Hi friends! Elections in Israel and in America are right around the corner. Israelis cast their ballots on October 27. Meanwhile, in America, election day is November 3. Both elections carry significant ramifications for our countries individually and collectively.

• Will Benjamin Netanyahu win another term as Prime Minister?
• Will America hand over power to radicals?
• Will Israel’s elected party leader be able to put together a majority in order to form a coalition?
• Will American Congress grind to a halt with mixed leadership in the Senate, House, and White House?
• Will the two governments continue to forge a relationship in which Israel and America will work hand-in-hand or, with new leadership, will the two drift from their shared values?

It may be only mid-terms in America, but elections in both Israel and America carry consequences. As believers, we have at least two Biblical responsibilities: 1. pray for God’s wisdom and guidance upon the candidates and the eventual authority given to those elected, and 2. participate in the God-given responsibility to vote!

Historian David Barton does a wonderful job of explaining why your vote counts. This video is from the 2018 midterm elections, but the statistics remain true for today. Watch, and be astounded by the numbers he shares.

Can you imagine only 1 in 5 American adults choosing who runs our country? Sad, but true. But let’s go a step further. According to the Pew Research Center, of roughly 262 million adults in America (in 2023), 162 million (roughly 62%) identify as Christians. If we apply the 1 in 5 ratio of voting Americans, that means only 32.4 million Christians vote.

Actual statistics regarding the percentage of Christians who actually vote varies greatly. If 1 in 5 is the ratio of all Americans, let’s assume (for the sake of this discussion) that Christians over perform, so that 1/2 of Christians actually vote. (That’s a stretch!)

My first question is, “What about the other half!?!” Why are Christians NOT voting? Honestly, I see apathy among Christians and weak-kneed pastors who fail to teach and guide their congregations in EVERY aspect of life. Our nation was founded on Christian principles and pastors led the charge when it came to securing the freedom we now enjoy in America. Yet now days, our Christian values seem to fade once we leave the sanctuary and enter everyday life. God did not design it that way. We are to live out our values in every area of life, including civic engagement.

But, back to the stats. If only 1/2 of all Christians are voting, that leaves potentially ~81 million votes uncast! In the largest election turnout in history, President Trump garnered just over 77 million votes in 2024. Look closely at the numbers and you see that, even if we inflate the number of Christians that vote in an election, there are still more NON-VOTING Christians (81 million) than the entire winning vote count (77 million) in the 2024 election!

So, what’s the key to getting our constitutional republic back on track? Christians voting!!! Imagine if we increased the number of Christian voters by even 10%. That would result in 8 million more votes…plenty to push the advantage to the conservative side if those Christians voted according to Biblical principles.

Friends, the most important thing in the world is to know Christ and make Him known! We should never abandon that, but pursue it with every effort. However, the second most important thing is to fight for our right to do the most important thing! If we as Christians surrender our rights at the ballot box, our God-given religious rights and liberties will be stripped by those the radicals vote into office.

Christian friends, please take voting seriously. Learn your candidates. None are perfect. But select those whose values most closely align with yours. Failure to vote because the candidates are flawed is like saying you will never drive a vehicle because it has a scratch or a dent. In reality, that is a cop out. God has granted us so many blessings in America, and with those blessings comes responsibility. Don’t neglect to live out your faith in every area of life, including the ballot box.

Here are some tools to help you evaluate candidates:

• iVoterGuide.com – faith-based voter guide ranks candidates based on voting record, endorsements, financial backing, etc.
• Turning Point Action’s Scorecard – voter scorecards on candidates’ voting records and positions on conservative issues
• FRC Action Voter Guide – faith-based voter guide via partnership with iVoterGuide

Meanwhile, please pray for Israel’s elections, as well as those here in America. In Israel, this is perhaps the most consequential election in over 20 years. In America, it may seem like mid-terms don’t matter, but this election will determine whether Congress will be in deadlock and get nothing done the next two years, or if legislation can move forward. It also sets the stage for the 2028 presidential election, and could change the political landscape of America for the next decade or more.

Your vote is important, and as a Christian, it is not optional. God’s Word teaches us to live out our faith in every facet of life. We can make a difference!