The Light of Peace in Elections
Walter Bennett
Every year, in America and republics around the world, we enter a season of elections. Sometimes these elections are for local or regional political positions. Many contain various ballot measures that relate to laws and regulations. Less frequently we have elections that involve candidates for the entire country. These tend to be fraught with the most turmoil, angst, outright fear, anger, half-truths and lies on every side.
Let’s face it, we all tend to be pretty passionate about our freedoms, rights, and future paths, and we all have different opinions. The challenge is that this passion, fueled by the accompanying fear and anxiety felt in these times, has a tendency to lead Christians to become blinded to their faith. We can end up being seen by the world as no different than those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus.
In Romans 13: 1 we learn about God’s role in election time: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Well, in America, it is this election season of national scope in which we find ourselves today. Reading and watching election news from various outlets, it is clear that this will be one of, if not THE, most contentious election our country has ever faced. With an ear to the ground among the Christian circles I am engaged in, I rarely hear someone who is at complete peace in the process. The anxiety level of many is so high that it has become disruptive to their very lives. They become consumed with media regarding the election, focusing on the negative press for their candidate and every perceived evil of the others. It ties them up in knots, in some cases to the point of being genuinely unpleasant to be around.
This is not healthy physically, relationally, or spiritually. At times like these, we need to return to scripture and remember who is on the throne. The one we are told there is no authority except that which He has established Himself. In verse 2 of Romans 13, Paul goes on to say that “…whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do will bring judgment upon themselves.”
You see, regardless of how we feel about the ones who win positions in the election, we need to remember that they would not be there but for God. Even if the outcome seems to us like the worst possible one we could imagine, we have absolutely no idea what God has planned to redeem the situation, using it for good.
I am not suggesting that we don’t need to be involved at all. Absolutely we do. But not to the point of extremism where we are seen as no better than the world. We should be endorsing and voting for the candidates we truly feel would be the best for our country and for Christianity. But we should do it with gentleness and respect. Not wringing our hands over the possible outcomes, but having the peace of knowing that He is on the throne and in control. While I won’t tell anyone who I will vote for this November, I will tell them who I know will win – whoever God chooses. Whatever the outcome, we will need to ask God the question, “What would you have us do now to fulfill your purpose?”
