Reader feedback: To vote or not to vote?

Now online, see our Views piece by guest writer Josh Kingcade about David Lipscomb’s views on politics, government and voting.

Voting “does much more harm to the church than dancing does,” Lipscomb writes in an 1875 Gospel Advocate. “The whole organization of the kingdom of God is based upon the fact that every other institution in the world is of the evil one, is against God — must be destroyed, must be prevailed over by the gates of hell.”
While strident in tone, Lipscomb would remind us that voting is not the ultimate exercise of the Christian witness to the world. If we expect to fix the world by electing the right candidate, we are in for a disappointment.
While I do not agree with Lipscomb that it is a sin to vote, I am reminded that the power of voting is limited and that no human government is a replacement for the reign of Christ.

Read the full story.
Are you voting today? Why or why not?
Do you agree with Lipscomb? Are his views too extreme? Do you see any relevance to contemporary politics in his words?

• Feedback
  Not voting today.
  Already voted early.
  In contrast to Lipscomb, I place voting in the category of being in the world, not in the category of being of the world.
  Voting for The Voice, of course, is of the world.
  Kidding.
  Mostly.

  Keith Brenton

  November, 6 2012

  Whether your your candidate was D or R, I woke up this morning and God is still God. Perhaps Lipscomb was on to something.

  Paul Goddard

  November, 7 2012

  This was an excellent article. More and more, I’m coming to agree with Lipscomb…he was a smart fellow.

  Charles

  November, 8 2012