--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christians living in a democracy should…" description: "\"Christians living in a democracy should always vote if they can. If they cannot in conscience bring themselves to vote for any of the candidates on off..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/n-t-wright-2-2245_ballots_christians-living-in-a-democracy-should_2820563.jpg" --- # Christians living in a democracy should always vote if… ![“Christians living in a democracy should always vote if they can. If they cannot in conscience bring themselves to vote for any of the candidates on offer (in the UK quite often there are several candidates for a parliamentary seat) they might consider deliberately spoiling the ballot paper as a…” quote by N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/n-t-wright-2-2245_ballots_christians-living-in-a-democracy-should_2820563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/n-t-wright-2-2245_ballots_christians-living-in-a-democracy-should_2820563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/n-t-wright-2-2245_ballots_christians-living-in-a-democracy-should_2820563.jpg) > “Christians living in a democracy should always vote if they can. If they cannot in conscience bring themselves to vote for any of the candidates on offer (in the UK quite often there are several candidates for a parliamentary seat) they might consider deliberately spoiling the ballot paper as a sad protest which still says 'but I believe in being involved'.” [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democratic Christians should vote when possible; if conscience blocks, a spoiled ballot signals engaged protest. **In simple terms:** Vote if you can; otherwise protest responsibly. Key Takeaway Engage responsibly. Themes civic duty conscience political protest Mood thoughtful ethical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - elections - faith communities - political activism Key Concepts ethics democracy Questions to Reflect On - Is protest without voting effective? - How can conscience guide civic action? A Different Perspective Spoiling may be seen as disengagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Bring Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-vote-3257358/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-vote-1232639/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Parliamentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliamentary/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Seats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seats/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Spoiling Ballot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiling-ballot-1486229/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-conscience-375446/) ## Related quotes > [Well, it all began with Democracy. Before we had the vote all the power was in the hands of rich people. If you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/well-it-all-began-with-democracy-before-we-had-the-vote-all-the-power/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Spoiling my ballot paper is the only way I can see of stripping the system of legitimacy, shaking it up, and reforming it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/spoiling-my-ballot-paper-is-the-only-way-i-can-see-of-stripping-the/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [I cannot bring myself to vote for a woman who has been voice-trained to speak to me as though my dog has just died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-waterhouse/i-cannot-bring-myself-to-vote-for-a-woman-who-has-been-voice-trained/) [Keith Waterhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-waterhouse/) > [I can't bring myself to vote for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-can-t-bring-myself-to-vote-for-donald-trump/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Some countries have a parliamentary republic, some are presidential republics and some are still monarchies, but no one sees them as not being democratic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/some-countries-have-a-parliamentary-republic-some-are-presidential/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [It is not surprising that more and more people are coming to the conclusion that the ballot box is no longer an instrument that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/it-is-not-surprising-that-more-and-more-people-are-coming-to-the/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [I belong to the political party that generally fits my philosophical beliefs, but I reserve the right to vote my conscience after careful deliberation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/i-belong-to-the-political-party-that-generally-fits-my-philosophical/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [“I am at liberty to vote as my conscience and judgement dictates to be right, without the yoke of any party on me... Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-at-liberty-to-vote-as-my-conscience-and-judgement-dictates-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you love our country and love your children as much as I know that you do, stand and speak and vote your conscience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-love-our-country-and-love-your-children-as-much-as-i-know-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We are leaving the E.U. I accept that. But I made a decision I was never again going to vote against my conscience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/we-are-leaving-the-e-u-i-accept-that-but-i-made-a-decision-i-was/) [Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/) > [When we support or vote for candidates outside the two major political parties we are immediately lectured about wasting our vote or making it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/when-we-support-or-vote-for-candidates-outside-the-two-major/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [The president said, 'You've got to vote your conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/the-president-said-you-ve-got-to-vote-your-conscience/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > ['I am at liberty to vote as my conscience and judgment dictates to be right, without the yoke of any party on me... Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/i-am-at-liberty-to-vote-as-my-conscience-and-judgment-dictates-to-be/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [I've always tried to vote my conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-lance/i-ve-always-tried-to-vote-my-conscience/) [Leonard Lance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-lance/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) ## More by N. T. Wright > [Wherever St. Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/wherever-st-paul-went-there-was-a-riot-wherever-i-go-they-serve-tea/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Rest you well, beloved Jesus, Caesar’s Lord and Israel’s King, In the brooding of the Spirit, in the darkness of the spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/rest-you-well-beloved-jesus-caesar-s-lord-and-israel-s-king-in-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Art is love creating the new world and justice is love rolling up its sleeves to heal the old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/art-is-love-creating-the-new-world-and-justice-is-love-rolling-up-its/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [It is faith that looks up at the creator God and knows him to be the God of love. And it is faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/it-is-faith-that-looks-up-at-the-creator-god-and-knows-him-to-be-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Scripture is, at its heart, the great story that we sing in order not just to learn it with our heads but to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/scripture-is-at-its-heart-the-great-story-that-we-sing-in-order-not/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Most of the things that really matter require faith. 'How do I know that my wife loves me?' 'How do I know that Mozart's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/most-of-the-things-that-really-matter-require-faith-how-do-i-know/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Justice never means "treating everybody the same way", but "treating people appropriately".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/justice-never-means-treating-everybody-the-same-way-but-treating/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [People often get upset when you teach them what is in the Bible rather than what they presume is in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/people-often-get-upset-when-you-teach-them-what-is-in-the-bible/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [The word "salvation" denotes rescue. Rescue? What from? Well, of course, ultimately death. And since it is sin that colludes with the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/the-word-salvation-denotes-rescue-rescue-what-from-well-of-course/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [We cannot worship the suffering God today and ignore him tomorrow. We cannot eat and drink the body and blood of the passionate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/we-cannot-worship-the-suffering-god-today-and-ignore-him-tomorrow-we/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Part of Christian belief is to find out what's true about Jesus and let that challenge our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/part-of-christian-belief-is-to-find-out-what-s-true-about-jesus-and/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [If you ask people in England where does Tom Wright sit on the theological spectrum, they say, "Well he's an evangelical of course," as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/if-you-ask-people-in-england-where-does-tom-wright-sit-on-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [True worship is open to God, adoring God, waiting for God, trusting God even in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/true-worship-is-open-to-god-adoring-god-waiting-for-god-trusting-god/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Jesus of Nazareth ushers in not simply a new religious possibility, not simply a new ethic or a new way of salvation, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/jesus-of-nazareth-ushers-in-not-simply-a-new-religious-possibility/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [All our language about the future ... is like a set of signposts pointing into a bright mist ... the New Testament image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/all-our-language-about-the-future-is-like-a-set-of-signposts-pointing/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) [Explore all 176 N. T. Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) ## More Ballots quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Models: I'm not voting for you for any stupid magazine list! If you were really that Hot you wouldn't have to beg the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/models-i-m-not-voting-for-you-for-any-stupid-magazine-list-if-you/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [Just as feudalism was an advance over slavery, and capitalism was the next step after feudalism, socialism is the next step after capitalism…...Socialism in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-hall/just-as-feudalism-was-an-advance-over-slavery-and-capitalism-was-the/) [Gus Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-hall/) > [The Family of Man is more than 3 billion strong. It lives in more than 100 nations. Most of its members are not white.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-family-of-man-is-more-than-3-billion-strong-it-lives-in-more-than/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Barack Obama thinks he's universally loved and adored because of that approval rating, which is a lie or a misrepresentation. It's mainly people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-thinks-he-s-universally-loved-and-adored-because-of-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Exxon, Coca-Cola, BHP Billiton and News Corporation have much more say in organising the global agenda than the planet's 5 billion mature-age voters without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-brown/exxon-coca-cola-bhp-billiton-and-news-corporation-have-much-more-say/) [Bob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-brown/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [It’ll be the ballot or it’ll be the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death. And if you’re not ready to pay that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-it-ll-be-the-bullet-it-ll-be-liberty-or-it-ll/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Too many of us dissipate our energy by being 'for all good causes,' attending meetings and passing resolutions, organizing and presenting petitions — all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-hennacy/too-many-of-us-dissipate-our-energy-by-being-for-all-good-causes/) [Ammon Hennacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-hennacy/) > [To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-give-victory-to-the-right-not-bloody-bullets-but-peaceful-ballots/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The establishment Republicans are beginning to say on the record what they had been whispering about in private for months: that Donald Trump at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-mogahed/the-establishment-republicans-are-beginning-to-say-on-the-record-what/) [Dalia Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-mogahed/) [Browse all 274 Ballots quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christians living in a democracy should always vote if they can. 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