Guiding Principles for a Biblical Worldview in Voting
Summary
In today's message, I felt a deep burden to address a critical issue facing our culture, especially as we approach a significant election. Many followers of Jesus are confused about how to think and respond in these times. My aim is to provide a biblical worldview to guide us in making critical decisions, particularly in the context of voting. The world is shaping our worldview more than the Bible, and this is a challenge we must confront. We live in a time where holding a biblical worldview is increasingly unpopular, and this has created fear among churches and followers of Jesus. Many Christians who speak out on issues like voting do so with anger, which is not the way of Jesus. We need to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit and love those around us.
I am not here to tell you whether you should vote or who to vote for. Instead, I want to help you think and decide from a biblical perspective. Our primary focus should be the kingdom of God. Jesus emphasized His kingdom, which is eternal and outlasts every nation. Our allegiance should be to His kingdom above all else. The love of God should be our central message. Jesus was known for His love, and we should be too. Our love for one another is how the world will know we are His disciples. The Word of God is our final authority. It is the timeless truth that should shape our decisions and worldview. We must stand under its authority and let it guide us.
The way of God is our ultimate standard. As we immerse ourselves in His Word, we come to know His ways, which transform our lives. Our worship is reflected in all areas of our lives, including how we vote. We must not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The glory of God is our supreme motivation. Whatever we do, including voting, should be for His glory. Even if the person we vote for does not win, the church can still thrive because God is sovereign. He causes kingdoms to rise and fall, and our confidence should be in Him. We must humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, trusting that He will hear our prayers and heal our land.
Key Takeaways:
1. Kingdom Focus: Our primary allegiance should be to the kingdom of God, which is eternal and surpasses any earthly nation. Jesus emphasized that His kingdom is not of this world, and our lives should reflect this focus. We must prioritize His kingdom over national or political allegiances, ensuring that our actions and decisions align with His eternal purposes. [08:40]
2. Central Message of Love: The love of God should be the central message of our lives. Jesus was known for His love, and we should be too. Our love for one another is how the world will know we are His disciples. This love is not just an emotion but an action, demonstrated through service and sacrifice, as exemplified by Jesus on the cross. [15:38]
3. Authority of Scripture: The Word of God is our final authority, providing timeless truth that shapes our decisions and worldview. We must stand under its authority, allowing it to guide us in all aspects of life, including voting. God's Word is inerrant and given to us as an act of love, revealing His heart and mind for us. [21:50]
4. Transformation through God's Ways: Immersing ourselves in God's Word transforms our minds and lives. As we understand His ways, we are empowered to make choices that honor Him. Our worship is reflected in all areas of life, and we must not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. [27:09]
5. Supreme Motivation of God's Glory: The glory of God should be our supreme motivation in all we do, including voting. Even if our preferred candidate does not win, the church can still thrive because God is sovereign. Our confidence should be in Him, trusting that He will accomplish His purposes regardless of earthly circumstances. [38:29]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [08:40] - Kingdom Focus
- [15:38] - Central Message of Love
- [21:50] - Authority of Scripture
- [27:09] - Transformation through God's Ways
- [34:31] - Addressing Cultural Issues
- [38:29] - Supreme Motivation of God's Glory
- [42:00] - Call to Humility and Prayer
- [45:00] - Invitation to Receive God's Love
- [48:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 1:6-8
2. John 13:35
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 1:6-8, what question do the disciples ask Jesus, and how does He redirect their focus? [08:40]
2. According to John 13:35, how will people recognize Jesus' disciples? [15:38]
3. What does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say about the purpose of Scripture? [21:50]
4. How does the sermon describe the current cultural challenge for Christians regarding their worldview? [08:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the kingdom of God over a physical kingdom in Acts 1:6-8, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about prioritizing God's kingdom? [08:40]
2. How does the love described in John 13:35 challenge the way Christians are perceived in today's society? [15:38]
3. What does it mean for Scripture to be the final authority in a believer's life, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and how does this influence decision-making, including voting? [21:50]
4. How does the sermon suggest Christians should respond to cultural issues with both truth and love? [15:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current priorities. How can you ensure that your primary allegiance is to the kingdom of God rather than earthly nations or political parties? [08:40]
2. Think of a recent interaction where you could have demonstrated more love. How can you intentionally show love in your next encounter with that person? [15:38]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to submit to the authority of Scripture. What steps can you take to align your actions with biblical teachings? [21:50]
4. Consider the media and influences that shape your worldview. How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to transform your mind? [27:09]
5. When faced with a decision, such as voting, how do you determine which choice aligns more closely with biblical principles? What resources or practices can help you in this process? [38:29]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt fear or anger about cultural issues. How can you approach these situations with the fruit of the Spirit, particularly love and peace? [08:40]
7. How can you actively participate in your community to reflect God's glory, even if the political or cultural climate is challenging? [38:29]
Devotional
Day 1: Allegiance to an Eternal Kingdom
Our primary allegiance should be to the kingdom of God, which is eternal and surpasses any earthly nation. Jesus emphasized that His kingdom is not of this world, and our lives should reflect this focus. We must prioritize His kingdom over national or political allegiances, ensuring that our actions and decisions align with His eternal purposes. In a world where political and national identities often take precedence, it is crucial to remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. This perspective helps us navigate earthly matters with a focus on eternal values, allowing us to engage in civic duties like voting with a mindset that seeks God's kingdom first. [08:40]
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize God's kingdom in your daily decisions, especially when faced with political or national pressures?
