October 10, 2008

  Few things in the American experience seem to stir up as much division as do presidential politics.  While it is undoubtedly clear that the media (in general) finds its ability to egg on the polarization of society to be “good business”, it certainly leaves one with a gloomy perspective regarding not only the future of leadership in our nation but also our sense of national unity.  Perhaps the whole business is becoming so sordid that it is difficult for us even want to be involved. 

But however ugly and/or depressing things may seem, we each have a privilege and responsibility to exert whatever Godly influence we may in the whole process.  If you’re wondering how you as a Christian can enter the fray without yourself resorting to “dirty pool” tactics or slanderous rhetoric, then consider these practical steps in regard to getting involved. 

First, “pray right”.  Pray earnestly and with sincerity as you lay down your own immediate interests in order to seek the will of God.  Pray that you will have discernment.  Pray that God’s Spirit will influence others across the nation to seek His will and to accomplish His purposes for them in this election, granting them discernment as well.  Pray that God’s values will be reflected in your vote.  And then pray that God will give you peace about the outcome and His ability to manage politics and human government in accordance with what He intends for you and your family as well as for the world. 

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). 

Second, “think right”.  Don’t only hope that your values are aligned with those of God, but actively allow His Word to transform your thinking so that your thoughts are brought under His governance.  This means that you must actively read and study His Word both privately in a personal devotion time and also in a corporate setting (a Bible study group at church for example or a Sunday School program). 

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV).  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). 

Then find out the truth about candidates, important for both national elections but also state and local ones as well.  This isn’t easy since we’ve all discovered that candidates may say isn’t necessarily what they truly believe and what they promise isn’t something that they may genuinely seek to deliver.  And remember that what you might be seeing through various media channels might not be telling the whole story.  The best thing to do is to find out how candidates’ track records stack up against God’s Word.  Do candidates demonstrate a commitment to the values that you’re discovering as you meditate and reflect on God’s Word?  Or does their history tell us the story of a commitment to other things, such as personal ambition or the accumulation of selfish possessions?  Are they “truth tellers” or do they say one thing and then do another?  And are there repeated lapses of character and competency that implicate their ability to lead righteously? 

Next, “do right”.  It’s an easy thing to get swallowed up by the way others do things, especially when you’ve become angry perhaps over the way someone said something or over something someone apparently did.  But don’t get baited into actions or words that you know aren’t pleasing to God and thereby compromise your own capacity for spiritual fruitfulness. 

“In your anger do not sin:  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold….  Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 4:26-27, 5:1 NIV). 

As you cast your ballot for leaders for your country, state, region, county, and city or other local leaders, do so ethically and with clean conscience.  Vote as you believe God wants you to vote.  Vote for issues that comprehensively uphold God’s priorities for society whether for an issue upholding families as He designed them or against an issue that exploits the poor.  

And finally, when you’ve prayed, thought, said and done all that you know to do, allow God’s peace to reign in your heart and dodge the lethal bullets of anxiety that your spiritual enemy continually aims at you.  You’re a very important part of God’s very big agenda.  But remember that it is His agenda and that He’s ultimately in control.  He is your Shepherd and won’t forget His love for you nor His commitment to be an active part of your life.  Scary times can quickly motivate us to run ahead of our Shepherd, but times even as scary as these are only scary when our eyes shift away from His face. 

(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past thirteen years and is the  author of The Fairy Tale Parables:  Classic Fairy Tales Pointing to God's Love and Truth.  He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church and may be reached for comments or questions by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).