Impacting Public Policy and Current Culture from a Christian Perspective

As a Christian organization committed to providing Christian Programs for families we believe it is important to take our duty to vote seriously.  Based on both the patroitic commitment to be an educated voter and our biblical calling as Christians, we want to understand all things from a Christian life and worldview.  This includes the issues that we face as consumers and members of a free and democratic society.  Because of those assumptions, we are developing the following pages to help make Christians aware of the moral issues that we have the responsibility to impact in our lives, whether it be from which company products that we support by purchasing or for whom we vote.  Please feel free to email us with your ideas about what would make this site better and more usable.  Please understand that everyone may not agree with us, or the Christian organizations that communicate below, but we do feel that healthy discussion among Christians can honor Christ and promote better thought and actions that can impact our society.




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Why should Christians Not Abandon Politics?

For Whom Should We Vote? * Is Voting Enough? 



THE AMERICAN PASTORS NETWORK GIVES 10 REASONS CHRISTIANS SHOULD VOTE BIBLICALLY


by PA Pastors Network Executive Director Dr. Gary Dull


On November 3, Americans will head to the polls to vote for a Presidential candidate and various state and local officials.  The American Pastors Network  is encouraging Christians to vote biblically and with their faith convictions at heart.


“There is no doubt that voting is a very significant aspect of the Christian witness for truth that the Word of God calls us to portray,” said PA Pastors Network Executive Director Gary Dull. “Biblically minded Christians will be biblically minded voters for biblically correct issues, ultimately electing candidates God will use to glorify His name.”


Dull further expanded on these 10 reasons why Christians should vote:


1. To support candidates and issues that are biblically based. When Christians vote, they have the opportunity to support biblical truth by voting in favor of the issues and the candidates that are in agreement with scripture. Doing so has the potential to bring principles of righteousness into the public square that will exalt a nation, according to Proverbs 14:34.


2. To practice civil obedience. Americans have been given the opportunity by the Constitution to vote according to the 15th, 19th and 26th Amendments. Because the “law of the land” provides the right for the citizens to vote, and because Romans 13:1-2 teaches that Christian citizens should be “subject to the higher power,” voting becomes a matter of civil obedience. Thus, when Christians vote, they obey God; when they do not, they disobey God.


3. To uphold biblical values. When Christians vote, they have the opportunity to promote and uphold biblical values that the world knows nothing about. Philippians 2:13-16 tells Christians to “shine as lights in the world” and “hold forth the word of life.” Philippians 4:8 gives a list of things to carefully reflect upon that, when translated into guidelines for voting, will contribute to righteousness in the land.


4. To stand against evil in the nation. St. Augustine said, “Those who are citizens of God’s Kingdom are best equipped to be citizens of the kingdom of man.” Why? Because Christians understand the difference between good and evil. When Christians vote from a biblical perspective, they have the opportunity to “put the evil away from among” the nation as Deuteronomy 17:7 and other portions of Scripture teach.


5. To promote that which is morally good in the country. When Christians vote, they take the opportunity to promote that which is morally upright by supporting candidates and issues that are biblically correct.


6. To function as Christ’s ambassadors. When Christians vote, they fulfill the honor and responsibility of being Christ’s ambassadors, as taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20. It is a privilege to represent the Lord in society, and with each biblically sound vote they cast, Christians actively do so.


7. To be involved in government. Titus 3:1 encourages pastors to teach their congregations to be “ready to every good work,” which is in the context of functioning in government. Voting is simply one way to be involved in the good work of government by expressing biblical values at the polls.


8. To put our prayers into action. The Bible teaches Christians to pray for those in authority so they may “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,” according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2. When Christians vote, they take the opportunity to vote for those they have been praying for, who will promote biblical truth in the culture.


9. To maintain our freedoms. There are candidates who, given the chance, would remove the freedoms Americans hold dear. Attacks on the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Bible, all which stand for freedom and liberty, occur daily. Christian voters biblically support the blessings of “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), which will further guarantee the freedoms upon which the American civilization was established.


10. To function as “salt and light.” When Christians vote, they act in obedience to Matthew 5:13-16, in serving as the preservative conscience of the nation and shedding the light of the truth of the Scripture regarding the issues of life. The American Pastors Network is also partnering with iVoter Guide to inform Christians of the issues in their regions. The comprehensive, data-driven guide provides voters with side-by-side comparisons of candidates for the upcoming primary elections, allowing them to identify those who most closely share their values and who has the voting record to back up campaign promises.

Communicating with your Elected Officials

All elected officials expect to hear from their constituents. You can easily find and contact your National and State officials with the ACSIPA Voter's Voice Tool.  It's very easy.  You can find your elected officials and also can find issues that are important to Christian Schools and other communities by following the links.  Go to www.acsipa.org and follow the tabs to take action, find your officials, or find links to other faith based organizations.  

 

 

IRS Guidelines for Churches and Non-Profits

Churches and non-profits are allowed to be a part of the educational process in terms of political and cultural issues from a Christian perspective.  There is also a biblical mandate for participating in the cultural issues of our day, and a call for Christians to accountability on how a Nation experiences judgment. We now have more freedom to practice Christianity in terms of political involvement than for a long time.  Contact any of the organizations below to find out more about being active in the public policy issues of our time.

 


Registering to Vote

The deadline for registering to vote is in early October for the fall elections.  You must have a voter's registration form and have it postmarked by the deadline if you are not currently registered to vote.  You may pick up a PA voter's registration form at your local courthouse or you may also pick up a voter's form on line at PA Voters Registration Form.

 

 


 

Voter's Guides Prepared for Elections

 

There are several voter's guides that are produced in a non-partisan way which will help you understand how candidates stand or have voted on issues that are biblically based.  We try to have several on hand for elections at the Center, and also usually obtain bulk quantities for elections that churchs and other non-profit organizations can distribute that follow the IRS guidelines.  However it is easy to see them on line.  Below are a couple of options that may be helpful. 

     

The PA Family Institute Voter's Guides, which focuses on PA Voters' candidates and issues for each election can be found at: www.pafamily.org.

 


The Family Research Council  Voter's Guides, which are designed for use of voters across the country, may be accessed on line on their website: www.frc.org.  Their voting focused site is: http://www.cultureimpact.org/ 

Voter Guides from the American Family Association can be found on their website: www.afa.net.


The American Family Association of PA Voter's Guides, which focuses on PA Voters' candidates and issues for each election can be found at:  http://afaofpa.org

 

 


Organizations which help keep you alert to companies, practices, and other issues that are related to Christian values: this information provides access to sites that allow your voice to be heard electronically.

There are several distinctly Christian, non-partisan organizations which help monitor issues that affect our cultural values from a biblical perspective.  If you are interested in being a part of being informed from a values based perspective, please sign up at the following places for information.

 

PA School Choice related issues:   www.acsipa.org (sign up for the voter action Center)

National Family Related News:  Family Research Council:  www.frc.org

PA Family Related News:  www.pafamily.org

National Issues of Christian Justice:  Jay Sekulow www.aclj.org

American Family Association:  AFA: www.afa.net

PA American Family Association Alerts: www.afaofpa.org