What Will We Do
After the Election?
I must admit
that I will be glad when this election is finished. It has not been a great
experience. Yes, we have the typical array of campaign ads from Republicans and
Democrats alike. We have seen campaign ads from organizations backing one of
the two candidates. We have seen presidential, senatorial, house, and other
candidates tell us all about how bad their opponent would be if elected. But,
you may say, “Isn’t it always this way at election time?” Yes. But it has
seemed worse this year. However this is not what has bothered me. I want to
talk about the Church. Not any one Church, but the Church in America as a
whole.
Over the last
year I have seen the Christian community engage in a number of actions of which
I was heart-broken:
1.
I have seen Christians from both sides engage in
mean-spirited and inappropriate talk both in person and on social media (this
seems to be the easiest place to be harsh).
2.
I have heard, read, and seen the watering down
to almost at times full acceptance of a theological cult in order to support a
political party (when a year ago many of these individuals would have said and
did say, ‘no way!’). This is not to say the person in question is not a very
moral man or that he would not be a good leader. But his beliefs are not Christian.
3.
I have seen Christians come close to ostracizing
or shunning those who are of the opposite political party. We are to ‘love one
another’ and ‘accept one another’ (Rom. 15:7). We are brothers and sisters in
Christ.
4.
I have heard and read of Christians flippantly
talking about praying for the President by choosing obscure passages that are
not in the spirit of ‘praying for’ our leaders. It is rare that we will always
agree with or approve what the President, Senators, etc. are doing, but Biblically,
we are to pray for them and be respectful. (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-2)
5.
It seems that the Church has been obsessed with
the upcoming election to an extent that we have taken our eyes off what our
primary purposes are all about.
Do I believe
that Christians should be involved in the political process? Yes! We must be ‘salt
and light’ in this dark world. And, yes, this is an important election. But,
every Presidential election is important. But, what are we telling the world
about Jesus when we model the same kind of behavior as those outside the Church?
So I want to pose some questions and thoughts about what we will do after the
election:
1.
What are we going to post on Facebook and
Twitter if our candidate does not win? Are we going to see four years of complaining
and bad mouthing those elected? Maybe we should instead pray for our leaders
that they may be God led and successful. Pray for their spiritual guidance.
2.
What are we going to do if our candidate wins?
Are we still going to trash talk and blame every problem that occurs over the
next four years on the previous administration?
3.
How are we going to respond to those who did not
vote? I know of several Godly men and women who because of theological
convictions feel that they cannot support nor vote for either candidate. Are we
going to relate to them in a Biblical way, showing grace and understanding?
4.
What will anyone talk about at Church when the
election is over? We may have to find a completely new enemy to fight. Let me
make a few suggestions:
a. What
about sharing the good news of Jesus?
b. How
about getting excited about what our Churches either can or are doing?
c. How
about investing some time getting to know someone and discipling them?
d. How
about volunteering to do what your Pastor thinks needs to be done at the
Church?
e. How
about committing to be as zealous about Spiritual matters as you were about
political matters?
f.
How about instead of ‘suggesting’ a ministry,
you volunteer to ‘do’ a ministry?
g. What
about serving the community through your Church? Step out and take a risk. After
all, ministry is risky. Just ask Jesus!
h. And
on and on…..
Let us get
back to being the Church that shines a light in a dark world. Let people once
again ‘know us by our love’ and not by what we are against. Let us covenant to
live our lives knowing that whoever wins, Jesus is still Lord and King. Let us do
all things to the glory of God. The election of 2012 will soon be behind,
serving Jesus is still ahead. Bringing glory to God should be our theme. I’ve
spotted the truth, have you?
Jeff Woolum, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Perrysburg, OH
