Episode title and short description

Episode title: Should Messianics Vote? The Ballot, the Kingdom, and the Believer’s Conscience

Short description (for the summary field in Apple Podcasts, Spotify and similar apps; about 600 characters):

Should Messianic/Nazarene Yisra’elites vote? With the 2026 midterms days away, we look at what Scripture actually says about Yah’s chosen and elect taking part in a nation’s electoral process. We weigh the biblical case for voting (Jeremiah 29:7, Romans 13, Paul’s Roman citizenship) against the case for abstaining (Philippians 3:20, John 18:36). We also cover trusting in princes, voting for the “lesser of two evils,” and Christian Nationalism. The conclusion: voting is permitted, never commanded, and must be a Spirit-led decision of conscience. This discussion includes a 10-question Torah-inspired checklist to use before you vote.

Episode overview

How should a citizen of the Kingdom of Elohim relate to the political privileges offered by the nation where he temporarily lives? Should Messianics and Nazarene Yisra’elites take part in this, or any, nation’s electoral process?

Recorded on the 17th day of the 8th Biblical month (Thursday, October 29, 2026), days before the U.S. midterm elections, this installment of TMTO steps back from the media’s “most consequential election ever” message and goes to Yah’s Word. Our faith communities are divided on this question, and many churches teach that voting is every believer’s duty. Some even tell members which party to support. In this discussion, I lay out for you what Scripture says, and remind us that we are not living in ancient Yisra’el or in the Kingdom of Yah. We are exiles, waiting for our Master to return and establish His Kingdom on earth.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why Scripture neither commands nor forbids voting, and why permission is not the same as obligation
• The three questions every believer should ask: Is voting permissible? Is it wise? Is it required?
• What Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon teaches about seeking the welfare of the nation we live in
• How Paul used his Roman citizenship without embracing Rome’s idolatry
• The biblical case for choosing not to vote: our citizenship is in heaven
• When political participation begins drifting toward idolatry
• How to think about voting for a candidate whose platform includes things Torah calls evil
• Verses commonly misused in the voting debate, including Romans 13 and “Render unto Caesar”
• Why the United States is neither biblical Israel nor the Kingdom of Heaven
• A 10-question, Torah-based checklist to help you decide in faith and with a clear conscience

Episode segments

Introduction and greeting. Shabbat shalom and welcome from the DFW. The question of the day: should Messianics vote?

Midterm season and a divided faith community. Both parties say this is the most consequential election in U.S. history. Our communities are divided, while many churches call voting a duty.

What Scripture does and doesn’t say. The Bible doesn’t address modern representative voting because ancient Israel and Rome had different political systems. Voting is a matter of civic stewardship and individual conscience. It becomes a problem when we place our confidence in human government.

Three questions. Is voting permissible? Maybe. Is it wise? It depends. Is it an obligation? Absolutely not. No one should be guilted into voting or made to feel they have fallen from grace for voting. Rod shares his own history with Christian Nationalism.

The biblical case for participation. Jeremiah 29:4–7 tells the exiles to seek the welfare of Babylon without becoming Babylonians. Romans 13:1–7 and 1 Peter 2:13–17 cover submission to governing authorities.

Paul’s citizenship and believers in pagan governments. Paul invoked his Roman rights (Acts 16, 22, 25) without embracing Rome’s idolatry. Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah served in pagan governments while staying loyal to the Covenant.

Pursuing justice. Deuteronomy 16:20, Proverbs 31:8–9, Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8 and Amos 5:24 call us to justice. Deuteronomy 1:13 shows the community helping choose wise, discerning, God-fearing leaders.

The biblical case for choosing not to vote. Our commonwealth is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are strangers and temporary residents (Hebrews 11:13–16; 13:14). “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Our task is not to improve Babylon’s management but to bear witness to another King.

Do not trust in princes. Psalm 146:3, Psalm 118:8–9, Isaiah 2:22, Isaiah 31:1 and Jeremiah 17:5–8. Voting and trusting are not the same act, but is your vote an administrative act or a devotional one?