Day 2: Love as the Defining Mark of Discipleship
The love of God should be the central message of our lives. Jesus was known for His love, and we should be too. Our love for one another is how the world will know we are His disciples. This love is not just an emotion but an action, demonstrated through service and sacrifice, as exemplified by Jesus on the cross. In a culture often marked by division and hostility, embodying Christ's love becomes a powerful testimony. This love calls us to serve others selflessly, to forgive generously, and to seek reconciliation, reflecting the heart of Jesus in all our interactions. [15:38]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to experience God's love through you today. How can you practically demonstrate this love to them?
Day 3: Scripture as the Guiding Authority
The Word of God is our final authority, providing timeless truth that shapes our decisions and worldview. We must stand under its authority, allowing it to guide us in all aspects of life, including voting. God's Word is inerrant and given to us as an act of love, revealing His heart and mind for us. In a world where many voices compete for our attention, Scripture remains the steadfast guide that helps us discern truth from falsehood. By immersing ourselves in the Bible, we align our thoughts and actions with God's will, ensuring that our lives reflect His purposes. [21:50]
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your engagement with Scripture and allow it to shape your decisions?
Day 4: Transformation through Renewed Minds
Immersing ourselves in God's Word transforms our minds and lives. As we understand His ways, we are empowered to make choices that honor Him. Our worship is reflected in all areas of life, and we must not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is a continuous process that requires intentionality and commitment. By allowing God's Word to renew our minds, we become more attuned to His will, enabling us to live lives that are pleasing to Him and impactful to those around us. [27:09]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What worldly patterns do you find yourself conforming to, and how can you invite God to transform your mind in these areas?
Day 5: Living for God's Glory
The glory of God should be our supreme motivation in all we do, including voting. Even if our preferred candidate does not win, the church can still thrive because God is sovereign. Our confidence should be in Him, trusting that He will accomplish His purposes regardless of earthly circumstances. This perspective frees us from anxiety and fear, allowing us to engage in the world with a sense of peace and purpose. By living for God's glory, we align our lives with His eternal plan, finding fulfillment and joy in serving Him above all else. [38:29]
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you struggle to seek God's glory. What practical steps can you take to align this area with His purposes?
Quotes
1. "The kingdom of God is our primary focus. Jesus would spend time with his disciples and he would emphasize his kingdom. And at the end of his life here on planet Earth, right before he's about to ascend to heaven, he's already resurrected from the dead. He's already been crucified for the sins of the world. He's already spent three years teaching and training his disciples. There's this small band of brothers and sisters that Jesus is going to send forth with the good news. And they have a question for him. This is their question at the last moment before the ascension. Acts chapter 1, verses 6 through 8, it says, they gathered around him and asked him, speaking of Jesus, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel. Their focus is on a physical nation. Are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel? Now Jesus responds to them, and you get so much understanding from what Jesus says to this question, because so many people want to know, are you going to restore our kingdom? And Jesus says this, it's not for you to know. Times or dates, the Father has set by his own authority. It's not for you to know. This is not your focus, Jesus is saying. This is not what I want your eyes to be on. Here's what I want your eyes to be on. Jesus says, but, but, Jesus inserts a new way of seeing, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in all of Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Jesus is saying, my kingdom is the primary. Every focus for your life. What I want is those who are my followers, who've been transformed by my grace, who know my kindness, who've come back to the heart of the Father, that they would be on a mission to get this good news to the ends of the earth. My focus is not a physical kingdom. In fact, every physical kingdom will be gone at some point. But Jesus' kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. It's an eternal kingdom that outlasts every generation, every nation, and the investment of your life, Jesus says, I want to be in my kingdom. He says this, seek first, in Matthew 6, 33, my kingdom, and it's in his righteousness, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." [08:40] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The love of God is our central message. So the message that Jesus proclaimed was a message of love. In fact, this is why the religious leaders were so frustrated, because broken sinners whose lives were a mess wanted to be with Jesus. People who were nothing like Jesus, liked Jesus. And they wanted to sit with him at tables and have meals together. And Jesus, at the end of his time, after modeling for his disciples, after being here for three years, he would say before going to a cross, if you want to know how the world is going to change, you have to know how the world is going to change. And he said, the world will know you're my people. This is how, John 13, 35. He says, by this, everyone will know that you are my disciples. By this, and notice he does not say your political allegiance. Jesus says, by your love for one another, they will know if you are my disciples. They will know us by our love. Friends, this is so crucial. For followers of Jesus, the goal of our lives is that we would be known by our love for one another. That our treatment, our care, our concern for our friends, our family, those in need, those around us, those in society who are less fortunate, that the love of Jesus is the central message that we're proclaiming. The leads us to repentance. So we have a loving God whose love for you is far greater than you can, possibly, fathom. The Apostle Paul says, oh, the depths and the riches of God's love, the height, the breadth, the length, no one can possibly fathom. But his prayer was that you would encounter an experience to be transformed by that love. Followers of Jesus who have encountered his love, love one another and love those around them. The invitation is to let love be the central message of our lives." [15:38] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The Word of God is our final authority it would be Malpractice as a preacher to not bring us back to what does the Bible teach? The Bible is ultimately God's authority for our lives second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 says this all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking correcting Training and righteousness so that the servant of God might be fully equipped for every God Good work. I'm so thankful for this book this timeless eternal book called the Word of God that is Inerrant and given to us as an act of love so that we might know his heart for us So that we might know his mind so that we might understand his ways And this book is the authority for my life. It's the authority, if you're a follower of Jesus, for your life. It's the authority for our church. So we stand underneath the authority of Scripture. And some of us are confused. Like we open the Bible and it's like, yeah, yeah, I like that, like that, like that. Don't like that. And it's like, well, whenever I disagree with the Bible, guess who's wrong? I'm wrong. And in our culture, in many ways, there are people that would just love to rip certain pages out of the Bible, out of the counsel of God. But friends, there's a word for that that's called heresy. If I go to the Scriptures and I say, I don't like that, so I don't submit to that, that is not submitting to the lordship or the leadership of Jesus in your life. So you and I stand under the authority of Scripture." [21:50] (106 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The way of God is our ultimate standard. So the more I read the word of God, the more I know the ways of God. The more I get into his mind, the more I get into his heart. So when I open this book, I am saying, God, I want to know you. I want to know what you care about. I want to love what you love. I want to declare what is evil, the things that you say are evil. I want to make choices that honor and please you. I want the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart to be pleasing to you. And for 25 years in my journey, this book, God has used it over and over again. I've come early mornings exhausted and God's infused a sense of energy into my heart. I've come with confusion. God's given me clarity. I've come feeling lonely and isolated and in his word, encountered the fatherly love of God and it's changed me. His ways are so powerful. When we know them, it changes the way that we live. Now, Paul says in Romans 12, 1 and 2, I urge you, brothers and sisters, there's an urgency in his voice in view of God's mercy. So the mercy of God that was displayed at the cross of Jesus, when he would take our sins and nail them there. view of that. Offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper form of worship. So Paul is saying it's all areas of your life. That worship is what you do with your money. It's what you do with your time. It's your thought life. It's what you focus on in the internet. It's what you give your energy and passion to. It's who you vote for. All of this is a part of your worship. This is your true and proper worship. So what do you do, Paul says? He says this, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will. The more you're in his word, the more your mind is going to be transformed to understand the mind and the heart of God." [27:09] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The glory of God is our supreme motivation. The glory of God is our supreme motivation. 1 Corinthians 10 .31 says, whether you eat or drink or vote or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. What I want for you is that when you mail in your ballot or go in and vote here in the United States of America, that your conscience before God would be clear. That's my hope for you. And at the end of the day, there's some things that might happen. The person you want to win might not win. The person that you vote for might not be the next president. The thing that you put. You put down for a proposition might not happen. And the question is, can the church still thrive regardless of who's in office? And that is a resounding yes. From generation to generation, Christians were burned at the stake in the first century of the early church, and the church grew exponentially. Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And what if the person you want to win, I want to win, doesn't win? And I would say, friends. God causes kings to rise and fall. Kingdoms to rise and fall. And he is supreme. He is the one who is the authority. He is the one who is seated on his throne. Yes, we're in a critical hour. Yes, your vote matters. Go and make a difference in that area. But at the end of the day, have faith and confidence that God can do what God says he will do regardless of what happens." [38:29] (93 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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