":["post-26716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-government"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16347,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-decide-who-to-vote-for\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":0},"title":"How do I decide who to vote for?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My question has to do with voting. Since I am able to vote, are there any Bible verses for which I can turn to for deciding who to vote for?\u00a0 It is important for me to select the best candidate for running this country. Thanks! Answer: Christians ought to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57887,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-lesser-of-two-evils\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":1},"title":"The Lesser of Two Evils","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Al Diestelkamp via Gospel Power, Vol. 13, No. 31, July 30, 2006. When it comes to behavior, one should never allow himself to be put into positions where he chooses between two evils. There may be situations wherein we think we must make such choices, but in reality, there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26381,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-danger-of-assuming-god-is-on-our-side\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":2},"title":"The Danger of Assuming God Is on \u201cOur\u201d Side","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer If we believe that God rules in the kingdoms of men, we cannot stop believing it when things don\u2019t go the way we think they should. We often assume God is on \u201cour\u201d side in a particular cultural, political, or even military conflict. If we believe in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52655,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/political-issues\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":3},"title":"Political Issues","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 2:13-17\u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Should Christians be involved in the issues surrounding elections and the operation of our government? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m not talking about a congregation endorsing a particular candidate or financing someone\u2019s campaign. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But should stands be made regarding issues which government officials debate? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For example:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63708,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-makes-a-good-ruler\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":4},"title":"What Makes a Good Ruler?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 29, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel 4:8-27 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Accepting the idea that Christians should vote when their government gives them the opportunity to do so, the question then turns to whom should we vote? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Far too often we are presented with choices where it appears we must choose between the lesser\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92583,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-two-evils\/","url_meta":{"origin":26716,"position":5},"title":"The Two Evils","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Gibson Isn't it sad? The way people seek after what proves counterproductive, totally illogical, and ultimately defeating. \"Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this;\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26716\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}