California Family Minute
Voting as Worship?
by Ron Prentice,
Chief Executive Officer
Since Judge Vaughn Walker overruled the majority vote of the people regarding the definition of marriage, Californians have been responding with, “Why should I vote?” What is the benefit of voting when a single judge has the power to render every vote null and void?
Well, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. In case you’re wondering, Walker’s opinion is the bath water. Shortly after Walker claimed there was no rational basis in the record of the district trial to forestall the implementation of same-sex marriages, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals continued the “stay” on homosexual marriage indefinitely. In other words, some judges still practice intellectual integrity in their review of facts and legal precedent, and the vote of the people will ultimately stand.
Why vote? There are many reasons, but the best reason that I can give you is that voting is an act of worship.
Before you commit me to psychiatric lockdown, consider these scriptures:
· Isaiah 60:21 – Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
· Romans 11:36 – For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!
· I Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
When we vote, all who know God have the opportunity to bring glory to God. Voting can be an act of service to God, and thus, worship of Him. I’m not a scholar in the languages of Hebrew and Greek, but my studies inform me that several words in those biblical languages mean both “worship” and “service,” and it should be understood that in doing one, we are also doing the other!
A worldview that is centered on the living God and the biblical text takes in all areas of life. Real faith is all encompassing and cannot be compartmentalized. As God’s people, we have the opportunity to bring glory to Him in every thought and deed, including voting.
However, choosing to participate in the voting process with the motivation to glorify God does not guarantee godly results. That is the business of a sovereign God. Our business is to strive to glorify God in all things, “for everything in heaven and earth is” His.
Voting is just one way that we “walk our talk,” worshipping God and proclaiming His glory.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
– Luke 19:37-40
