I've never felt Ray's analogy with being an ambassador for Christ went along with the subject of voting or not voting. I have no idea what the rules of ambassadorship were in the first century, but I know a little of what they are now. An ambassador represents his country to a another country for sure, but they also do not have to follow the laws of the country they find themselves in (though they can be kicked out of the country for bad conduct). We, however, live as physical beings in a country and we have to obey the lawful, moral laws of our country and we quite literally pay for the goings on of our country. The UK ambassador to the US does not pay income tax to the US! I do not for one minute think that I will thwart the will of Almighty God with my vote. When He makes his will known that is His will and I will humble myself to it. But God has chosen to reveal His will by the results of a vote in the country in which I live and I will be a part of it, until my faith tells me to do otherwise. As it stands now, I can not faithfully Not vote .
I do not need to vote for a Savior. I have One. But Paul declared himself a Roman citizen and used it to his advantage. I don't think you can read that and say, as has been said, that Paul just wanted to make sure the procedure for whipping him would be procedurally correct . Now, if Paul had denounced his Roman citizenship - which he did not- then that would add to the argument of separating himself from his country. Yes, Paul counted everything else as dung . But every achievement and position in this life is Nothing compared to knowing the Living God.
If you don't think speaking up for any reason for any issue is a part of being a Christ follower, then don't do it. I believe differently.