(ZENIT News / Washington, 10.13.2024).- As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, a surprising trend may have a profound impact on the outcome: a growing sense of apathy among Christian voters. A pre-election survey from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals that only 51% of religious voters are likely to cast a ballot in November, a figure that could dramatically influence key races at both the national and local levels.
Millions of Christians Opting Out of the Vote
The report estimates that of the 104 million eligible religious voters, 32 million regular churchgoers—those who frequently attend Christian services—are expected to skip the polls. This includes 14 million members of evangelical congregations. These numbers highlight a disconnect between the potential influence of Christian voters and their actual participation in the democratic process.
Why the Disengagement?
Several factors contribute to this growing disengagement. For many, dissatisfaction with the political climate and candidates is a major issue. The survey found that 68% of respondents expressed a lack of interest in politics altogether, while 57% cited their dislike of all major candidates. Additionally, over half (55%) felt that none of the candidates truly reflected their most important views, and 52% believed their vote wouldn’t make a difference.
Yet, the report also points to a more concerning reason: a failure of churches to engage their congregations in discussions about civic responsibility. According to the survey, only 56% of churches have taken the basic step of encouraging their congregants to vote, and fewer than half have provided teachings on key social issues. Sermons addressing the biblical perspective on topics like abortion, same-sex marriage, and law enforcement have been rare, with less than half of regular churchgoers reporting they heard teachings on these subjects in the past two years.
A Call for Leadership from the Pulpit
Arizona Christian University President Len Munsil sees a missed opportunity for churches to guide their members through the complexities of modern politics. While many Christians don’t want to be told *how* to vote, they do want to understand *why* voting is important from a biblical perspective. The survey underscores a desire among Christians for their churches to offer more instruction on how to apply their faith to political and social issues.
Munsil highlighted Proverbs 29:2, which says, «When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.» Without pastors and church leaders stepping up to encourage civic participation and offer biblical insights into political decisions, Munsil warns, it will be difficult to achieve the kind of leadership that brings positive change to society.
Potential Impact on the 2024 Election
With the 2024 race expected to be highly competitive, the absence of millions of Christian voters could have a significant effect on the outcome. In the 2020 election, the margin of victory between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was just seven million votes. Crucially, the battle for key swing states was even tighter, with an average margin of only 60,000 votes per state determining almost 40% of the electoral votes required to win.
The stakes are even higher in 2024, as these 32 million likely non-voting churchgoers represent a game-changing block that could sway the election in either direction. Beyond the presidency, their absence could also tip the scales in countless state and local elections, as well as on critical ballot measures that address issues like education, health care, and economic policy.
A Broader Consequence for Society
Munsil warns that the consequences of Christian disengagement go beyond electoral outcomes. By choosing not to vote, Christians risk allowing political decisions to be made without the influence of biblical values. The result, he argues, is a society increasingly shaped by secular viewpoints rather than faith-based principles.
As Munsil and other religious leaders urge Christians to see voting as both a civic duty and a moral responsibility, the question remains: will churches rise to the occasion and reignite civic engagement among their congregations? Or will the 2024 election be another example of a missed opportunity for Christian voters to shape the future of their nation?
With election day fast approaching, the answer to this question could determine not just the outcome of the vote, but the direction of U.S. society in the years to come.
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