43. Who Owns Your Vote

ummary In this episode of the Leading Forward podcast, hosts Nick Edwards and Jeremy Prather dive into the often sensitive and intimidating topic of voting from a Christian perspective. With the upcoming elections in mind, they encourage believers not to shy away from the polls but to engage in the political process with conviction. Rather than endorsing a specific party or candidate, Nick and Jeremy provide a practical, three-step framework—Check the Word, Check the Issues, and Check the Record—to help Christians align their political decisions with biblical truth. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing policies that outlast politicians and challenge listeners to submit their personal worldviews to Scripture. Show Notes Podcast: Leading Forward Hosts: Nick Edwards & Jeremy Prather Episode: 43. Before you Vote Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways: The Weight of Your Vote: Voting isn't just about electing a person; it's about electing policies that will govern and shape the culture for years to come. The Danger of Curated Worldviews: The hosts discuss how our modern worldviews are heavily shaped by curated social media algorithms designed to evoke emotional responses, and why it is vital to submit those views to the authority of Scripture. Framework Step 1: Check the Word: Before taking a stance on a cultural or political issue, ask yourself if your perspective is driven by lived experience or by biblical truth. Christians are called to put themselves under the Word rather than elevating their opinions above it. Framework Step 2: Check the Issues: Focus on the policies that will outlast the candidate. The hosts highlight key hot-button issues from a biblical lens, including: The sanctity of human life (abortion and end-of-life care). The biblical definition of marriage, the nuclear family, and parental rights. Religious liberty and constitutional freedoms. What if Neither Candidate is Perfect?: A look at the reality that no candidate will ever flawlessly embody biblical values. However, believers are still called to participate, act as "salt and light" (preservatives) in a decaying culture, and choose policies that best align with God's character. Framework Step 3: Check the Record: Don't just listen to what a politician says on the campaign trail—look at what they have actually done. Evaluate their past votes, absences, and overall character record. A Call to Action: A reminder that abstaining from voting is not the answer. Christians have a civic and spiritual responsibility to show up to the polls.