With tension and turmoil in the air as Election Day nears in the United States, how can we remain close to the Lord and our brothers and sisters?

First, some scriptures that may help us fight our temptation to live our lives on social media, which we know is both a wonderful tool for spiritual encouragement but also a hotline to a whole assortment of bad temptations that can lead easily to sin and horrible consequences. We’ve changed the pronouns in these verses to minister more directly to the hearts of our female readers: 

1 Peter 4: 11

If anyone speaks, she should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, she should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs 29:11

A fool gives full vent to her anger, but a wise woman keeps herself under control. 

While not intending to minimize anyone’s suffering, nor compare experiences, it may provide some relief or additional helpful perspective to think about and pray about the many nations around the world that will have, or have had, presidential elections in 2020: Croatia, Taiwan, Togo, Burundi, Malawi, Iceland, Poland, Belarus, Bolivia, Ivory Coast, the USA, and others. 

Many other nations held parliamentary elections, and quite a few elections scheduled for this year have been delayed due to COVID-19. (Source:  https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/elections-2020.htm)

1 Peter 4:12

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Wage war in prayer. A tough but valuable question I ask myself: how much time and energy am I spending fretting, venting, gossiping – all huge temptations around election time – in comparison with the time I spend on my knees in prayer about my concerns? The Bible is full of examples of our brothers and sisters whose lives were personally traumatized by the terrible decisions of ungodly political leaders and their selfish policies -- Esther, Daniel, Jesus, just for starters, come immediately to mind. 

1 Timothy 2:1-5

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. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus….

It might be a good time to read the book, Escaping the Beast: Politics, Allegiance, and the Kingdom, by our brother in Christ Michael Burns.  This is the description from the back of the book:

Some disciples of Jesus are deeply political and become extremely passionate about their beliefs, even to the point of creating divides within the body of Christ. Can this be what God wants for the people of his kingdom? On the other end of the spectrum are disciples who have turned their faith into an exercise of piety, spurning any involvement in politics whatsoever. This may sound spiritual, but can a faith that has nothing to say about the injustices and inequalities of the world really be what Jesus had in mind with the kingdom of God?

These are questions that we must wrestle with. Should we embrace politics in the church? Doesn't that open us up to inherent divisions that will constantly separate us? Should we avoid politics completely? But can we be comfortable with a political approach that, were we living in the nineteenth century, would keep us out of the fray and comfortable with not commenting on or fighting against a political evil like slavery?

In this book, Michael Burns addresses these issues head-on. He lays out a comprehensive examination of the scriptural worldview of the kingdom and how that calls us to approach our discipleship and our place in the world. He then considers the role of nations and the politics of the nations and where the kingdom of God stands in those domains. He then examines the more practical elements of how a Christian community should navigate through the murky waters of worldly politics and specific issues. His goal is not to provide absolute answers but to show how we might work our way through difficult and thorny topics with a kingdom-minded approach.