What Does It Really Mean to Love God, Love Your Neighbor, and Vote? | Election Sermon

Loving God means fearing Him and keeping His commandments, and loving your neighbor means using your vote to promote life, freedom, and righteousness rather than death, bondage, and wickedness. A roadside sign reads, "Love God, love your neighbor, vote." Every word of that sign is true. But Christians repeat those words so often that, like Inigo Montoya says in The Princess Bride, "You keep using those words. I do not think they mean what you think they mean." In this stand-alone election message, we open up Proverbs 8 where wisdom declares, "By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice," and asks what those familiar words truly mean. In this message: 1. What kind of nation do Americans actually live in? (Exodus 18) — Know where you live. America is a constitutional republic, not a democracy: elected representatives serve under a higher standard, much like Jethro's counsel to Moses to select able men who fear God, and that system gives small towns a real voice. 2. What does it truly mean to love God? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13; John 14:15-23; Matthew 22:37-40) — The love of God cannot be separated from the fear of God, and neither can be separated from obedience. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." 3. Does loving people mean never causing division? (John 14:6) — When the words become a facade. The truth of Christ draws a line in the sand, and Christians are not called to make themselves palatable to the culture. 4. Why does a free nation depend on a moral people? (Romans 13:1-8) — Only as good as the people. An 1856 election sermon by Rev. Willard Child and Romans 13 show that free institutions are only channels: they carry whatever the people pour into them, and government is a tool, not a savior. 5. How should love for my neighbor shape my vote? — Loving your unborn neighbor, your neighbor in marriage and family, children, private property, and humanity over the earth. Pastor Ethan explains why he believes a Christian cannot, at this point in American history, vote for a platform that openly advocates what God's Word calls evil. 🔥 In this sermon you'll learn: Why America is a constitutional republic, not a democracy, and why that difference gives your vote weight Why the love of God cannot be separated from the fear of God and obedience to His commands What Romans 13 says government exists to do, when you read past verse 1 Why "abortion" is too sterilized a word for what takes place in the womb Why government, a political party, or a politician will never be your savior, and why a Christian has no room for despair ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Opening prayer 1:42 Introduction: "Love God, love your neighbor, vote" 3:35 Reading Proverbs 8:4-21 5:34 Know where you live: a constitutional republic (Exodus 18) 12:55 What it truly means to love God 25:14 When the words become a facade 28:30 Only as good as the people: an 1856 election sermon and Romans 13 43:55 What it truly means to love your neighbor at the ballot box 57:49 Christ still reigns, and the Lord's Supper 💬 Which of these three phrases, "love God," "love your neighbor," or "vote," do you think Christians most often use without asking what Scripture means by it? Share below. #ElectionSermon #LoveYourNeighbor #ChristianVoting #FaithBibleFellowship #BiblicalWorldview #Romans13 #FearOfTheLord #ProLife #Citizenship #Sermon