“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”
Romans 12:9-13
It’s inevitable that elections produce winners and losers. These are contests over important matters that affect the lives of millions. The competition over political office has become very intense and we are more likely these days to invest our personal identity or sense of well being in a particular party or candidate. For this reason, election results can sometimes be either devastating or exhilarating depending on where one stands. It can be an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least.
One of the benefits of a faith perspective is that we have guiding principles to turn to in all circumstances. We have values that we hold to whether we are “winning” or “losing.” When we are grounded in faith, what happens on election day does not change who we are. We are followers of Jesus, the one who held no party affiliation and competed for no person’s vote. Our aspirations on Tuesday are the same as our aspirations on Wednesday: we aspire to live out our faith—feeding the hungry, pleading the case of the poor, seeking the lost and lonely, caring for the sick, accompanying the dying, comforting the grieving, welcoming the stranger, and making a place for the outcast. There is so much work to be done that can impact the lives of people near and far. As a church we are called to do this work together regardless of our political affiliations.
So, I hope you were able to vote your conscience. It’s important to be active citizens, invested in the outcome of our elections. But when all is said and done, I encourage you to remember that whatever happens, God has work for us to do together as people of faith. That work is important and it comes from Scriptures that have endured through the rise and fall of many nations. Receive the yoke of this eternal calling, and you too will rejoice in the knowledge that all will be well.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Jen
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