“Vanishing Vows” was the title of a recent article in Christianity Today that underscored the decline of marriage around the world. “Family Life” articles always draw my attention because that it is where we live: we are all part of a family. For some, that has been a good experience and for others, not so good. As a pastor I came to realize early on that healthy families make for a healthy church. Staying healthy as a family is a lot of work but the bottom line is that family health is key to so many aspects of life and culture as a nation.
The subtitle to the article was, “Can the Church save what is left of marriage?” Yes, it can, but the Church must be free and unencumbered by government to do that. Many of our Founding Fathers came to America, seeking religious freedom to raise their families according to their values, free of government control. But that has changed and without realizing it we often elect lawmakers who make ungodly laws that restrict parents and even persecute Christians for abiding by biblical values. So, your vote – and who you vote for – is very important!
America still chooses leaders democratically and you can do more than you think. Make sure you and your fellow church members are registered to vote. Our country has a crisis of low voter turnout and Christian voter turnout is no exception to this. It is estimated that over 25 million Christians did not vote in the 2016 election, and an estimated 15 million Christians are not even registered to vote.
While there is no verse in the Bible which states, “thou shall vote,” God’s Word does challenge us as followers of Christ to influence our communities for our own good and, more importantly, for the good of others (Jeremiah 29:7; Galatians 6:10). We can do that in part by voting – not principally as Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, or Independents – but as Christians.
This November, we have the opportunity to elect leaders — from the White House in D.C., to the State House in Providence — who will determine our future on critical issues including protecting babies in the womb, preserving our First Amendment rights, strengthening the family, and extending care and compassion to those in need.
Here are the steps you need to take.
- Compare party platforms with an eye for Christian values. You can do this here.
- Look at the voting record of the individual candidate you are considering for your vote and see how they line up on the issues.
Lastly, and most importantly, PRAY that we can keep Wyoming a place where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive and life is cherished. This is the mission of Family Policy Alliance of Wyoming®, and the mission that you participate in through your generous gifts.
Blessings,
Nathan Winters
Executive Director
