Editorial: Faith, politics and the true Kingdom of God
In case you missed it, it’s election season in America.…
Editorial: Now what?
The most basic command of our faith dictates our post-election response.
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The 2024 presidential election is over. Finally.
The long, bitter campaign left behind a tired and divided nation — and church.
At least the outcome was clear, trusted and accepted by both sides. That, in itself, brings relief.
Related: Editorial: Faith, politics and the true Kingdom of God
Voting is, by nature, divisive. Every election has winners and losers. But 2024 felt different.
True or untrue, the stakes felt higher. Apocalyptic accusations flew both ways. Christians who worship in the same place differed sharply over how best to engage the conversation.
In too many cases, our desire to gain political power co-opted our witness to the Gospel. Too many Christians allowed Satan to disguise political promises made by flawed candidates as if they were the word of Almighty God.
“In too many cases, our desire to gain political power co-opted our witness to the Gospel. Too many Christians allowed Satan to disguise political promises made by flawed candidates as if they were the word of Almighty God.”
With every election, voters choose between competing values and goals. No party or candidate ever offers a pure platform of the Kingdom of God. We simply vote for the person or candidate we think moves the country a bit closer to biblical values. Unfortunately, the choice is not always clear. And when deciding based on the “lesser of two evils,” it’s not always easy to determine the lesser.
How do you vote if you believe all life is sacred and to be protected, whether as a baby in the womb, a pregnant mother or an immigrant dreamer with no other home? What options are there for someone who believes “God made them male and female” as a reflection of his image — and yet no one should be demeaned and ill-treated, even if they believe gender is fluid?
Can the character of the candidate be considered apart from their policies? Or should we close our eyes to moral failings in support of certain policies?
Christians who wrestled with the 2024 election asked these honest questions. Every vote required a degree of compromise, some acceptance of flaws and an acknowledgment that the American system pales when compared to the Kingdom of God.
“How can someone be a Christian and vote for that candidate?”
Hear a panel of preachers discuss how to talk about politics in the local church in Episode 94 of The Christian Chronicle Podcast, recorded from the Norton Colloquium at the 101st Harding University Lectureship.
Perhaps it’s because we all struggled with difficult issues, presented only with imperfect options. This realization should give us a sense of grace in interacting with our brothers and sisters. Some Christians chose to abstain from voting because they felt the compromise was too great. Others supported differing candidates, hoping their policies or character, though imperfect, might move the culture in a godlier direction.
Now the question becomes how we move past the election and minister to a country in need of Christ. Our task has not changed. We are still sent to “seek first the Kingdom of God,” “make disciples of all nations” and “do justice, show mercy and walk humbly with our God.” Can we get an amen?
“We must confess that our anxiety over the outcome is partly rooted in a lack of faith in the power of God.”
Perhaps we begin with confession and repentance. We must confess that our anxiety over the outcome is partly rooted in a lack of faith in the power of God. We must repent for allowing Satan to lure us into thinking God’s plan is dependent on any human political system.
And once we have done that, we must return to the most basic command of our faith: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind … and love your neighbor as yourself.”
JEREMIE BELLER is opinions editor for The Christian Chronicle. He is dean of Bible and director of church relations for Oklahoma Christian University. He serves as the congregational minister for the Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.
