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Mending Our Divisions Over Elections – How Can Faith Help?

Mending Our Divisions Over Elections – How Can Faith Help?

Last updated on: November 1, 2024 at 7:00 am by Rick Rice

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Mending Our Divisions Over Elections – How Can Faith Help? 2024-10-31T19:51:47-04:00 Rick Rice

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Our country is probably more divided than it’s ever been. Campaigns seem to emphasize an “us vs. them” mentality. What part can Christian faith play in mending our divisions over elections?

Mending Our Divisions: Personal Aspects of Faith

How can our faith help us personally to move beyond the negative emotions that election season engenders?

First, we need to keep our priorities straight. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). When political matters – elections, issues, debates, etc. – take our attention away from spiritual matters, we certainly experience the emotional toll of division. Remember: Jesus’ call for us to seek first God’s kingdom includes a reminder for us to not worry about the things that the world worries about (see Matthew 6:25-32).

Second, we need to be careful what we’re “consuming” spiritually. I remember a computer phrase from my college days: “Garbage in, garbage out.” That phrase reminds us that a computer’s “work” is only as good as the raw material – data and instructions – that we give it. In the same way, if we “feed” our hearts negativity, anger, bitterness, and division, we should not be surprised that we need help healing after an election!

That does not mean that we should ignore the political process, or separate ourselves from it. It simply means that we should not make the mistake of thinking that the political system is “the answer.” Unfortunately, believers of both political persuasions have at times placed too much hope in politics – and suffer disappointment and frustration when the system does not deliver. Mending our divisions starts with getting our priorities right.

Mending Our Divisions: Corporate Aspects of Faith

Of course, Christian faith is not exclusively an individual matter. At times, we tend to view it that way, because our culture elevates the individual over the “body.” As a pastor, I’ve seen that happen in regard to people’s participation in local churches – and their willingness to move from one church to another in search of what they “need.” But that individualistic focus also impacts the way we view politics, in the way that we relate to others who may not agree with us. At times, that division is fueled by our interpretation of Scripture which calls God’s people to be “set apart.” So how do we respond to that?

Scriptural Guidance

There are some Scriptures that I think we need to keep in mind. First, Jesus calls us not to judge one another – meaning that we don’t pronounce eternal judgment on others. That doesn’t mean that we believe that “anything goes”; instead, it means that we leave the question of whether someone is “really” a Christian to God. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand…But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:4, 10).

Second, if we’re going to view things Scripturally – as I believe we should – we have to take all of Scripture into account. We cannot pick and choose which commands and statements are more important than others. When we do that, we will quickly recognize that no political party, no platform, and no candidate fully embraces Biblical principles. People on one “side” of the political divide point to passages which argue against abortion. Those on the other “side” remind us that Scripture also says for us to care for the aliens and strangers among us. This is not an either/or situation; God calls us to do both. And much more.

Mending Our Divisions: Protecting the Unity of the Body

The point is that if neither party and no candidate fully embraces and embodies what the Bible calls us to do, then we of necessity have to choose. And let’s give people the benefit of the doubt and recognize that not everyone will choose the same way. Christians do that in many other areas which are secondary issues. For instance, some believers insist that baptism must be by immersion; others hold that other methods are acceptable. Some abstain from alcohol, while others believe that alcohol use in moderation is permissible. If we can “agree to disagree” on these matters which impact our faith, why can’t we do so with politics? Who are we to judge another man’s servant?

I have read too many articles or posts about people who say that people who vote a certain way aren’t welcome at “their” church. Whose church is it? Isn’t it Jesus’s church? As a spiritual descendant of John Wesley, I always go back to his challenge to the members of his movement: if you have the right to vote, vote without fee or reward for the candidate you deem most worthy; to speak no evil against the other candidate; and to “take care that [your] spirits are not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.” If we follow that advice, we will start to heal our divisions – at least within the Church.

What Did Jesus Say?

I’ve already referenced Jesus’ direction for us to not judge one another and to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. What else did Jesus say that might help us – individually and collectively – to move beyond the division that our political process has created?

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36).
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant” (Luke 22:25-26).
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but for all those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; just as. You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).

The Fruit of the Spirit

So what does that tell us? It tells us that Jesus’ priority is the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of this world. He came to usher God’s kingdom into this world – not through the governments and structures of secular society, but through transformed people. His kingdom is not of this world; He came to seek and to save the lost. The best evidence for the truth of the Gospel is the unity of those who follow Jesus – not our arguments, nor our political positions, but the fruit of the Spirit evident in us.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:19-26).

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