I was watching an interview on the news tonight and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was shocked to learn that 30% of evangelical Christians aren’t even registered to vote, and out of those who are, 40% don’t show up on Election Day. Let’s break that down: evangelical Christians make up about 25% of the total voting population, which is roughly 65 million people. If 30% of them are skipping the registration process, that’s almost 20 million Christians not even registered to vote. Of those who are registered, 40% don’t cast their ballots, which adds up to 18 million more uncast votes. In total, we’re talking about 38 million Christian voices—voices that could influence the direction of our country—staying silent. And we wonder why society seems to be spiraling out of control.
Christian political engagement wasn’t always like this. In the 1980s and 1990s, evangelical Christians were highly involved in politics. Movements like the Moral Majority and the Christian Right mobilized millions of believers around issues like abortion and religious freedom. Ronald Reagan, in particular, benefited from strong evangelical support, and the Christian Coalition became a major force in the 1990s. However, by the mid-2000s, many Christians began to feel disillusioned with the political system. Under George W. Bush’s second term, some evangelical voters grew frustrated, feeling their key issues, like abortion and religious freedom, were being neglected. Disillusionment deepened with the rapid cultural changes of the 2010s, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015. Christians began to question whether their votes were really making a difference.
This sense of disengagement, combined with frustration over compromises by political parties, has led to a marked decline in Christian political participation. Some Christians have shifted their focus away from the political arena, choosing instead to concentrate on personal or church-based activism. But as society continues to face increasing levels of immorality, corruption, and crime, the absence of these millions of Christian voices in the voting booth is being felt deeply.
It’s easy to point fingers at the immorality, corruption, and crime we see all around us, but we need to take a hard look at ourselves. We’re not showing up. We’re not engaging in one of the most direct ways to influence our nation: voting. If we are called to be the “salt of the earth,” as Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, how can we justify standing on the sidelines? When the salt loses its flavor, it’s no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Right now, we’re watching our culture trample over biblical values, and we’re holding the salt that could preserve it, but we’re not using it.
There’s a common excuse I hear: “Politics is dirty, and we shouldn’t get involved.” But that’s not what we’re called to do. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us we’re the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Our light is supposed to shine in every corner of the world—including politics. When we refuse to vote, we’re essentially hiding that light under a basket, allowing darkness to prevail.
And here’s another thing to think about: Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God has given us the ability to influence who those authorities are through our vote. We’re not just supposed to be passive; we’re called to be active participants in shaping the world around us.
Think about Jeremiah 29:7, where God tells the Israelites to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.” They were instructed to pray for the city and work for its welfare because if the city prospers, so would they. In our society, one way we seek that welfare is by voting for leaders who will promote justice, truth, and righteousness.
Some Christians argue that they don’t like any of the candidates, so they’d rather not vote at all. But we’re not electing a pastor or a spiritual leader; we’re voting for the person who will best uphold justice and order, even if they’re not perfect. No one is perfect. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” If we want to stop groaning about the state of the world, we need to elect the most righteous leaders available.
Not voting is an act of disengagement that hands over control to others—people who might not share our values. That’s why we’re seeing policies enacted that contradict biblical principles, why crime is on the rise, and why moral decay is so prevalent. When we don’t show up, we leave the battlefield wide open for the enemy to advance. But if we showed up—if those 38 million Christian votes were actually cast—we could see a dramatic shift in the moral and political landscape of our country.
Here’s some data to show how much of a difference 38 million votes could make in past elections:
- 2020: Joe Biden won by 7,052,770 votes.
- 2016: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 2,868,686, but Donald Trump won the electoral vote.
- 2012: Barack Obama won by 4,982,291 votes.
- 2008: Barack Obama won by 9,550,193 votes.
- 2004: George W. Bush won by 3,012,166 votes.
- 2000: Al Gore won the popular vote by 543,895, but George W. Bush won the electoral vote.
Think 38 million votes would make a difference? That’s not just a tipping point; that’s a tidal wave of change waiting to happen.
This is where the Great Commission comes into play. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe everything He has commanded. Part of making disciples is influencing the culture in which we live. We can’t do that if we sit on the sidelines, disengaged from the process. If we refuse to vote, we’re refusing to stand up for the values Jesus taught.
It’s not just about fulfilling a civic duty—it’s about fulfilling a spiritual responsibility. Voting is an opportunity to reflect the values of the Kingdom of God in the world. And if we’re serious about being Christ’s ambassadors, as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, then we need to represent Him in every aspect of life, including how we engage in the political process.
We are called to be stewards of everything God has given us, including the influence we have as citizens. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servant who buried his talent out of fear was condemned for his inaction. God expects us to use the influence we’ve been given to make a difference in the world. Voting is one way to do that.
So, what are we going to do? Will we continue to sit on the sidelines, complaining about how bad things are, or will we step up, take responsibility, and use our vote to influence change? 38 million votes are out there, waiting to be cast by evangelical Christians who are currently staying silent. Imagine the difference we could make if those votes were used.
The buck stops here Christians! It’s time to stop blaming everyone else for the turmoil in our country when it comes to our represntatives in government and start looking in the mirror!
Sources:
Christian Postose votes were used.
Pew Research Center
270toWin
National Association of Evangelicals