How Should Christians Vote- a book review

                                          

This little book of three chapters packs a powerful message. The author’s voice is direct and effectively communicates his convictions that Christians’greater concern in voting is about how and not who.” Unless God and his revealed word is the overarching influencer and rationale over how our electoral decisions are made as believers, than we cannot expect God to be the overarching influencer in our nation.” p. 8.  

All governing systems are under God’s rule because he set them in place; individual, family, church and civil. I like how Tony hits hard on civil government being in a supportive role of family and church instead of trying to replace them. “Civil government should provide a safety net specifically and intentionally designed to produce self-sufficiency and not long-term dependency.” p. 18. Civil government promotes freedom by setting clear boundaries and carrying out the consequences when the boundaries are broken. It protects and promotes freedom by resisting evil and maintaining a just society.

Voting according to the principles of God and His kingdom is essential, especially when a nation has failed in it’s governing. It becomes critical for Christians to study and know God’s word and to study and know the candidates and how their values line up with God’s kingdom values. It’s not about being Republican or Democrat, but voting for the candidate that most closely represents God’s values. 

Tony does a great job of acknowledging that Christians are not all at the same level of maturity and will not all prioritize voting issues similarly. But we can all be united in purpose by moving towards the goal of functioning according to God’s kingdom agenda. Our consciences differ as we are all in different places in the sanctification process; the process of allowing the Scriptures to educate us in how to follow God’s ways. 

There is excellent teaching in the book about refraining from judging each other according to Romans 14: 2-4, 10, 12.  I would highly recommend the book just for harvesting the wisdom Tony shares about Christian unity and diversity in this section.

God has called his people to make their decisions by his word and not the words of men. Tony believes God values life, justice, and protecting personal freedom and responsibility. God is for whatever enhances heterosexual marriage and the family structure. He would uphold the belief that the church should be free from government intrusion and respected for its role in being the conscience of society. Christians are to promote God’s kingdom values and stand in the gap without giving full allegiance to any one party.  Tony draws from his experience in sports to illustrate our role as likened to a referee, not taking sides in a game, but calling the players to “truth”  according to the rule book.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.