The Believer's Responsibility in the Democratic Process
The midterm elections are approaching rapidly, and as we consider how (or if) we ought to engage in the political dealings of a broken world, consider the words that Jesus taught us to pray in the Sermon on the Mount: "Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10). If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8), then we know that God's will for our life, our church, our city, and our country is better than our will.
It is important that we remember how the Lord uses us to enact His will, which He can do in whatever manner he pleases, for we know that even the rocks will cry out in worship to Him if we do not. He very often chooses to enact His will on His creation through His people - even and especially in political offices and other positions of authority - who are waiting in hopeful expectation to be used as vessels of His goodness, righteousness, and mercy.
In the US, we have the unique opportunity to be the salt and light of the earth in our direct community, but also to spread our salt and light influence farther by being informed on the issues that are being voted on, the positions that the candidates hold, and the desire to love our neighbor as Jesus commanded (Matt. 22:39).
As we engage in political discourse those with whom you may personally disagree (Rom 14:1-4), we need to remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). There is a very real spiritual enemy, Satan, who wants nothing more than to see us pitted against one another (John 10:10), but our true battle is against him and the discord he seeks to sew in the world, but certainly all the more viciously in the Church.
As we consider each issue, we need to remember that we are not voting for a savior. We have The Savior, and He is perfect in every way. We are purely voting on the individual whom we believe will vote on our behalf in ways that are in line with what we believe. There is no individual or institution on this earth who is worthy of all of our trust, but we know that our trust is secure in the One who is Himself, Truth.
In a world where our thoughts are constantly being influenced by the talking heads of social media or the news, we need to press further than a surface level understanding, gather our information from multiple sources, and search the Scriptures for clarity and guidance. As we seek the Lord in prayer and trust His Word as the only ultimate sense of truth, we can rest all of our cares on Him.
While we will not offer an exhaustive list of issues, nor will we endorse any party or candidate, we do believe there are a few core issues on which Scripture speaks with particular clarity.
Sanctity of Life. Scripture emphasizes the sacred dignity of life from conception, establishing a theological foundation for pro-life conviction. Scripture is additionally rich with descriptions of orphan care as central to authentic faith and models adoption as the supreme expression of God’s redemptive love. (1)
Marriage. Scripture establishes marriage as a foundational institution rooted in God’s creative design, defined as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman only. Scripture additionally describes this covenant as characterized by mutual love respect, submission within God-ordained roles, and holds it up as a picture of Christ’s love for His church. (2)
Gender. Scripture establishes that God created humanity in two distinct genders, male and female only, and that this design carries profound theological significance. Scripture additionally affirms that both male and female bear the image of God and were made to complement one another, which calls us to honor every person with the dignity and love owed to our neighbor. (3)
Beyond these three, there are other issues that Scripture emphasizes clearly, even though the policy positions that follow from that emphasis are less certain. Many policy debates can draw on biblical support, but these four receive sustained attention throughout Scripture, and we encourage you to study them carefully and prayerfully:
Religious freedom. Scripture emphasizes the freedom to worship God and obey Him above any earthly authority (Acts 5:29; Dan 6:10).
Parental rights. Scripture gives the responsibility to parents to teach and shape their children (Deut 6:6-7; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4).
Immigration. We are called to love and welcome the foreigner (Lev 19:33-34) alongside respecting God's sovereign design for civil authority (Rom 13:1-7).
Social welfare. Scripture balances care for the poor and vulnerable (Prov 31:8-9) alongside the dignity of work (2 Thess 3:10).
Use the resources provided below to do your own study of the biblical implications of these issues as well as research on the candidates and ballot measures this November. (4, 5)
As we seek to fulfill our civic responsibility to vote for our representatives, we must not forget the Lord that we serve, and the faithful witness that He has called us to maintain. These issues that we are voting on do have real-world implications, and your vote does influence the result. (6)
Vote informed on the issues, test those issues and your conviction against Scripture, and petition the Lord in prayer that His will would be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
- The Mazevo Elder Team
P.S., Below are additional resources we encourage you to use as you make a biblically grounded and well-informed voting decision.
Additional Resources
Scripture References
1. Sanctity of Life
Genesis 1:27, 9:6
Exodus 20:13, 21:22-25
Psalm 139:13-16
Isaiah 49:1
Jeremiah 1:5
Luke 1:15, 41
Galatians 1:15
2. Marriage
Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18-24
Malachi 2:13-16
Matthew 19:4-6
1 Corinthians 7:1-16, 11:11-12
Ephesians 5:22-23
3. Gender
Genesis 1:27, 2:18-24, 5:1-2
1 Corinthians 11:11-12
4. Relationship with Worldly Governing Authorities
Exodus 1:15-17
Jeremiah 29:7
Daniel 6:10
Matthew 17:24-27, 22:15-22
Acts 4:19-20, 5:29
Romans 13:1-8
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 Peter 2:13-20
Voting Information
5. DecodeTheVote
"DecodeTheVote is a free, nonpartisan voter guide for the November 3, 2026 US elections. Enter a ZIP code or address to see the races and measures on your ballot, compare the candidates side by side, read their stated positions in their own words and, for officeholders, their official record, and get a personal match score based on the issues you care about. It is built from official sources and run by DecodeTheVote LLC, an independent company that takes no money from parties or campaigns."
6. Election Day Information/How to Vote
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with polls open 6:30 AM–7:30 PM, and you can still vote if you’re in line at 7:30 PM.
What’s on the Ballot
The November 2026 NC general election includes all 435 U.S. House seats, about a third of the U.S. Senate, plus statewide and local offices in North Carolina. Your exact ballot depends on your address – you can view a sample ballot via the NC State Board of Elections or your county’s site.
How to Vote
In Person: Go to your assigned polling place (find it via the NC Voter Lookup tool)
Early Voting: Available for 17 days before Nov. 3; check your county’s early voting sites.
By Mail (Absentee): Request by 5 PM on the Tuesday before Nov. 3 (Oct. 25).
ID Requirement: Bring an NC driver’s license or other acceptable photo ID; exceptions available if needed.
Special Notes
Provisional Ballots: If you go to the wrong precinct and can’t reach your correct one, ask for a provisional ballot.
Registration: You must be registered before Election Day; same-day registration is allowed in NC.
Absentee Ballots: Mailing begins Sept. 4, 2026, for those who request them.
Local Example — Iredell County (Mooresville area)
The Iredell County Board of Elections provides:
Absentee Ballot Portal (online request)
Polling Place Master List
Sample Ballot Search (enter name & year of birth) for Iredell County
Tip: Always confirm your polling place and ballot via the official NC State Board of Elections or your county’s site before voting.
For full details, visit: