Living In The Wake Of The Presidential Election
While on a trip to upstate New York earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice how people filled their sprawling lawns with signs supporting either of the 2020 U.S. presidential candidates like badges of honor. From one-of-a-kind handcrafted signs to mass produced ones, it was clear who these residents were supporting in the upcoming election.
I didn’t have to travel far to see the polarizing ends of the spectrum. At my fingertips, my social media feeds show how divided my friends, family and the nation at large are. Their political posts are always there, and it’s been so hard to get away from all the noise both parties are making.
With so many ideas, posts and ads visible on our phones, we can feel overwhelmed. It’s hard to read an article and process all the information we read especially when we feel like we need to look up every other word.
It is tempting to “snooze” or ”unfollow” people whose opinion differs from ours because if we are being honest, it’s daunting. It takes energy to truly listen to someone’s reasons for voting for any given candidate; even more so when they have completely different views from us. Paul warns Titus and us to “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9).
Thankfully, we aren’t called to be Democrats or Republicans. Our call as children of God is to bring Him glory,to know Him and trust the redeeming work of the cross and the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Phillippians 1:27 we are called to ”live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”
What does that look like?
Don’t be slothful!
This encompasses many things in the time of elections. First, do your research! Whether you’re voting in a new councilwoman, mayor, senator or president, know where candidates stand regarding main issues. After you’ve done your research and prayed, go vote!
In relationships with others, be willing to engage people with different views in respectful discussions. This one is tricky, but when we are proactive about listening to others, we are willing to invest time and build relationships. While it may be easier to avoid someone based on their posts on Facebook or completely disengage from a conversation, this season can be an opportunity to spend time with them.
Which leads me to my next point:
Love your neighbor
When you spend time with someone who disagrees with you, insteading of trying to counter every single one of their points; simply listen to them. In a world where people depend on a quick “like” or “Happy Birthday” on social media to feel validated, take time to value someone by fostering a relationship despite political preferences. We are called to love our neighbor, even when their bumper sticker has the opponents’ last names on it.
Trust
What if your candidate doesn’t win? What if you feel like both contenders are unfit for the job?
Peter writes to believers who were not only living in a time in which they vehemently disagreed with the Roman emperor, but they were in exile and feared for their lives:
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17).
Even though the stakes aren’t as high now, trust that no matter who moves into the White House on Jan. 20, 2021, God is still on His throne. He has already appointed who will be our next president. We can trust His sovereignty, not only in our lives, but in the history of this country.
Ask yourself what God is trying to show the church in the United States during the next presidency. The last part of Phillipians 1:27 states that the church stands united, “standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” That is our mission, who we as Christians are called to be and what we are called to do, regardless of the political climate in our divided state.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meagan Gutierrez is a kindergarten teacher in New York City. She is married to her best friend and together they love to travel and eat good food. In her spare time, Meagan loves to serve others and enjoys reading!