When we evaluate our spiritual lives, it is easy to gauge our obedience by what we refrain from doing. We run through the Ten Commandments, check off the moral boundaries we have avoided crossing, and conclude that we are walking in righteousness. But Scripture presents a far more comprehensive standard. In James 4:17, the Bible warns us that if you know the right thing to do and you don't do it, that's a sin.
This introduces the critical, often overlooked concept of the sin of omission. You can be sitting quietly, harming no one, completely disengaged from the world around you, and yet be sinning profoundly by failing to act when righteousness demands action. As believers facing complex cultural and political times, this truth must radically reshape how we view our civic responsibility, our stewardship, and our daily choices.
The Lie of Perfection vs. The Pursuit of the Mark
A common excuse among believers during election seasons is that neither candidate or party fully aligns with ideal Christian virtues. Because no perfect platform exists, many choose to sit on the sidelines entirely. Yet, scripturally, the word for sin simply means missing the mark. Since every human candidate is born a sinner, no politician will ever meet God's divine moral standard perfectly.
The biblical approach is not to hunt for a perfect human ruler, but to discern which candidate or platform comes closest to the mark God has set. In a general election, majorities set legislative agendas. Therefore, believers are called to evaluate policies. Does a platform defend the sanctity of life? Does it honor God's creation of male and female? Or does it promote agendas that openly oppose God's design? Sitting out the process does not protect your purity; it simply hands your influence over to agendas that miss God's mark entirely.
Reclaiming Our Royal Sovereignty
In a constitutional republic, authority does not belong to a king or an elite ruling class; it rests with "We the People." Under God, citizens have been given a unique stewardship as princes and stewards of their nation's future. We exercise this God-given authority primarily through two mechanisms: our vote and our service on a jury.
When a Christian chooses not to vote, they become a political eunuch and moot their entire sovereignty. Refusing to participate does not remove your vote from the equation; it effectively acts as a vote for the opposing side by reducing the support for biblical values. The Founding Fathers recognized that a self-governing republic is only suitable for a moral and religious people. If the 62 percent of Americans who identify as Christians were to consistently vote according to biblical values, the moral landscape of our nation would shift dramatically.
Faith in Action in Every Sphere
Faith without works is dead. We are called to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. This mandate extends beyond the voting booth and touches every area of practical stewardship, including how we care for our families and neighbors.
For instance, many Christians are reconsidering traditional health insurance setups that routinely fund procedures contradicting biblical principles, such as abortions or gender modifications. Through non-profit healthcare sharing ministries like Share HealthCare, believers can steward their financial resources in line with their faith. By participating in direct member-to-member cost sharing, Christians bear one another's burdens while avoiding participation in practices that miss God's moral standard.
You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:
https://sharehealthcare.com/