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4 Biblical Responses to the Election

I imagine by now you have seen all the negative political ads you care to see. According to presidential campaign finance trackers, the Democratic and Republican candidates will likely spend more than $1 billion each on their campaigns, much of it on negative ads aimed at each other. Unfortunately, research shows that negative political ads increase voter cynicism, contribute to declining voter trust in elections, decrease participation in politics, and contribute to increased societal incivility.

 
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In response to incivility, some choose to disengage completely from politics. Others engage by separating entirely their religious beliefs from their political opinions and activities. I believe there is a means between these extremes for those who want to engage in politics with integrity, taking seriously our obligation as Christ followers to clothe ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). How can we find congruence between our politics and our faith commitments?

How to Approach Christ-like Civility

First, let us be neither elated nor despondent at the outcome of any election. Whatever the outcome, God remains sovereign over all things. Every nation, ruler, or authority rises and falls with God’s full knowledge and permission. Nothing catches God by surprise, and nothing thwarts his ultimate plan for our world. Keeping an eternal perspective means not placing our hope in temporal things, including politics or politicians.

 

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Second, let us “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). In other words, seek first to understand rather than be understood. When discussing differences of opinion, for example, can we articulate our opponents’ positions to their satisfaction? Can we separate someone’s political view from their value as a person, not allowing differences to sever relationships? Can we acknowledge that our political opinions could be wrong? Can we humbly lose an argument and modify our positions accordingly, acknowledging as much to those around us? Such behaviors, I believe, signify healthy political engagement and Christlike respect for others.

Third, let us “test everything, and hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Misinformation abounds. Information literacy — the ability to find, evaluate, and use facts effectively and honestly — seems increasingly rare. Let us doublecheck our sources, distinguish carefully between fact and opinion, and avoid posting or forwarding things that may be inaccurate or misleading. Let us dedicate ourselves to the truth, however uncomfortable or painful it might be.

 

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Finally, let us acknowledge that we need not comment on every political issue. No doubt, Jesus’ teaching had far-reaching political implications for his society, and ours. Yet, when asked whether paying taxes to Rome contradicted Jewish law, Jesus famously replied, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” In effect, Jesus refused to take sides in a political debate, one that had direct bearing on the religious beliefs of his followers. Social media gives us a platform to express opinions on every issue. Jesus’ example should relieve us from feeling obliged to do so.

 

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Setting a Christian Example

Years ago I watched LSU lose a football game in the fifth overtime period. As an avid LSU fan, I passionately rooted my team and expressed passionate disappointment with the loss. When the game was over, to my surprise, two of my young children were sobbing. I got over it in minutes, but it took my children much longer.

I learned a valuable parenting lesson. What we do in moderation, our children often do in excess. They see what we celebrate and what we lament, and often feel what we feel more intensely. So let us model Christlikeness for our children by approaching politics with calmness, praying for our elected officials and remembering they are people created in God’s image even when they support policies we despise.

Let us participate in our democracy with gratitude for the hard-won freedoms we enjoy, yet also allow the peace of Christ to reign in our hearts whatever the outcome of any political process. And let us never forget that our final hope rests in a heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one. 

  
Dr. Matt Kerlin is the Head of School at Mount Paran Christian School. A respected Christian independent school leader with a distinguished tenure as Head of School in North Carolina prior to MPCS, Dr. Kerlin also served at esteemed institutions like Samford University, the University of Alabama, and Belmont University. Dr. Kerlin's path has been marked by a steadfast commitment to student development and holistic growth.
 
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