Guidance for Christians in an Election Year 

The Bible provides clear instruction for Christian living, including what our responsibility is when it comes to politics and voting in elections.  God has placed us right where we are to be His ambassadors, sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with others.  We are called to be salt and light, so we must engage in our community – at work, school, neighborhood, church, and beyond. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:13-15) 

How do we do this?  We read the Bible and pray daily, asking for God’s wisdom and love as we interact with others in our spiritually decaying world.  Our actions should match our words, or we’ll come across as self-righteous hypocrites - and we must not let our anger control us.  “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”  (James 1:19-20)  

Pray for our local, state, and national leaders.  “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-2) 

Pray for our judicial system and officers of the courts.  “He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’”  (2 Chronicles 19:5-7) 

Lastly, get informed about candidates and ballot issues and VOTE.  It is a God-given privilege to vote and our opportunity to stand for what is good and stand against evil.  Look to the Bible for what God deems good and evil so we’ll know how to vote on candidates and ballot issues.  No one is perfect except our Lord Jesus Christ, but we can discern which candidates and ballot issues align the most with what we believe.  Our votes can make all the difference.  “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  (Ephesians 6:13)

God’s word reminds us that our home is in heaven, that though we are in the world we are not of the world, and not to love the things of this world. Some church leaders and Christians believe the bible says that we are to stay out of politics and government altogether. However, scripture also tells us that we are to stand for good and fight against evil. Sound confusing? Not really, when you understand God’s word in its proper context. Read Jeff Hunt’s (Director of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University) compelling article, “Why Christians Should Defend Godly Principles in Local Government,” for clarity and encouragement. “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.” - C.S. Lewis

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:20-21)

What does it mean to “Love Your Enemies?”  

As Jesus was teaching during his ministry on earth, his followers found some of his commands difficult to understand, even confusing.  Jesus’ command to “love your enemies” was one of them.  Bear in mind that his listeners were living in the brutal and oppressive Roman Empire, which at its height spread over nearly two million square miles around the Mediterranean Sea, in both Europe and Africa.  Jesus and his followers didn’t just have annoying or rude people in their lives, they had barbaric and murderous enemies.  

Why would Jesus ask us to love our enemies?  Because Jesus loved us first and paid for our sins by dying on the cross, even while we were his enemies.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)  When we confess our sins, ask for his forgiveness, and invite him to come into our lives as our Lord and Savior, he does so and expects us to extend love and forgiveness to those who have wronged us as well.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:43-45  

Most of us won’t encounter enemies like those in Jesus’ time, but we’ve all experienced some level of hurt, betrayal, hatred, or other abuses.  So, how do we love our enemies?  We can only do this with God’s supernatural love working in and through us.  This doesn’t mean we forget what our enemies have done nor allow them to harm us further, but in faith and obedience we tell Jesus all about it, let his love work in and through us, and leave the consequences to him.  “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary:  ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  (Romans 12:17-21)

God’s Cure for Racism

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Billy Graham were spiritual giants who changed millions of lives because of their steadfast devotion to Jesus Christ, and by fulfilling His unique plans for their lives.  Both men came from humble backgrounds and lived in the South during the tumultuous, violent days when America was struggling with racism, inequality, and segregation.  God had paralleling missions (to preach the gospel and confront racism) for King and Graham, and their paths would eventually cross.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:39)   

King was a young Alabama minister in the early 1950s, while Graham had been holding crusades across the country since the late 1940s.  In 1952, Graham took a stand for race equality in Mississippi by refusing to segregate crusade attendees.  After the Rosa Parks bus incident in 1955, King agreed to become the leader of a boycott of the bus company; his decision would eventually make him the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. 

Soon after becoming acquainted, Graham asked King to open one of his crusades with prayer in 1957, as well as to speak at a staff retreat to help them “understand the racial situation in America more fully.”  As racial tensions grew in the 1960s, Graham cancelled a tour in Europe to preach a series of crusades in Alabama.  Both men continued to preach and pray for an end to racism, and God answered. In 1964, the U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act which outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, required equal access to public places and employment, and enforced desegregation of schools and the right to vote.   “So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  (Galatians 3:28)

The United States of America was founded on timeless Judeo-Christian principles, and has been the symbol of freedom and liberty to millions of people for nearly two and a half centuries. Read the “1776 Commission - Final Report” to refresh your knowledge of American History and rekindle your love for our remarkable country. Find out what your child’s school is teaching about American history and make sure it’s unbiased and historically accurate

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)