This year’s presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most important elections in recent memory. Then again, isn’t that what we say almost every election? Not only is the heated climate intensifying the closer we get, but also the fallout from people on both sides of the political aisle continues to worsen.

Amidst the economic upheaval caused by the reaction to the coronavirus, the deaths of thousands of Americans, and life as we know it altered for the time being, we have the opportunity to cast our vote for the President of the United States on November 3, 2020.

The right to vote, in and of itself, gives great testament to our republic. What a tremendous privilege that it is to be able to have a hand in electing the next leader of our country and to help usher in the peaceful transfer of power! But with the right to vote also comes the dilemma of how best to exercise that right.

And here’s where the division gets deep.

In the current political system, there really are only two parties–the Democrats and the Republicans. There really are only two candidates for the office of President of the United States–Joe Biden and Donald Trump, respectively. Regardless of whether or not a two-party system was intended, that is the reality in which we find ourselves. When Americans go to the polls on November 3 (and I would encourage you to actually go to the polls if you are able), we really only have two legitimate options. Admittedly, there are other candidates outside of these two, and we can make the argument that voting for someone else is indeed an option. But for purposes of this article, let’s think through this from the position that you are planning to vote for one of the two major party candidates.

This assumption requires us to add another layer here. If I’m a Christian–if I claim to follow Jesus in all of life–do I still have two options when I go to the polls?

Can I vote for Joe Biden, and still follow Jesus?
Can I vote for Donald Trump, and still follow Jesus?

These might sound like silly questions, or simple ones at best, but I’ve heard the opposite of both of these statements in recent months. Namely, you can’t possibly vote for Donald Trump and be a Christian. On the flip side, I’ve also heard that no one who claims to follow Jesus could vote for Joe Biden. And I think here is where much of the polarizing has taken place, especially in the church. If there is indeed one of these statements that is true, and one that is false, then there should be a clear line which one cannot cross and still be a Christian.

One of the significant problems with that line of thinking is that the Bible does not specify who to vote for in the upcoming election. It doesn’t even specify that we have to have elections, or the three branches of government, or a peaceful transfer of power, or even America itself. While I would argue that Christians have a civic responsibility to participate in our country’s political system, especially by voting, that doesn’t mean that participation is what makes you a Christian. Or even further, that participation by voting for a particular candidate is what makes you a Christian.

Friend, following Jesus in all of life and leading others to do the same is the fruit of a faith that believes Jesus is who he said he is and that he accomplished redemption by his death on the cross and resurrection to life. Jesus saves you and makes you a Christian, and while your political perspectives may flow from your belief in Jesus, they are certainly not the indicator of that belief. So let’s take it off the table right now that someone’s eternity is determined or revealed by who they vote for in the November election. Since the Bible does not specify who to vote for, we must be careful when we make statements like “you must vote for this candidate.” I plan to write another article on this idea, but suffice it to say here that we should be reticent to require people to do something that the Bible does not require them to do. We should guard against binding people’s consciences in a way that Scripture does not.

So, yes, consider the issues. By all means, weigh the positions of each candidate and their party platform on the issues at hand. Perhaps there would even be a single issue that would sway you one way or the other. But we must understand that most likely we will not all see that one single issue the same way. Or at least not with the same level of gravity in the upcoming election. There will likely be people in your church and my church who view the same candidate from opposite viewpoints, and the same issue from different perspectives. It doesn’t mean we can stereotype them as if we know why they voted for that particular candidate, as if how they vote reveals evidence of their allegiance to Jesus. Let’s resist the temptation to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ based on who they vote for, rather than on the fruit of the Spirit’s work in their lives.

Ultimately what binds the church together is our response of faith in the gospel, not our political choices. And to think that the latter always reflects the former in the same way is to misunderstand the reality of the conscience of every believer as we seek to honor Jesus in all of life.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses disputable matters that don’t have a clear-cut line of right or wrong, particularly the eating of unclean meat. In Romans 14:23, he says “But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” (NLT)

“If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”

Romans 14:23 (NLT)

How to vote in the upcoming election is a matter of debate among Christians right now. Whichever way you decide, may you be fully convinced in your own mind that you are doing what is right.

So, in answer to the question posed by the title of this article…
Yes, you can vote for Donald Trump and follow Jesus.
Yes, you can vote for Joe Biden and follow Jesus.

**For a helpful understanding of how this plays out practically, check out David Platt’s recently published book called Before You Vote. In this book, Platt offers 7 questions to work through before you cast your ballot in this year’s presidential election. I just finished reading it, and I would encourage you to prayerfully consider what he has to say. You can buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books.