So, we have a new President.
Which I’m sure makes half the people I know happy, or 50.7%
And half unhappy, roughly 49.3%
However somewhere in these stats may be people who just don’t care.
This was a tense election. Bad blood on both sides and in the middle. I feel like we would be remiss not to acknowledge the events of the week. As I often do, I went searching to see what those more learned than I had to say. Here are the thoughts of Dr. Barrett Mosbacker, the Head of School at Westminster Academy in St. Louis, MO
A Biblical Response to a Presidential Election
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3
At the time of this writing, I do not know who will win the election. But, I am sure some will celebrate the results, while others will be disappointed, even despairing. Regardless of the outcome or whom we voted for, I am writing to encourage us to respond with hearts and minds at peace, trusting God, who ‘removes kings and sets up kings.’ I’m also writing to encourage us to show respect for all, neither gloating over nor demeaning the ‘other side.’
Elections and the Providence of God
Though the world is frequently in turmoil with political strife, God calls his people to remain firmly anchored in an unwavering trust in His good and wise providence. Providence is a word seldom used by contemporary Christians. That is unfortunate because understanding the doctrine of providence can bring peace to anxious hearts and minds.
Theologians define providence as God’s active role in sustaining, guiding, and governing everything that happens, including human decisions, for His purposes and glory. He works through secondary causes—for instance, the laws of physics and human choices—to accomplish His will. Nothing happens by chance because God is working out His will in all events, both good and evil (Isaiah 45:7)1, for His glory and the good of His church: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What is true for the individual believer is true for the universal church in all places, at all times, in all circumstances. It is true for all Christians, regardless of the outcome of any election. If God does not control all things, including the outcome of an election, Romans 8:28 cannot be true.
Trusting God’s providence does not mean that the outcome of an election is unimportant or that we should stoically ignore the issues at stake. Elections matter, and we are called to be biblically informed, responsible citizens. However, the lasting peace Jesus promises is not dependent on election results. It comes by placing our trust in God and His wise, holy, and sovereign Providence.
Biblical Responses to Election Results
I encourage us to respond biblically, regardless of the election’s outcome. Jesus calls Christians to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–14). To faithfully fulfill this calling, our words and actions must be distinct from the world’s. Here are a few ways we can faithfully live as salt and light.
PRAY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Prayer should be our first response before and after an election. Paul instructs us to pray for our leaders regardless of party or our vote. He urges Timothy: “First of all, then, 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” (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Prayer is a holy response and more effective than our anger or anxiety. Pray; don’t panic.
HONOR AUTHORITIES
God commands us to obey and honor civil authorities unless they command us to disobey Him. As Titus 3:1–2 instructs: “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”—which includes all government officials and the “other side,” regardless of party and whether we voted for them or not. Similarly, Peter says, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17).
OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD
Paul tells us that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are not of this world (2 Corinthians 10:3ff). In Romans 12:21, he tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Unrighteous anger (James 1:20) and verbal abuse, online or offline, are of this world; they are not of the Holy Spirit. We overcome evil not through unrighteous anger and lashing out but by embodying the gospel in our conversations and actions. We overcome evil by promoting justice and righteousness and by reflecting the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23). The fruit of the Spirit is in sharp contrast to the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21).
We are to be people reflecting the fruit of the Spirit, not the works of the flesh.
THE BLESSING OF PEACE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS
A biblical response to the election’s outcome will promote unity and peace. Several passages speak to the importance of being peacemakers:
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).
As we gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving, the election outcome will inevitably come up, possibly leading to heated discussions. This presents a valuable opportunity for each of us to be a peacemaker amid political disagreement. It is a prime moment for us to model the gospel’s power to transform lives and promote peace, regardless of our perspective on the outcome of an election.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the outcome of the election, may these words from Paul encourage us to be people of inward and outward peace:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15).
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
We will soon know the election results. As we contemplate them, remember we are to be people of faith, not fear, people of courage, not contempt or cynicism, and people filled with wisdom, not worry.
Let us anchor our hearts and souls to faith in God’s good, wise, and sovereign providence so that we may be at peace with ourselves and others and be shining lights of gospel truth in a dark world.
Dr. Barrett Mosbacker
Legacy Christian Academy is Frisco’s preeminent Pre-K through 12 Christian school committed to educating students in a college preparatory environment balanced in academics, athletics, and fine arts–all within the context of a biblical worldview.
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To sum all this up, a friend of mine posted this on Facebook, the day of the election. I love her heart.
And you may wonder what I’m going to do tomorrow. And I can tell you.
I am going to find people who are marginalized and I’m going to love them exactly as they are.
I am going to continue to never pick one set of people to make fun of and be cruel to or dehumanize or bolster my perceived goodness by pointing out or posting about their “Sin” when I’m nowhere near perfect myself.
I am going to let every person know that they are adored by God.
I will tell my granddaughters that they are strong and powerful and that they are completely capable of making their own decisions and I have enough trust in their morals and ethics to know they will make the right ones.
I will be a completely 100% authentic and nonjudgmental listener in a world where that gets harder to find every day.
I will not tell anyone what they need to change about themselves.
I will not require anyone to be one drop less or more than exactly who they are to treat them like I would want to be treated.
So, if you’re out there in the world, and you are one of the not normal people, one of the misunderstood people, one of the scared to speak your truth people, no matter where you were born, no matter your choices, no matter how you dress, no matter any of those things…
I am right here.
And we can sit quietly.
And we can throw out all of the judgment, control, guilt, and shame that the world says you deserve.
And we can.
Human to human.
Find lovely things like hope, and peace, and kinship .
That no amount of hate in the world can ever possibly take away.
Signing out for a bit but I’m just a message away.
* * *
I suspect we’ll see some changes over the months to come. Some we may like, some we may not. As believers, we need to remember we are not of this world. We see this on bumper stickers and coffee cups, but it is not a cliché.
We. Are. Not. Of. This. World.
But as we walk this earth. We can:
Envision a revolution of acceptance,
Pray for our world to heal,
Lead those that are lost to Jesus,
And love …
We can love.
For God and you,
Deb Bostwick
Singles Blogger