Should lovers of liberty and christians vote?

How involved should lovers of liberty (minarchists and especially anarchists) be involved in issues of government? Closely tied to that question, how involved should christians and libertarians be in issues that relate to human (“civil”) government? Should they vote in elections, write government representatives, support candidates, and speak out about political issues relating to liberty, morality, responsibility, family, and freedom (not just but especially religious freedom)? For christians, what about the separation of church and state? For libertarians in general, what about separation of school and state?

Many will say that surely lovers of liberty should not endorse nor support candidates unless they truly are anarchists or strict minarchists. In the same way, it is stated that congregations should not endorse candidates, nor sponsor or finance their campaigns. And individual christians should not become so involved in politics that they neglect other God-given duties. But should christians refuse all involvement in any issues that surround modern politics and elections? Through the centuries, many have rejected any part.

Consider some of the practices that government officials currently debate, legalize, and finance with stolen money (our taxes): abortion, gambling, divorce, pornography, homosexuality, contraceptives for unmarried teens, and “education” that justifies some or all of these. Color revolutions, corrupt foreign politicians, tribute, military interventions, welfare (corporate and the poor), and more. Should we speak out about such issues, or should we remain silent? If christians do not speak out, how do they obey God and preach the truth and rebuke error? If libertarians do not speak out, do they accept (even promote) assaults on liberty?

The Bible contains examples of faithful servants of God speaking out when government officials practiced or encouraged moral and religious evils. In our society individual citizens have several ways to tell politicians and officials (“rulers”) we agree or disagree with their practices. One way we may speak out is by voting for or against them in elections.

Many current government decisions will have major impact on our families and liberty. Men are responsible to provide for their families, including protecting them from harm. Does not loss of liberty harm? If my vote can help protect my family from evil government decisions and can help provide a better environment in which to raise my children, why should I refuse to vote?

What about seeking to influence government officials and those who chose them? Are we giving them legitimacy they would otherwise not have? Again, we have examples in history, including the Bible, where godly (and ungodly) lovers of liberty did so. By Biblical standards, governments are legitimized or condemned only by the actions of those who control, who rule. Biblically, we see Esther, Paul the apostle, and many others. Since Bible times, we see many more examples: the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, those who have urged “civil disobedience” and resistance to unjust laws and actions, even those deluded into taking to the streets.

Many today claim government “gives” citizens the right to voice their views about who should govern us. Whether believers or non-believers, libertarians know we have that right because we are human. If Paul and Esther used their rights to protect and help their people, why should we not use the right to vote? Does this not help protect ourselves and our families, while also helping maintain our freedom to live as free people?

But speaking out, whether in speeches or prayers, is not enough. In the Bible, Jesus told His followers to pray for their daily bread. But that obviously did not mean to “sit back and let God provide” without doing something ourselves. In the same way, those who are striving to regain lost liberty need more than words of encouragement. And yes, voting is much the same thing: it is something but not enough. We must be willing to take action to defend our families, ourselves, and the liberty we have and should have.

When libertarians are active in electoral politics, or in civic affairs in general, we are sometimes condemned for facilitating government. But in order to develop and implement workable replacements for government services, it is often necessary to temporarily accept (even submit) to wrong, stupid government requirements. We have to pick and choose our fights. Whether it is tax resistance or rejection of vehicle registrations and licensing, are we really counting the costs and taking the most effective action?

When christians actively speak out against evil in government and vote accordingly, some people claim we should keep our religion out of politics. Such a view does not properly state the issue. When lovers of liberty speak out and take action against the evils of government, some people claim we are just wanting chaos, pushing black-flag anarchy. But libertarians and christians are not the ones who have left our sphere of interest. The real problem? Politicians and bureaucrats have made a full-scale invasion into the realm of religion and morals, and turned an institution that supposedly serves people and protects their liberty into one that becomes their master and steals away liberty!

Given that, we are not only permitted (by God or natural law) but obligated to act. Does not this include exercising the right to vote? But whether or not an individual chooses to vote, we must all find some means to speak out and act for decency, divine truth, liberty, and rejecting aggression. And regardless of how the governments respond to our efforts, we must continue to live faithful to our commitment to God, to liberty, to our obligations to each other and ourselves. Even if we must suffer at the hands of government officials, and those who serve them.

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