Voting

[John53]

In Australia voting is compulsory for all 3 levels of Government (Federal, State and Local) and fines apply if you fail to vote. There are exemptions and one of those is "that an elector believes it to be a part of his or her religious duty to abstain from voting". In the past it was sufficient to state that clause to avoid a fine but I was talking to someone from the fines office yesterday who said that the passage from the bible that stops you from voting must now be quoted.

Does anyone know a passage that would apply? I'm just curious and have always voted.

 

[sun rise]

I've never run into this question before. What I found says that Christians are supposed to vote including The Bible doesn't tell us we have to vote, does it?

 

[Sunstone]

American Fundamentalists in the past have gone through politically inactive stages where they have interpreted those passages of the bible that admonish people to avoid becoming worldly as grounds for not participating in politics.

 

[Sir Doom]

Can you vote for whatever you like?

Can I write in Bruce Lee for mayor for example?

I'm sorry I know that's not the topic...

 

[John53]

Can you vote for whatever you like?

Can I write in Bruce Lee for mayor for example?

I'm sorry I know that's not the topic...

Yep but it becomes an informal vote. All you have to do is get your name crossed off the register, what you do with the voting forms after that is up to you.

Informal voting

 

[Deeje]

The Bible tells us to be obedient to human governments, but it also teaches that we must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29; Titus 3:1) The principle of relative subjection helps us to understand and obey both of these commands.

Jesus summarized this principle when he said: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.” (Matt. 22:21) How do we follow Jesus’ direction? We submit to the authority of the government under which we live by obeying its laws, respecting its officials, and paying the taxes it levies. (Rom. 13:7) However, if government authorities tell us to disobey God, we respectfully refuse to comply.

At John 17:16 Jesus said of his disciples..."They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."

He also said...."My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.” (John 18:36)

These are the scriptures upon which we base our neutral stance. Jesus made no attempt to interfere with the Roman government's authority over the Jews in his day, even though they regarded it as oppression. Jesus admonished them to obey the government but to obey God first.