After The Election
In a few days, the election will be over. You might be reading this and feeling anxiety over who will be the victor, or even if we will have a clear election winner.It seems that there is more anxiety over this election than I’ve sensed in years’ past. Four years ago, there was a huge divide in people’s emotional reaction to the result, because most of us were certain of the outcome, even though we wound up being wrong. And we immediately felt the huge divide in the country, even among Christians. This year, there seems to be less certainty about the outcome, and a lot more anger and anxiety on both sides.So how should Christians respond?I’m not telling you how to vote. You’ve already decided that. But I’m supposed to tell you how to respond to the outcome. The apostle Paul wrote to 2 different pastors instructing them on what they should tell the people in their churches about politics.To Titus, the lead guy in multiple congregations in Crete, he wrote: “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1-2 ESV).To Timothy, the pastor in Ephesus, he said: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV).Please remember, the government leaders in Paul’s world were terribly corrupt, ruthless, and were actively persecuting Christians at the time that he wrote this. How much more should this be true of us?I’m not expecting the world to respond to the election this way. There will probably be vitriol spewed by the talking heads on TV, lashing out by coworkers, neighbors, and some of your family members. Social media will probably be almost unreadable. There might be more rioting in the streets. People in the world who do not have reason to trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness in the aftermath of disappointment are expected to divide, fight, and throw temper tantrums.But we are not people of the world. We are followers of Jesus, citizens of heaven. We are called to be light in the darkness. This world needs to see us differently. Calm, reasonable, gracious, and full of faith.So whoever you vote for…it’s your reaction to this election that will make more of a difference, and that difference might be eternal for those who are watching you.