It's election season, and the tension is rising in churches again. Should matters of politics be discussed in church? If not, why must this topic of life in America be off-limits? If yes, how should these significant matters be addressed? Is there any biblical guidance to help us think about voting in America?
Ideally, the healthier approach to dealing with any controversial matter (including voting) is to approach it exegetically, as the preacher is preaching through books of the Bible. A preaching plan that primarily takes a church through entire books of the Bible will ensure that the problematic issues aren't skipped over as they come up. However, a topical approach may occasionally be needed to address an event or issue that particularly impacts a community. Apart from church calendar times (like Christmas and Easter), preachers should use this option sparingly because deviating from a book to an event can cause the events to drive the pulpit rather than God's Word. The Sunday after 9-11-2001 is an easy example of a time when the preacher should have considered deviating.
On this particular occasion, the Elders of Trinity Church determined that the 2024 elections, including a ballot initiative regarding abortion, warranted special attention. Therefore, Pastor Bryan Catherman is taking 10 minutes before the regular sermon time to preach a topical mini-series seeking to answer three questions. The first question: "What does the Bible say about voting?" Here's his answer.