To Vote or Not to Vote by Elizabeth Maddrey

ElizabethMaddreyHeadshotElizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school, she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace.

Elizabeth lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys. She invites you to interact with her at her website www.ElizabethMaddrey.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey

To Vote or Not to Vote

by Elizabeth Maddrey

I grew up in a fairly politically active family. I never really gave much thought to that fact until I was out on my own and started making friends who didn’t vote. Honestly, it had never occurred to me not to vote. Nor had it ever occurred to me that Christians might feel there was a Biblical reason to choose not to participate in government.

One of the things I love about my friends, though, is their willingness to discuss their beliefs and the reasons for them. From what I’ve come to understand, for my friends at least, it comes down to two primary schools of thought. The first is based on Romans 13:1-5, which essentially says that God has appointed the leaders of government. Their argument, then, is that if God appoints the rules that what they personally feel about them is inconsequential and they must simply surrender to God’s chosen governors. The second is more in line with not worrying about tomorrow and leaving the big-picture items to God while relying on Him to handle any issues that arise because of poor governmental leadership. There’s also a strong conviction that it’s more important to live out their convictions than to try and have them legislated.

I’ll admit that I still disagree with them, but hearing them out has forced me to move beyond caring deeply about politics simply because of having been raised to care. I’ve spent time reading and investigating the Scripture as well as men and women of faith whose opinions I trust. I read more about Daniel who chose to stay in Babylon, despite the opportunity to leave. Why? So that he could continue to influence the governmental leaders on the behalf of God’s people. Or Esther who, again, took on an active role in government, risking her life in the process. Or Gideon. Paul and Silas. The examples in the Bible of people taking political action are many.

As I talked to my friends though, the germ of an idea for a story began to take root. Because I began to see both sides of the issue a little more clearly and I could begin to understand how they arrived at their decision, and maybe even begin to believe that this is yet another way where we’re all called differently (at least in terms of extremes on either end.) And so, as I mulled this over, I wondered what would happen if two people on opposite ends of that spectrum but otherwise reasonably compatible fell in love. From that, A Splash of Substance was born.

More about A Splash of Substance:SplashFront

She doesn’t vote. He works for a Senator. Is it a recipe for romance or disaster?

Paige Jackson has always stayed out of politics, leaving it to God to govern the world. She has enough on her plate as the owner of a catering company founded on convictions to buy local, sustainable fare. Jackson Trent works on Capitol Hill for Senator Carson, putting his beliefs in action to help shape national policy.

Hoping to find high-end clients to keep her business afloat, Paige bids on a contract to cater the Senator’s next fundraiser. Shake-ups in the Senator’s staff leave Jackson grudgingly in charge of the event. After Paige is chosen as caterer, she and Jackson must work together despite opposing beliefs on how God calls Christians to participate in government. As Paige introduces Jackson to sustainable fare, it’s not just the food that piques his interest.

When Senator Carson becomes front-page news in Washington, Paige is sucked into the whirlwind of scandal. Can Jackson convince Paige he wasn’t complicit and win her back or has politics burned his chance at love?

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Thanks for coming today, Elizabeth.

What’s your opinion on voting?

Blessings,

Ginger

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