After the Election
After crazy debates and a difficult political season, many people have remarked how ready they are for the election to be over. But are they? Are you? How should Christians respond if their favored presidential candidate wins? Loses? If they dislike both candidates?
Wicked Government. Have you ever read the book of Romans? It was written to a church living in the center of the Roman control which was often noted for its harsh, cruel, and totalitarian government system. It would not be an overstatement to call this Roman government wicked. Although our government is evil and wicked in many aspects, it is still relatively distant from the wickedness of the Roman government.
Persecuted Christians. Within two decades of Jesus’ resurrection (A.D. 49) , Jewish Christians in Rome were forced to leave the city by the Emperor Claudius (see Acts 18:2 and the Roman historian Suetonius). This is the same governmental system that would later arrest and martyr Paul. The Roman historian Tacitus and others describe how Christians, because they refused to worship the Roman gods and participate in their sacrifices, were falsely accused and then tortured and killed in mass.
“Mockery of every kind was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car.” (Annals of Tacitus, Book XV, p.305)
This is not share as a form of fear mongering. Such prior Christian suffering should help us keep our current political situation in perspective and drive us to be prepared for whatever level of persecution we may face in our future.
Obey God first. On rare occasions Christians are allowed to disobey their governmental rulers, but only when they are forced into a situation where they would otherwise be disobedient to God (Exodus 1:17, 1 Kings 18:4-16, Esther 4:16, Daniel 3:12-18; 6:10, Matthew 2:12, and Hebrews 11:23). These examples give us courage to boldly demonstrate our primary love for Jesus above our own lives and welfare. Peter and the apostles declared that “we must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29 ESV) when told to keep silent about Jesus. May we be faithful to proclaim God’s love, no matter the governmental consequences.
Obey government second. Modern day Christians should be reminded that God wrote to Roman Christians who were going significant suffering. What did God say to them? He told them to “be subject to the governing authorities.” (Romans 13:1) Even under evil, wicked government God reminds them that He has a plan and purpose. God warns that we should not resist such leadership, because “whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment”(Romans 13:2). God even tells Christians in an evil Roman empire to “honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13-17). This might be a tough pill to swallow in a day and age when our main two presidential candidates are so strongly disliked.
Pray always. Are we tempted to complain more about politicians or to pray more for politicians? No doubt there is plenty of material to complain about…but that same material could fuel our prayer lives. God urges make us to make “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1)-2. That is easy to do for friends, family, and politicians we like…but what about those politicians and parties that leave a bad taste in our mouth after we talk about them. Let’s pray for our leaders, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,” even when an election doesn't seem to go our way.
Seek the Welfare. Our votes matter and communicate who and what we support. Even if your favored candidate may not win, it is not a wasted vote. God tells us to “seek the welfare” of where He has sent us because “in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:4). One of the best ways we can seek the welfare of our nation, state, and community is by voting in a biblically informed manner in a few weeks.
The election will be over soon. How will you think, feel, speak, and act? Let’s make plans now to honor God in our post-election response.