The Bible provides principles about leadership, responsibility, fairness, and justice which can be related to electoral processes today. This broad discipline and understanding contribute to the wisdom offered in the Bible about elections.
What Does the Bible Say About the Concept of Voting and Elections?
The Bible provides insights on the democratic process through stories about selecting leaders. Parables and narrations highlight the need for a majority input in deciding the right leaders. Leadership, according to the Bible, should be bestowed on those who display wisdom, courage, and justice. Subsequently, it is inferred that any election procedure should aim to identify such individuals. While the Bible does not explicitly mention voting or elections, its guidance encourages active participation in governance and decision-making mechanisms such as elections.
When Do Biblical Principles Support Democracy and Elections?
The Bible supports the democratic system whenever it advances justice, fairness, and societal wellbeing. It places great importance on societal harmony and peace, often requiring leaders to uphold these ideals. The Bible also insists on leaders who are not corrupt, promoting fairness throughout their leadership. This understanding aligns with the democratic process that ensures leaders are regularly checked and held responsible for their actions. Following this line of reasoning, the Bible’s principles would support a system where the selection of leaders through elections is transparent, free, fair, and oriented towards societal welfare.
Why Is Selecting Leaders of Integrity Essential?
According to the Bible, leaders are expected to be people of integrity. In numerous instances, it stresses the critical virtue of trustworthiness in leadership, with parables teaching about leaders who were reliable stewards. In these examples, leaders displayed integrity, honesty, and faithfulness. This emphasis indicates that the Bible supports the idea of electing leaders who demonstrate these qualities. Equally, any electoral system should thus actively promote the selection of individuals who are trustworthy, faithful, and earnest.
Who Should Participate in Elections According to the Bible?
In the biblical context, every member of a group or community has an essential role to play in endorsing or selecting their leaders. Indirectly, this implies that the Bible encourages wide-scale participation in elections. It urges believers to take responsibility for their actions, which might include participating in an electoral process. The principle of shared responsibility that runs prominently in the Bible leads to an understanding that every eligible person should engage in the democratic process of electing their leaders.
Where Does the Bible Direct Us Regarding Leadership?
The Bible directs us towards leadership that prioritizes service to others, implying that elections should select leaders who demonstrate a willingness and ability to serve. Biblical leaders are often portrayed as selfless servants who lead by example. From the perspective of the Bible, the best leader is one who is a servant to all. In this regard, the electoral process should focus on identifying such individuals who are willing to put the needs of the many before their own.
Below is our full list of bible verses on elections (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Elections
Romans 13:1-5
“1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Politics Morality Sovereignty
Acts 13:48
“48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Voting
Exodus 18:21-25
“21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”
Related Themes: Leadership Coveting Integrity
Ephesians 1:4
“4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
Related Themes: Holiness Sovereignty Self Respect Foundation Glorification
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
Related Themes: Holiness Glorification Voting Salvation
1 Timothy 2:1-2
“1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Ephesians 1:4-5
“4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
Related Themes: Holiness Sovereignty Self Respect Foundation Glorification
1 Peter 1:2
“2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Related Themes: Holiness Glorification Peace Voting Holy Spirit
2 Timothy 1:9
“9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
Related Themes: Holiness Grace Glorification Foundation Voting
John 15:16
“16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Related Themes: Ordination Prayer Voting Identity Asking For Help
John 6:37
“37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Perseverance Acceptance Hopelessness Self-Esteem
Titus 1:1
“1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
John 3:16
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Life Love Money Omnipotence
Isaiah 42:1
“1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
Related Themes: Restoration Justice Glorification Justice
Romans 8:33
“33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
Colossians 3:12
“12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Related Themes: Humility Patience Criticism Kindness Patience
Romans 9:11
“11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)”
Related Themes: Sovereignty
John 6:44
“44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Related Themes: Repentance Sovereignty Salvation Glorification Persecution
1 Timothy 5:21
“21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”
Related Themes: Partiality Angels Equality Voting
Romans 9:16
“16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Related Themes: Hopelessness
2 Peter 1:10
“10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
Related Themes: Diligence Perseverance Hope Personal Responsibility Voting
Romans 8:28-30
“28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Related Themes: Suffering Frustration Sovereignty Complaining Life
1 Thessalonians 1:4
“4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.”
Ephesians 1:11
“11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Complaining Favor Inheritance
2 Chronicles 7:14
“14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Related Themes: Repentance Humility Healing Prayer Revival
2 Timothy 3:14-17
“14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Related Themes: Children Quitting Judging Others Education
Ephesians 1:5
“5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
Related Themes: Adoption Predetermination Doubt Identity Family
John 17:6
“6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth
Mark 13:20
“20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.”
Related Themes: Voting
