Powers and Privileges

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

The ballots have been cast and counted, and as the saying goes, the dust begins to settle now.

As I reflect spiritually, not politically, on the past couple of weeks of early voting and Election Day voting, I find myself pondering the historical value of being able to exercise the right to vote.

In the Book of Common Prayer, page 822, 24. For an Election, we have a prayer that begins where Christians ultimately stand in the privilege of voting: "Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges..."

This may be a little surprising, but our ability to vote is not so much about partisan victory as it is about Christian stewardship. Our BCP prayer points us in exactly that direction.

Voting is not merely a right we possess but a privilege for which we are accountable before God. It raises not simply the question, "Did my candidate win?" but rather, "Did I faithfully use the opportunity God placed before me, or did I bury it because I did not think the privilege mattered enough?"

Scripture shows many forms of government and leadership. In Judges 21:25 we read, "In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes." This verse has always given me pause. After all, nearly everyone believes they are right in their own eyes. In the context of Judges, Israel is struggling to recover from the devastation of civil war. Respect for God's covenant weakened, and people relied on their own judgment instead of turning to God for guidance.

Although this situation is very different from modern democracy, it shows that societies do best when people accept responsibility instead of avoiding it. Voting is a privilege, and we should take that responsibility seriously.

From the days of the judges, Scripture moves into the era of empires. In Jeremiah 29:7, God instructs the people living in Babylonian exile, "Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf." Although the Israelites had little political influence and certainly no control over the empire, they were still called to contribute to the common good.

Jeremiah's example speaks directly to the cynical voice that says, "My vote doesn't matter." Scripture consistently measures faithfulness differently than the world measures influence. God often uses the small and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes. We see this in the feeding of the multitude, where a few loaves and fishes became more than enough in God's hands. The question is not whether what we offer seems large enough, but whether we offer it faithfully.

Faithfulness, as Paul teaches in Galatians, is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and Paul himself was tested in this virtue. When he wrote Romans 13:1-7, Nero sat on the imperial throne. Nero was an oppressive and tyrannical ruler, yet Paul still taught Christians to be faithful citizens. This is no small pill to swallow. I do not believe Paul is calling believers to participate in evil or endorse oppression. Rather, he teaches honesty, integrity, and responsibility in matters such as taxes, debts, and civic obligations regardless of the character of those in authority. In essence, while we cannot control the actions of others, we remain responsible for our own.

One last note from Scripture comes from Exodus 18:21: "You should also look for able men among the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain."

Moses used wisdom and character, rather than political skill alone, as criteria for leadership. This remains a timeless principle for elections. We may disagree on policies and candidates, but Scripture consistently directs us toward integrity, justice, and the wise discernment of those who are to govern.

As we reflect on history, we should remember that many generations never enjoyed the privilege of having a meaningful voice in their government. The Bible is filled with accounts of kings, emperors, and rulers whose decisions shaped nations while ordinary people had little opportunity to influence the outcome.

As Christians, we need not believe that a single vote changes everything. We need only recognize that faithfulness is measured not by outcomes but by obedience. The privilege to vote is one of the "powers and privileges" for which we must give account. Whether our preferred candidates win or lose, we honor God when we prayerfully, thoughtfully, and gratefully exercise the voice we have been given.

Only by grace,

Tara+