Election Year Encouragements for Our Congregation

Dear Calvary Monterey,

As everyone is aware, we are in a divisive presidential election season. Though I love my country and consider myself blessed to be a citizen here, as a senior pastor, I grin and bear these seasons every four years. But this year, I thought it could be helpful to offer some pastoral counsel for this election. I want to point you afresh to Jesus and give you some biblical pillars during this disruptive time.

1. Remember the Gospel

The great need of humanity is the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Every voter -- and every believer -- has opinions about what constitutes the primary issues. And there are issues of importance to the flourishing of a society. But believers also know the gospel is humanity's greatest need. No political party has the gospel on its agenda. But the church does, so we should not get too high or too low in our response to this election, because the ultimate need of the gospel is the church's job. Not the government's, not society's, not culture's -- but ours. Though heaven and earth pass away, the kingdom of Christ will not, so we must advance the gospel.

2. Reflect on God's Sovereignty

Take a moment to look back on the pages of Scripture to see the way God interacted with the nations. He was in control, steering world events for his ultimate purposes. Nebuchadnezzar, Artaxerxes, and Cyrus were all instruments in his hands. Israel didn't elect any of them, but God did. Though none were godly, they were unwittingly used by God for his purposes. And, in the New Testament, Jesus arrived at the perfect stage of world history. His timing fulfilled many prophecies, and the setting the Roman Empire created, though difficult for many, was perfect for gospel expansion. Paul, for example, was able to travel those Roman roads with his Roman citizenship and get the gospel to the nations. Perhaps, as we cast our ballots, we should remember God's sovereign will, a purpose above our own. He still works among the nations.

3. Vote Your Biblical Conscience

As you study Scripture, your vision of the ideal society is shaped. Your feelings are replaced with biblical convictions -- take those convictions into the ballot box. Great wisdom is required, but you must vote your biblical conscience. Consider the Bible's teaching on subjects like these: religious freedom, poverty, racism, evangelism, injustice, the rights of the unborn, marriage, family, and the subjugation of the earth. Ask God to guide you as you process the issues, platforms, parties, and candidates up and down the ballot. Then go vote your Bible-saturated conscience. It is an honor and responsibility, one way we love our neighbors as ourselves.

4. If You Must, Grieve and Lament

Many believers have been shocked by the speed of the secularization of America. It seems as if an aggressive campaign against God is well underway. The upside-down societies described in Romans 1:18-32 have been around forever, but some Americans remember a different time, and the new morality of the day has shocked them.

Remember two things. First, the society described in Romans 1 is God's judgment, but not in the way we often expect. It's not the judgment of fire or lightning, but the judgment of God giving people what they want. Over time, this type of society will be proved empty. Pray for the gospel to take root when people realize how lacking the new morality is. Second, grieve and lament your loss. The change has been severe, and we often perceive change as loss. Grieve, but then keep on going. Don't give up. You, believer, have something to offer until the end of your days. Be the church. Don't let discouragement keep you down.

5. Thank God for Our System of Government

During this election, remember the Unites States' system of government, and thank God for it. The President is not a king who rules by edict. Instead, the legislative and judicial branches of government are meant to push back on the executive branch. Though many will regard them as the most powerful person in the world, and though the people they appoint to their cabinet will exert their influence, there is a limit to the President's powers. Other government branches will get in their way, challenge their priorities, and decide whether their decisions are constitutional. If your candidate is elected, this is frustrating. If your candidate is not elected, this is satisfying. But, either way, perhaps it should be encouraging. By the founders' design, the President, though extremely influential, should not get their way all the time.

6. Get Used to Chaos

I don't see increasing polarization and anger going away anytime soon. We have entrenched ourselves into camps, and our social media habits have only segregated us further. Some thought this would be an age of communication and sharing, but it has become one of hostility and aggression. Sides have been formed, ideologies adopted, and the chaos is just beginning. The election is not going to end the disruption, but will likely further it. The church must be the church during this time. We must be agents of love and grace in a fractured world. And, as much as the principalities and powers have their plans, so does God. On a parallel track, God is at work. In the counter-cultural revolution of the sixties, God was at work restoring his church. Millions came to Christ. I believe God is doing something similar during today's chaos.