When voting becomes a moral problem. Exodus 23:2, Isaiah 5:20, Ephesians 5:11 and James 4:17. Is choosing a candidate an endorsement of their whole platform? Is the “lesser evil” still evil? It’s okay not to vote when your conscience is troubled.

Texts misused in the voting debate. “Choose able men” (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 1:13) is not a voting command. Romans 13 doesn’t make every government action righteous. Acts 5:29 sets the limit of political obedience. “Render unto Caesar” doesn’t mean give Caesar everything.

The TMTO position. We are first citizens of the Kingdom of Yah. The U.S. is neither biblical Israel nor the Kingdom of Heaven, and no party represents Yah’s Kingdom. A believer may vote as limited civic stewardship, or may abstain from conviction rather than apathy. Neither should judge the other.

A Torah-based checklist before you vote. Ten questions to pray through (listed below).

Closing thoughts. I personally have come full circle and support every brother and sister, whether they vote or not. At the very least, I believe we are called to pray for this nation and its leaders.

Key quotes and the checklist

Quotable moments from the episode:

“Permissibility is not the same thing as obligation, and abstention is not necessarily the same thing as faithfulness.”

“We may seek the welfare of America without confusing America with the Kingdom of Yah.”

“Paul could use Roman legal protections without embracing Rome’s idolatry.”

“Our primary task is not to improve Babylon’s management but to bear witness to another King and His Kingdom.”

“When a candidate is portrayed as the nation’s savior, protector, redeemer, or last hope, political participation has begun drifting toward idolatry.”

“The question is not whether we cast a vote for a particular leader, but whether our heart looks to that ruler for what only Yehovah through Mashiyach can provide us.”

A Torah-based decision checklist before you vote:

1. Have I prayed for wisdom? (James 1:5; 1 Timothy 2:1–4)
2. Do I understand the candidates and measures, or am I responding to propaganda or voting the party ticket? (Proverbs 18:13, 17; 14:15)
3. Am I judging righteously rather than out of fear, ethnicity, personality or party loyalty? (Leviticus 19:15; John 7:24)
4. What conduct, policies and fruit are actually evident in the candidates? (Matthew 7:16–20; Proverbs 20:11)
5. Would my choice directly support what Torah identifies as evil? (Exodus 23:2; Isaiah 5:20)
6. Am I seeking my neighbor’s welfare as well as my own interests? (Leviticus 19:18; Philippians 2:4)
7. Can I make this choice in faith and with a clear conscience? (Romans 14:23)
8. Can I criticize this candidate after voting for him or her? If not, political loyalty may already be controlling my conscience.
9. Will I remain spiritually at peace if my preferred candidate loses? (Psalm 2; Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 21:1)
10. Is Yeshua still my only political and spiritual Messiah? (Acts 4:12; Revelation 19:16)

Scriptures referenced and links

Each reference links to the passage in the Lexham English Bible, the translation quoted in the episode.

The case for participation: Jeremiah 29:4–7 • Romans 13:1–7 • 1 Peter 2:13–17 • Acts 16:35–39 • Acts 22:24–29 • Acts 25:10–12, 16

Pursuing justice: Deuteronomy 16:20 • Proverbs 31:8–9 • Isaiah 1:17 • Micah 6:8 • Amos 5:24 • Zechariah 7:9–10 • Deuteronomy 1:13

The case for abstaining: Philippians 3:20 • Hebrews 11:13–16 • Hebrews 13:14 • John 17:14–16 • John 18:36

Trusting Yah, not rulers: Psalm 146:3 • Psalm 118:8–9 • Isaiah 2:22 • Isaiah 31:1 • Jeremiah 17:5–8

Voting and moral compromise: Exodus 23:2 • Isaiah 5:20 • Ephesians 5:11 • James 4:17

Misused texts: Exodus 18:21 • Acts 5:29 • Matthew 22:21

Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

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