Abdicating Is Not an Option

On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII of Great Britain signed a letter in the presence of his three younger brothers – Albert, Henry, and George. It began with the following words…

“I, Edward the Eighth, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Emperor of India, do hereby declare My irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants, and My desire that effect should be given to this instrument of Abdication immediately.”

What would make a monarch abdicate his throne after just 327 days, the shortest reign in British history? King Edward – now Prince Edward, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Windsor – shared his reason the next day in a national radio broadcast that attracted the largest radio audience in world history to that point.

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love,” Prince Edward stated matter-of-factly.

Edward had fallen in love with Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee who was still married to her second husband. The British Constitution prevented Edward, or any monarch, from marrying a divorced person whose former spouse was still living. And so, Edward had to choose whether to give up the throne or give up the love of his life. He chose the former… his brother Albert succeeded him as King George VI… and Prince Edward married the newly divorced Wallis Simpson the following year, after which she became the Duchess of Windsor. Edward and Wallis’s marriage lasted 35 years until his death in 1972.

So, what does this 90-year-old love story have to do with America in the year 2026?

In the 2024 general election, when the citizens of the United States were choosing their 47th President, only 56% of self-professing Christians went to the polls. No, that’s not a typo. For whatever reason 44% of voters who self-identify as disciples of Jesus Christ decided to stay home on Election Day.

I can’t imagine that they didn’t see a stark contrast between the views of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and yet, they chose to sit this one out just the same. From my vantagepoint, that is an abdication of their responsibility not only as American citizens, but also as believers.

Rev. Josh Howerton, Senior Pastor of Lakepointe Church in Dallas TX, agrees 100%.

“When Christians do not vote, what they're doing is they are abdicating their leadership position in the constitutional republic that God has placed you in,” Howerton said. “And it's a form of passive rebellion against God in the exact same way that it would be wrong for a husband to refuse to lead his family, and it would be wrong for a pastor to refuse to lead his church."

To those who argue that religion and politics should remain forever distinct and disparate – or that pastors shouldn’t speak out on moral issues from their pulpits – Howerton has this to say.

“You cannot read the Bible about Moses, Daniel, Esther, Nathan, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, and think that the church and pastors should avoid addressing government and governmental leaders. You just can't do it. It's all throughout the Bible.”

Howerton went on to describe the potential dangers of pastors remaining silent and parishioners remaining disengaged.

"If the church won't disciple people, the world will. If godly leaders, godly pastors and godly voices all go silent or refuse to be clear on issues related to politics and government, then the only voices that are left are the godless ones.”

Howerton concluded his argument by stating that it is politics, government, and our elected officials that have “moved the goalposts”, not the church.

“What's happening right now is, the Church is not getting more political, politics are getting more theological, and politics are getting more spiritual. When the government moved past things like building roads, issuing driver's licenses, and teaching math, to things like redefining marriage, erasing gender, reframing abortion as reproductive rights and then using the government school system to indoctrinate everybody's kids into believing those things, … the Church didn't move, politics did."

What Josh Howerton is saying isn’t anything new. One hundred and fifty years ago, the most eloquent, revered, and respected pastor in the world said something very similar. His name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, who was widely known as the “Prince of Preachers”.

“I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics,’” Spurgeon told his listeners. “This is precisely where it ought to be brought, and set there in the face of all men as on a candlestick.”

Now you know why Charles Spurgeon is one of my spiritual heroes. And now you know why I pray that his spirit would invade the hearts of American Christians on November 3rd and every Election Day between now and the Lord’s return.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (BSB)