The 2024 Presidential election is just one week away; and here is our “roundup” episode on the election, voting, and Christian citizenship after the election is decided. This includes a review of Biblical principles concerning voting; a brief moral and practical analysis of the various positions I have heard over the last few months (and a reminder to vote your conscience); and an encouragement to be the centered (in Christ), courageous, and compassionate citizen in your sphere of influence before and after the election.

Moses’ father-in-law, named Jethro, encouraged Moses to consider four criteria as he selected civic leaders. And his list of qualifications–what I have termed “Jethro’s Voting Guide”–can assist us in the complicated moral exercise of voting for civic officials in the United States.

Four qualifications for government officials according to Exodus 18:21:

Competence
Morality
Honesty
Financial Integrity

Questions we address:

Should Christians engage in the two-party system?
Do all Christians vote the same way? Can a person be a Christian and vote for the party you oppose?
What about voting third party or not voting at all?
What is the most pressing moral issue in public life?
How should pastors address election season?
What about voter guides?
What happens if the election is undecided for days or even weeks?

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Church Resource Toolkit
ivoterguide.com
https://www.transparencyusa.org/
Link to graph showing political engagement by denomination or network.
Link to full blog post.

The post #349 Jethro’s Voting Guide – 2024 Edition first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.