7. Read Thoughtful News

I don't like reading news if it's free. I prefer paying (subscribe) for the news. My reasoning is simple: if the news I read makes its money from the amount of web traffic it receives (ad-supported news), then it is bound to (1) report with a tone that encourages clicks and (2) favor the less-important yet sensational. Clickbaity news focuses on the same few stories forever, without nuance, and further entrenches us. But it sure gets traffic. I prefer paying for the news as a way to decrease (I don't think one can eliminate) this clickbaity motive. Additionally, I don't want to receive news from my social media feed because I don't want an algorithm choosing my news stories for me. For those who want to know, I keep coming back to The Economist and The Wall Street Journal. They disagree often, but at least their arguments are thoughtful and nuanced. I think this is a byproduct of writing for their subscribers, rather than for more traffic.

8. Hope in Christ's Return

It's popular today to lambast believers who look for the rapture as a way of escape from the chaos. I have never thought of any futurist interpretations of biblical prophecy as a way to escape anything. Trials will come. The church will be persecuted. The birth pains will be real before the return of Christ. But, through it all, though we should not be escapists, we should look forward to Christ's return. He came once. He will come again. And, when he does, all this rancor and ugliness will end. King Jesus will reign supreme -- this is a good and righteous hope. If the creation is waiting eagerly for Christ's return (Romans 8:19), shouldn't we?

9. Long for Christ Among the Nations, Not a Christian Nation

In the Old Testament era, Israel operated as God's nation, a light to the nations. Now, in the New Testament era, there is no singular nation of God. Today, God is among the nations through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, though we should love, honor, pray for, and serve our nation, we should not expect a Christian nation on this side of Jesus' coming, and we should long for evangelism to spread on the whole earth. God is moving in beautiful ways in other parts of our world, and we must celebrate this. Every life counts, and each person who surrenders to Christ is cause for celebration. Even if our nation slides from Christ, we must rejoice when seeing God move elsewhere.

10. Don't Demonize

Remember who you are, believer. You are in Christ, his representative on earth. He lives in you. The Spirit of Christ wants to aid you as his ambassador of reconciliation -- this cannot be done if you habitually judge the motives of those on the other side from you. We are meant to be a peaceful, loving, grace-filled people who have the great message of hope for broken people. The gospel is not a message that can be delivered in anger. Instead, with love, we are to head straight into the unbelieving world with the hope of Christ. Refrain from demonizing people you disagree with and let God be the judge.

11. Remember Your True Citizenship in Heaven

In New Testament times, Philippi was a Roman colony. This meant their soil was like Roman soil. Citizens there were proud of this connection and heritage. But Paul told the believers in Philippi to remember their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). This was not his way of encouraging them to reject their Roman citizenship, but a path forward to make them better citizens that ever before. With an understanding that they served the King of Heaven, they would better serve Philippi. Even Paul loved and used his Roman citizenship in light of his heavenly one. I am honored to be an American citizen. I love the founding ideals and documents of this nation. I think the battle for the right vision of the United States is an important one. But the church must remember it's first citizenship -- the kingdom of heaven. It will help us serve our nation even better. And if our earthly citizenship disappoints, we rejoice that our citizenship in heaven will only improve with time.

12. Love God and Neighbor

Remember, brothers and sisters, we are called to love God and our neighbor during this tumultuous season. The pull towards division will be strong, but let's work hard to be gospel people who love everybody and emulate Christ. Casting our vote is one way we can love God and neighbor. But then we must move forward and continue to love God and man. Neighboring is not easy and cannot be done for only those in your political camp. Instead, we must love all of humanity as ourselves.

13. Pray

Of ancient Israel, God said, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV) If the church does not pray, who will? We must cry out to God for our nation, but also for the church in the nation. The political process cannot solve the ills of our time -- the human heart cannot be changed through legislation. Instead, one-by-one people must be released from sin, anger, unforgiveness, wrath, doubt, and hatred by interacting with the cross of Christ. Believers must pray for revival to occur. People need Jesus. Pray.

14. Live Your Life

After the election is over, you must go on living your life. You must devote yourself to God and, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18). Take a step back and look at your daily experience. Yes, it will be impacted somewhat by the election, but you still have a life to live. After a winner is declared, we must go on living in this broken world, applying the gospel's truth to our everyday reality. Through us, Jesus can restore workplaces, families, and individuals. Through you, the nations can be glad. And, as we live our lives for his glory, we must await Christ's return for his people. Maranatha! Come quickly, Lord Jesus.