I do not look for a political savior. I have no king but Jesus. But Jesus tells me to submit to governing authorities and, therefore, I will vote in this election.
Here is the basis of my vote:
No man has the right to rule over another; yet we need to be governed. James Madison said in Federalist 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” We live in a fallen world and we must give the power of the sword into the hands of somebody. We must, however, take into consideration the reality of original sin.
Alexander Solzhenitzen, who certainly knew something about tyranny, said that evil cuts through every one of us. We are not angels; we are inherently prone to evil according to Genesis 6:5, “Every thought and intent of his [every person’s] heart was only evil all the time.” How then do we give someone the right to rule over us without that person becoming an oppressor? By limiting that person’s power in an agreement between the magistrate and the people, typically called a constitution.
But that, in itself is not enough. That relationship must be presided over by a higher authority, namely, the God of this universe, the One who speaks and it is so. He is the source of justice. That magistrate-citizen relationship places obligations on both. Both leader and citizen have an obligation to abide by the mutually agreed upon relationship–under God! It is called the rule of law. Without it, we face two dangers: the tyranny of the leader, and the tyranny of the mob.
In a word, I shall vote for the person who most closely believes in a government limited by the constitution. That said, I pray, most of all, for leaders who will “kiss the Son.”