Every two years around election time Christians stir up old debates about voting (except our Catholic brothers and sisters) and what requirements we should have for if we vote or not and who we vote for. It seems to me that there is an increasing view that has followed on the heels of this Reformed Theology resurgence we are going through in America that says God is sovereign and therefore I won’t worry about voting because He will establish the government of his choosing. This I find to be particularly dishonoring on a couple of levels.
1) It seems to me to be dishonoring to God and his glory. To say, “I will not vote because God is sovereign in setting up the government,” implies that you know how the sovereignty of God works. One of the biggest disagreements I have heard regarding Reformed Theology is that people think because one believes that God is sovereign over the salvation of sinners that evangelism will be neglected if not completely done away with. This is a false accusation against the Doctrines of Grace. In fact it is precisely because God is sovereign that one should engage in evangelism. A God who is in complete control can save anyone he wills, so why we would not bring the gospel to all we can? And we learn from Romans 10 that the primary means by which he rescues sinners from death is through preaching of men. It seems to me to follow that if God exercises his sovereignty over the salvation of sinners through human agents, why would something like the setting up of governments be any different? To assume we have no part in bringing the will of God to bear on earth is, in my mind arrogant and does harm to the glory of God.
2) Using God’s sovereignty as a reason to not act dishonors you. You are trying to excuse your own ignorance and laziness under to guise of depending wholly on the sovereignty of God. This is really the same point as above but from the other point of view. God’s sovereignty is not a means by which we can absolve ourselves of the responsibility of our actions or inactions. And to try and use God’s sovereignty in this manner does harm not only to God’s glory but to your honor in trying to follow him. To make my point, imagine there is a proposition on the ballot about Hate Speech (in the not too distant future we may see such a proposition and we have already seen such laws be created in the UK and be used to silence those who would proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ). So you don’t go vote against such a proposition and it passes. Did you do all you could for the glory of God, the body of believers in this country, or those who need to hear the message of repentance and forgiveness? And do you think your ignorance of such a proposition would excuse you? We have an obligation to seek the best for our country and the people who live there (Jer. 29).
Now all that being said, do I think not voting is a sin? Probably not; however the enemy does use many means to try and derail the advance of the Kingdom of God including plausible arguments. Watching TV is not sinful innately but how many of us have allowed too much TV inhibit our pursuit of God and holiness and justified it as not sinful? And when in the past has self-justification worked out well for us?
Think. That is my big point. Think about what God would have you to do. Pursue him and he will let you know what you should do. And please do not use God’s sovereignty to try and excuse your irresponsibility.
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God alone initiates salvation. He always turns toward man first and seeks him, as when God walked in the Garden (Genesis 3:8). Man does not seek God or turn to him without God first calling man to Himself (John. 6:37, 44; 1 John. 4:10,19).
Second, God’s initiative does not exclude man’s free response, but demands it (Catechism of the Catholic Church [Catechism], nos. 154, 155, 2002; Philippians 2:12, 13). In other words, God wills that man be free to choose His grace or reject it.
Third, salvation is extended to each and every human person, not limited to just some, and one can fall away from grace (Hebrews 2:1-4; 6:4; 2 Peter 1:10; 3:9; 1 John 5:16, 17).
Furthermore, it is imperative that once one is touched by grace, he perseveres in charity lest he forfeit the free gift of salvation (Lumen Gentium [LG], no. 14). Within the confines of these principles, Catholics have sought to understand the mystery of predestination.
Though opinions and formulations have varied among Catholic theologians, with these principles left intact, there is room for legitimate speculation.
The only proper framework to understand predestination must be rooted in the notion of a communion of persons in love. Why? The nature of God as Trinity is this very kind of communion and God created man to share in that “blessed life” (cf. Catechism, no. 1).
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