As an American, a person can vote however they wish.

Some say there should be no litmus test. They believe you have to separate church and state in the voting booth or they claim you have to vote a certain way, but it’s not true. The joy of a democracy is that a person is free to vote however they wish.

If one policy is more important to you than others, vote based on that policy.

If you want someone from your religion, refuse to vote for any others.

If you believe in a particular party, vote along a party line.

If you are anti-incumbents, vote them all out.

The greatness of the American system is you can do whatever you want in the privacy of the voting booth and it doesn’t matter what anyone says. (See: Why I Can’t Say ‘America Is Going to Hell in a Handbasket’)

And contrary to what people say:

As an American, you can do as you wish, but as a Christian you don’t have such freedom. There is a specific way a Christian should vote. It has nothing to do with party. It does not revolve one issue or a limited set of issues. It isn’t about family values or traditional Christian ideals.

Here is how a Christian should vote: having studied the issues as best they can, without arrogance in believing their way is the only way, and in faith, trusting God with the results.

That’s it.

This means two Christians can vote in completely opposite ways and be in total obedience to God. It means there is not only one way for a Christian to vote. It demands humility in understanding our human frailty, knowing we could be wrong. It creates compassion toward others no matter how they vote or if they vote. It results in unity because we care more for the well-being of others than our political viewpoint.

The Christian faith should deeply influence our interaction with politics. While it will drive some toward political involvement and others away from political involvement, it should keep all of us from being deceived into thinking politics is the answer to what ails America or the world.

Sadly, many believe faith dictates a vote for a certain political party or candidate. They fail to see the complexity of issues and are shocked believers could vote differently. Yet this isn’t how our faith influences our politics. (See: Jesus Isn’t as Conservative or Liberal as You Think)

Faith should influence how we vote, but it should not influence us all to vote the same way. As faith mixes with our experience, passion, and concern, good Christian people will vote in opposite ways about very important issues.

Faith, however, should create a uniformity in our process of how we vote. Every believer should, in faith, vote in the way they know best with a complete dependence on God to do as he sees fit.

Some of the strongest believers I know believe there is no use in politics and they choose not to be involved in the voting process. Most of the believers I know see deep importance of the responsibility we have been given and can’t fathom not exercising their right to vote. Some believers vote a straight party ticket–some Democrat and some Republican. Other believers would never be tied to a single party. But every mature Christian I know has one thing in common when it comes to politics–they find more unity with fellow believers who vote differently than they do with those who share their political views but do not know Jesus.

Politics divides us, but Christians find unity in their need for the cross of Jesus. We all should remember that when we vote.

For more, see:

This Would Change Politics as We Know It

Why I Discourage Christians from Politics

If This Is True It Will Blow Your Mind