Things NOT to do this political season:
Don’t be surprised that we basically have two less-than-stellar candidates for president (basing this off of their historically high disapproval ratings). It’s easy to sometimes project onto those who aren’t Christians the expectations of a Spirit-filled life, and to relatedly have a degree of worldly optimism that banks more on people being essentially good in heart and motive versus being, as Jesus says, “evil” to the core (Matthew 7:11).
Don’t fear. Someone has said before, “It isn’t befitting for the people of God to fear.” We are people of the empty tomb. The perfect love of Jesus Christ has driven out our fear (1 John 4:18), and so we are really the only people who can say, and truly mean, “Everything’s going to be ok.”
Don’t berate other believers for their political opinions, nor the candidates themselves. Berating is basically the same thing as arguing strongly (and unhealthily) for another candidate of a differing viewpoint, and in that, caring too much. It’s a type of misplaced anger that confuses our witness. What exactly is the essence of Christian hope again? What should we be doing with our time? What does it mean to be saved? Political angst gives no good answers to these questions.
Don’t put your hope in people. Our hope is not in a healthy USA. But our hope is in the next country, a “better country” (Hebrews 11:16). Until then, if we believe in God’s sovereignty, then whoever becomes our next president is exactly who God wants to be our next president. If he has ordained pagan kings for certain things in the past, then he can do it again while remaining completely in control and good at the same time, not responsible for or endorsing the evils they commit. So, let me say it again: Whatever happens in November is exactly what our good God intends to happen. Sleep well at night knowing that’s true. Put your hope in him and his plan for your life and for our country and world. And his plan is that more people come to know him — to believe in him for the forgiveness of their sins. He will do this, through the Church, no matter the state of our government.
Don’t care that much. Be informed. Read up on the issues. Pray for our country and our leaders as the Bible instructs. Then vote — or don’t vote — to the glory of God. You are free in the gospel to do either. But then, don’t care that much. This doesn’t excuse apathy, but it does encourage us to focus on where our true citizenship lies: with Christ, in heaven, with the hope of a new earth some day soon. Romans 14:17 says, “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit.” The Apostle Paul writes this to a church that was making food too central of an issue in the Christian life. But he wasn’t saying, “Don’t have any thoughts about food whatsoever.” Nor was he saying, “Don’t eat that much.” Nor, “Eat a lot!” But rather, “Don’t judge people either way; instead make it all about Jesus.” It’s the same with politics. Jesus’ kingdom subverts worldly kingdoms. It doesn’t christianize them or offer us hope though them. So the amount of care we put into politics (which can freely vary from Christian to Christian) should be greatly quelled in favor of our care for the gospel and our love for Jesus’s Church, even those in the church who we might consider political “enemies”. Because, in Christ, enemies become friends. But in politics, enemies stay enemies.
CHRIS WACHTER / LEAD PASTOR