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Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote: Biblical Guidance

Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote: Biblical Guidance

Last updated on: October 17, 2026 at 12:07 pm by Leah D. Schade

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Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote: Biblical Guidance 2026-10-17T12:07:09-04:00 Leah D. Schade

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Another election is upon us. Here’s a biblical case for why Christians have a sacred duty to vote, speak for justice, and love their neighbors through civic action.

hands vote

Christians–and all people of faith–have a sacred duty to vote. Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.

Voice and Vote—A Biblical Foundation

Eight years ago, I heard Rev. Dr. William Barber speak to a packed church in Lexington, Ky. The co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival urged us to exercise our sacred duty to vote. It was Nov. 2, 2018—just before the midterm elections and just after the gun massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Dr. Barber recounted a meeting in which Jewish leaders introduced him to an important Hebrew word: kol. It can mean both “voice” and “vote.”

Christians—and all people of faith—have a sacred duty to vote, he explained.

Voting allows us to raise our voices and demand change. With our votes, we express that we want an end to gun violence. We demand fairness and equity, and for corruption to stop. Elections give us the chance to say that society should be a place where everyone can flourish.

The Urgency of This Election

Eight years later, violence, inequality, and corruption are rampant. Americans are watching national lands, historic buildings, environmental protections, health and food safety, and job prospects gutted. Dr. Barber’s message is therefore just as important today as it was in 2018.

Through the end of September this year, 365 shootings killed 361 people were killed and wounded 1,553. Two days ago, a 16-year-old killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.

Most Americans, except the wealthiest, are paying more due to new tariffs and tax policies. A typical worker will lose about $600–$820 in 2026. Meanwhile, those in power are looting, side-dealing, and outright stealing with complete impunity.

The midterm elections are our chance to exercise our voices through our votes and say: that’s enough! We need to right this ship!

Voter Suppression = “Theological Malpractice”

Current voter suppression efforts, however, could disenfranchise tens of millions of voters. Gerrymandering, voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, polling place closures, aggressive voter roll purges, and the use of immigration enforcement to intimidate voters all strip people of their political voice. In Dr. Barber’s speech, he criticized voter suppression as a form of “theological malpractice.” Christians must denounce any policies or practices that disenfranchise people and silence their votes.

The Sacred Duty to Vote

This theological malpractice also occurs when people of faith choose not to vote.

Some Christians may believe—or have been told—that voting signals greater trust in human systems than in God’s sovereignty. Others prioritize eternal concerns, such as salvation and holiness, over temporary political struggles.

As an ordained minister and seminary professor, I point Christians to Jesus’s teaching to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). Elections can embody that love when we vote for leaders and policies that support the vulnerable and promote everyone’s well-being through healthcare, education, poverty relief, and protection for marginalized communities.

There is strong biblical support for Christians to vote—to exercise their kol.

Three Key Passages Supporting the Right to Vote

First, Gen. 1:26-27 asserts that God created humans in God’s own image. This means that each person has intrinsic worth and deserves to exercise their voice and agency as they strive to live in alignment with God’s justice and righteousness. Voting affirms your voice and your value as a moral agent in the world.

Second, Gen. 21:16-17 tells of Hagar and her child lifting up their voices in the wilderness after Abraham and Sarah cast them out. God listens and provides for them. We can draw an important lesson from this story: a political community should not silence marginalized people or treat them as dispensable. Their ability to vote should not depend on their wealth, social standing, or proximity to power.

Third, in Isa. 58:1-7, God commands the prophet, “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn” (v. 1). In this passage, Isaiah amplifies God’s condemnation of those who oppress laborers and calls for their liberation, sufficient food, and adequate shelter. Today, voting offers an important process for raising a public voice against exploitation while shaping a more just society. Protecting that voice is especially important for people whose labor and lives depend on decisions made by others.

Love your neighbor - vote

Love your neighor: vote!

Honor God, Honor Yourself, Honor Your Neighbor: Vote!

If you are a Christian—or any person of faith—remember your sacred duty to vote on Nov. 3, and in every election. By voting, you honor God and the person you were created to be: loving, ethical, and committed to fairness and flourishing for all. You also honor your neighbors by joining them in this sacred act of faith, justice, and communal solidarity.

“Render Unto Caesar”: Faith, Politics, and Elections

What Matt. 21:23-32 Teaches About Integrity In An Election

Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is a seminary professor, ordained minister, and co-founder of the Clergy Emergency League. Her opinions are her own.

Leah is the author of Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit (Chalice Press, 2015). She is the co-editor of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Her book, Introduction to Preaching: Scripture, Theology, and Sermon Preparation, was co-authored with Jerry L. Sumney and Emily Askew (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).

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