Loren Lippincott
Pastors in American churches have a clear responsibility to help their people live out their faith in everyday life, and that includes what they do in the voting booth. Before elections, pastors should teach about ballot initiatives and the positions candidates hold. This is not about telling people whom to vote for. It’s about giving them the facts so they can vote with a clear conscience and according to what the Bible teaches.
In America, the way we vote impacts our everyday lives.
Ballot issues impact schools, families, taxes, crime and religious freedom, and elected officials set policies on life, marriage and how the government treats churches. These are not isolated issues. They touch the same moral questions pastors already preach about on Sunday. If a pastor never mentions them, people may walk into the voting booth uninformed and make choices that go against the values they hear in church.
Secondly, many church members do not have the time or tools to research every issue. The daily pressures of life leave little room for reading long legal summaries or candidate records. Pastors stand in a trusted place so when they explain what a ballot measure actually does in plain language, they remove confusion. They can show how a proposal would change school curricula, parental rights or the protection of unborn children. Clear teaching helps people see the connection between faith and public policy. Thirdly, silence can look like approval of the status quo.
When pastors stay quiet about issues that Scripture addresses, some members assume those topics do not matter to God, leaving many to absorb only the loudest voices from television or social media. Teaching the facts gives the congregation a solid foundation and equips them to test every claim against biblical truth rather than party loyalty or media spin.
Fourthly, our laws still allow pastors to discuss issues and report what candidates have said or done without endorsing a specific person or party. They can hold forums, share nonpartisan voter guides or simply explain the wording of a ballot measure. Doing so respects the separation of church and state while fulfilling the church’s mandate to make disciples.
Avoiding “political” subjects leaves a gap that other voices will fill — often with messages far removed from Christian teaching.
Finally, informed Christians strengthen the whole community. When voters understand the real effects of initiatives and candidate records, they are less likely to be swayed by slogans or fear. They can choose policies that protect the vulnerable, support families and preserve freedom of conscience. History shows that faithful citizens have shaped better laws on slavery, civil rights and the protection of life. That work continues today through ordinary people who vote with knowledge and conviction.
Some pastors worry that talking about elections will divide the church. The risk of division is real if the discussion becomes partisan cheering. The solution is careful teaching focused on principles and facts, not personalities. Pastors can remind the congregation that believers can disagree on secondary matters while still seeking truth together. They can model respect for every person made in God’s image, including those who vote differently.
Others fear that politics will distract from the gospel, but the opposite is true. The gospel calls people to love their neighbors. Voting is one practical way to “seek the good of the city,” as the prophet Jeremiah instructed the exiles. Ignoring the ballot does not keep the church pure; it simply leaves important decisions to those who may not share Christian values.
Pastors already teach about marriage, honesty, care for the poor and the value of every human life. Ballot initiatives and candidate positions are the places where those teachings meet public policy. Explaining them is not a distraction from ministry. It is part of helping people apply the faith they already claim.
Before this election, pastors should set aside time to study the ballot measures and the records of those running for office, then share that information clearly and calmly to help their congregants make informed decisions as they vote. An informed congregation is better able to honor God with every decision, including the ones made in the voting booth. That is why pastors should teach these things.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.