Anchors for the Heart of the Politically Aggravated

Our principles will shape our vote. Will they shape our lives?

I find myself thinking, talking, and (admittedly) silently grumbling about politics a lot these days. Maybe you can relate. For this reason, I was moved this past Sunday to prepare a prayer for my church that would help ground our hearts in what we know to be true in Christ rather than what we fear may be true of our culture. It was also a chance for us to beg for the Lord’s help as we seek to navigate this political season in a way that is glorifying to Him.

In this post, originally written for my church, I’m returning to that prayer, pulling out some key verses, and adding a few more. My hope is that these truths from God’s Word will help lead us to walk in love and holiness as we move toward election day.

Genesis 1:28 - God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Every human has been made in the image of God and, therefore, bears inherent dignity. This is the reason we defend life from the womb to the grave, and it’s also the reason that we must treat and speak of all people, even our political rivals, with respect. Christian, beware of the words you use of others in political discourse. Beware of the words you use when you speak of the two presidential candidates. They bear the image of God! May it never be said of us that “With [our tongues] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God (James 3:9).”

Matthew 5:44 - “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

If we can love those who hate us for our religious beliefs (as Jesus is referring to here) can we not love people who hate us for our political beliefs? Can we not “turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39)?” If believers “bite and devour one another (Gal 5:15)” over our political differences, are we any better than the world? No! Rather may we make Christ’s love in us visible! May we remember that, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).” May we “Do all things without grumbling or disputing […] in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” so that we might “shine as lights in the world (Phil 2:14-15a).”

Hebrews 12:14 - Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness…

Followers of Christ are called “a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).” Thus, as political discourse becomes increasingly grimy, we do not have the option to surrender our holiness in the process of our political involvement. Christian, when tempted to return hate with hate, to post a mean-spirited comment online, or sit grumbling in a corner, make this commitment to yourself: that whether or not your proverbial neighbor chooses to traverse this election season with holiness, you will. For any believer who believes it’s worth compromising his Christian convictions in the fight to pursue his political convictions, I invite him to consider only this, “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul (Matthew 16:26)?”

Philippians 4:8 - whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Does this verse describe your heart when you read the headlines? If you’re like me, probably not. Yet, the answer isn’t to stick our heads in the sand and act like the election isn’t happening. It’s right for us to be informed and vote. However, we also need to guard our hearts. There’s a time to say, “enough political dialogue is enough.” Refuse to let the anger of political analysts suck you in. Rather, “Let the words of [your] mouth and the meditation of [your] heart be acceptable in [God’s] sight (Psalm 19:14).”

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

If we fail to guard our hearts against the toxicity of political discourse, what will come out of our mouths (cf. Luke 6:45)? A heart harboring bitterness and anger about the election will not pour forth in words that will “build up” or “give grace to those who hear.” What might it look like for you to use your words to ease political tensions with others in your life? If we can’t come with words of love and grace across our nation’s political divide, then perhaps our gospel doesn’t have the reconciling power we thought it did.

Revelation 22:12 - “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

We have a king named Jesus. He is on his heavenly throne now, he will still be on his throne on the morning of November 6th, and, one day, “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne (Matthew 25:31).” We don’t yet know who will sit in the oval office in 2025, but we know who will be on the throne of the universe for eternity. If that doesn’t bring us hope in the shadow of a looming election, what will?

We could go on, but the point is clear. Who wins the election matters, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Let’s be a church that commits not only to putting our Christian principles into practice in our vote but in our lives every day as we move toward the election. May the world see our confidence, kindness, love, and hope during this election season and recognize that we are those who have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). May our holiness in this political season adorn the gospel.