Christianity and Politics

In his Farewell Address (1796), George Washington argued that Americans shouldn’t expect to experience national morality without religion: 

“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education … reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

In other words, Washington was skeptical that America would be able to tell the difference between right and wrong without religion. It’s possible he had the recent French Revolution in mind, which rejected France’s Christian heritage, and quickly gave way to the mass executions of the Reign of Terror. Washington has since been proved right, time and again, on every continent. When nations reject God, they also reject his laws—and those laws are necessary and good. “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law” (Prov. 29:18; see also 1 Tim. 1:8–11).

In light of Washington’s wise warning, there are two extremes we should avoid as we enter the final ten weeks of the election campaign. The first extreme is to be unconcerned about the outcome of the election. It will influence morality in this nation and—thanks to America’s influence—other nations too. We should eagerly desire biblical principles to drive all governance. Therefore, before voting, we should carefully evaluate the policies of the two parties and the character of the candidates who would implement them. 

The other extreme to be avoided is to be fixated on the outcome of the election, as if everything depends on it. God already knows who will win—in fact, God has the whole of history planned out until Christ returns. He removes leaders and sets them up in his timing (Daniel 2:21). And the encouraging thing about Washington’s observation is that it can apply in reverse: a future Christian revival could reestablish lost morality.

Whatever happens in the 2024 election, it will not scupper the ship of God’s kingdom on its journey towards its heavenly harbor. 

Yours in our Savior,

Bernard