Someone Will Win, and Someone Will Lose

While we may not have a presidential winner today, we will. No matter if your candidate wins or loses, the Bible is pretty firm about how we as Christians should respond.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says:

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Re-read the top two verses. Now, think about all you have seen on social media, all the political conversations you have been a part of these past few months. Do they resemble anything like the above passage? Chances are, probably not. Politics are important, however not more important than our witness. But, since they are important and influential, Paul tells Timothy to encourage all the people to pray for all the people! Isn’t that what he said? “For all men”? He didn’t ask that we pray for the people we like and agree with. To pray for the conservative leaders only. Or pray for the liberal leaders only. No! He said to pray for all people. Then he specifically points out to pray for those that are in political authority. We are called to make supplications on behalf of our political leaders and not snooty remarks. We need to positively pray to God and not negatively post to people. We need to intercede for them and not insult them. Why do this? So that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (verse 2)! In other words, so we don’t blow our witness! So we don’t show the world that conservatism means more to us than the cross of Christ. So we don’t show others that liberalism means more to us than the real liberty one finds in a genuine relationship with Jesus.

How does he conclude in verse 3? By telling us that this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved! Not only is this the best motive we could ask for (pleasing God) but it also shows us that the heart of God is for all people! Not just for one political group, let alone social class, race or gender!

The facts that we can take away from this passage are that we are exhorted to pray for those in office and that God yearns for us all (liberal or conservative, prince or pauper, black or white or any race) to be saved!

Remember:

We are called to be God’s people
Showing by our lives His grace
One in heart and one in spirit
Sign of hope for all the race
Let us show how He has changed us
And remade us as His own
Let us share our life together
As we shall around His throne.

From the hymn: We are Called to be God’s People

Have a great post-election day!

Tina