Some Election Perspective
It is happening today: the election. And it is a big one, but it is not the ultimate election. Important decisions will be made one way or the other, but either way they will not be the last to be made. The outcome of this election will not be the final word on any of these issues that lie before us today.
A lot of people have a lot riding in this election. They have hopes and dreams and fears that they hope will be realized (or not) all based on who sits in the Oval Office come January 1, 2021. And sadly, if the 2016 election is any indicator, there will be a lot of despair across the nation no matter who it is.
But I want to write now to say that no matter who wins this election, which party holds the presidency, and how each state’s representatives come out, there is hope for those who follow Christ. There is hope for racial reconciliation and justice to be seen. There is hope for liberty and life. There is hope, not that we can bring heaven to earth, but that we can manifest His will through our love for our neighbor.
Therefore let us not grieve or even exult like the world does, both of which could lead to death (2 Corinthians 7:10, Psalms 146:3–5). Let us not act as if the universe hangs on this election. There have been important elections in the past and there will be important elections in the future.
I write this to try to serve up what Anton Ego requested from Linguini in Ratatouille, a little perspective. There is a bigger story out there than what is happening with the USA’s general election. This is but one paragraph in a grand narrative that will outlast all the current issues and news clippings.
And so I say, to the Trump/Republican supporters out there:
If Trump wins, there is still a lot of work to be done in making America great, whether or not you think it is already or was before or not. He will have an additional four years to make good on his promises, but unlike our rhetoric may suggest, the presidency does not bestow omnipotence. All will not be right in the world and there are a lot of uphill battles to be fought regarding abortion, governmental overreach, defining sexuality, maintaining religious liberty, etc. My hope is that your energy has not all been spent on getting one man into leadership. He is but one man and will do no good as a substitute for our King. Yes, he may do good things. But that does not exempt you from loving your neighbor, defending the vulnerable, or fighting for justice in your neighborhood or abroad.
If Trump loses, though, know that my prayers are with you. Scary times could lay ahead. There may be a lot of discomfort on the horizon. But I hope that we may not look at this future in dread, but rather with renewed energy to run the good race, to fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Christ was persecuted and if they persecuted our Master, they will persecute his followers (John 15:20). Christianity was made for discomfort. If you are comfortable in your faith (which I fear we are all too often) then there is space for you to dig deeper. Whatever the outcomes may be of a democratic president for the next four years, let us keep loving those around us as a witness to the Truth.
And then for the Biden/Democrat supporters out there:
If Biden wins, all the problems and divisions in this country will not be solved in the blink of an eye. There is work to be done at the top levels, sure. Passing laws to protect the vulnerable, provide for the overlooked, and punish wrongdoers. These are all good things that we hope Biden and the Democratic party would do. But that does not mean there is no trench work to be done. Having the ”proper” people in places of power does not let you off the hook of the daily interactions, hard interactions, with people who may look, think, speak, or act differently than you. Biden is no savior and being a part of the Democratic Party does not lead to salvation.
If Biden loses, though, know that my prayers are also with you. I have many whom I love who will be heartbroken and angry at this outcome and I will hurt along with you knowing the good that you hoped for will not come about as expected. But know this, the good for which you hoped or fought for is not lost. If this ends up being the case, whether we like it or not, we will see another four years under Trump and it would be our duty now to honor that authority (1 Peter 2:13–17), attempt to keep it in check, and to move forward on those issues which God has laid before us in the best way that we can.
I know that I cannot speak to every expectation and hope that someone may bring to election night. These are my thoughts, though, and I hope rather than coming across as overtly partisan one way or another, it helped bring some perspective to this event.
In closing, we serve a sovereign God who is passionate about issues that lay on both sides of the aisle. But we do not serve a red or blue god. We do not bow to a donkey or an elephant and we do not define ourselves as enemies of either. Our identity comes from above, our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and there is so much that He wants to accomplish in and through us for the good of His kingdom. And that purpose does not start with this people electing a president. It started when our God elected you for this day and we eagerly await his coming again.