5 Things Christians Should Remember This Election Cycle

Last updated on: February 17, 2019 at 9:25 am by Benjamin L. Corey

5 Things Christians Should Remember This Election Cycle 2019-02-17T09:25:15-05:00 Benjamin L. Corey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

So, here we are. It’s another election cycle and the “fun” has begun.

Like it or not, for the next 13 months the news cycle is going to be dominated by presidential politics. There will be plenty of articles to read, debates to watch, and discussions to be had.

It’s all part of American tradition.

However, for those of us who profess to follow Jesus of Nazareth, it is of critical importance to remember that our behavior must not be driven by American tradition, but must be something driven by our identities as Christ-followers. In light of that, here are 5 things I think fellow Christians should keep in mind this election cycle:

1. Remember the Bible teaches us to not place any of our hope for the future in political leaders.

On the day after an election, I’m often shocked at the power of a political loss (or victory) to impact Christian attitudes. Most especially after a loss, it’s amazing to see how so many Christians express dismay and fear that all hope for the future is lost. The reason why this often occurs is because we have a silent form of idolatry in the American Church: putting our hope in a political Messiah instead of the actual Messiah. The Bible issues strong warnings against this– instead instructing us to not “put confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there” (Psalm 146:3). If watching your preferred candidate lose the election would throw you into a sea of pessimism, it’s likely that you have placed your hope and confidence into a political idol instead of Jesus.

This election cycle, may we refrain from the sinful desire to place our hope in a political leader– as Christians, the only source of our hope is Jesus Christ who alone is Lord.

2. Remember that Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God.

I hate to break it to folks, but the “Kingdom of God” and “America” are not synonyms. As Jesus followers our loyalty is to a different Kingdom, one that Jesus claimed was not of this world (John 18:36). Furthermore, we’re actually called to live here, not as American citizens, but as immigrants from another place– people who are called to live out our time as foreigners, immigrants, and exiles (1 Peter 1:17, 1 Peter 2:11). This unique calling to serve God’s Kingdom should, at a minimum, invite Christians in America to really take a moment to reconsider the time, attention and efforts often given to the American political process, compared to those given to the Kingdom.

Regardless of your political persuasion, it’s easy to spend more time getting sucked into American politics than we spend on actual Kingdom initiatives– so let’s be mindful of that. If your political involvement is overshadowing tangible Kingdom work, you’re likely seeking a worldly Kingdom first.

3. Remember the Kingdom of God is not advanced by power, might, or political force.

One of the first things that happened in the ministry of Jesus is that he rejected the offer of political power, but for 1700 years (post-Constantine) his followers have been trying to do precisely the opposite. You don’t need your “side” to win in order to advance the Kingdom of God, because it doesn’t work that way. Taking control of the government isn’t how we as Jesus followers are called to do our jobs: we’re called to be servants who are busy making the world a better place right where we are.

While many Christians are waiting to “take America back” before they do much earthly good, God is looking to us to be agents of reconciliation right here, right now, and without the need to have power or control.

4. Remember we should strive to be people who embody gentleness, and who control our tongues when having disagreements.

I admit it, I suck at this one, so this is for me as much as it is for you. Scripture repeatedly tells us to be gentle (Gal. 5:22-23), we’re told to exercise caution over the words that flow out of our mouths (Prov. 21:23), and that the ultimate evidence we are the people of God is our ability to love others (John 13:35). Some of us struggle with this more than others, and election season is perhaps the most appropriate moments to remind ourselves of this. (I probably tell myself, “Just walk away, Ben. Just walk away.” a dozen times a day.)

What’s far more important than political purity and winning arguments is the testimony of our ability and willingness to love one another. May we, the people of God, make love and gentleness our highest priority.

5. For those who decide to engage the political process, may you remember that your political party doesn’t have a monopoly on Jesus.

I’m the guy who wrote a letter to his grandmother (a democrat) telling her she wasn’t a true Christian because she wasn’t a republican. Sadly, she passed away before I repented of my old ways. However, it’s a common mistake to think that one political party has a monopoly on Jesus. Because of the powers of culture, it is almost second nature to read your political beliefs into Jesus instead of reading Jesus into your political beliefs. When this happens, one becomes quick to assume that anyone who disagrees must not be a “true” Christian.

Jesus isn’t a republican or a democrat, he’s completely “other.” Neither party embodies the teaching and example of Jesus. Feel led to participate in secular politics? Fine– engage it and be an educated voter. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that Jesus is a member of your particular political party, because Jesus is his own political party.

…

Election season is part of American tradition. It can be fun. It can be entertaining. But for those of us who profess to follow Jesus, may we remember to strive to live by the culture of a different Kingdom.

Political

Election

politics

Previous Post

September 15, 2015

Bernie Is Right: Morality Is More Than Abortion & Gay Marriage

Next Post

September 17, 2015 And Here's Donald Trump Referencing Part of the Bible That Doesn't Exist:

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abuse Adoption Asked & Answered Atheism Atonement Bible Book Calvinism Christian Culture Christian Nonviolence Christmas Church Church Killing Lies Community Creation Care Creationism End Times Evergreen Forgiveness Fundamentalism Gender Gender Equality Ghosting Grief Guns Healthcare Hell Hermeneutics Holy Land Human Trafficking Hunger Immigration Islam Israel Jesus Justice Lent Letting Go Of Hell Series LGBT Life Mark Driscoll Missiology Most Popular Posts Nationalism Old Testament Open Theism Parenting Persecution Political Poverty Prayer Pro-Life Pro-llife ethic Progressive Christianity Prosperity Gospel Put It To Bed Series Race Sincere Questions Suicide Prevention That God Show Theology To Those Christians Who Say Travel Unafraid Uncategorized War What Franklin Graham Is Wrong About Today

Select a Month October 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz