16 Thoughts for Christian Citizens
It’s election season (in case you haven’t noticed—haha), and the local, state, and national marketing campaigns (about candidates, initiatives, tax measures, etc.) are at full throttle (television, social media, digital and print ads, yard signs, newspapers, town halls, rallies, etc.), and they are using every conceivable tactic you can imagine (attack ads, fear mongering, opposition research, character assassination, spreading lies, dog whistles, guilt by association, polarizing wedge issues, strategic timing of scandalous revelations, the echo chamber effect, manipulating sound bites, astroturfing, etc.) to make a final plea for your vote.
So, here are a few reminders:
#1: Please plan to vote and let your choices be biblically-informed.
#2: Pray for God to grant mercy on our communities, cities, counties, states, and nation for the people and policies that will best represent biblical values and can promote the greater good and lessen the spread of unrighteousness in our society.
#3: Ponder the following 16 Thoughts for Christian Citizens from Presbycast Pravda:
There is little at this point you can do to affect the outcome of the election except to vote.
God is sovereign and will not be surprised by any outcome.
In light of the above fact, be calm for the sake of your own family and church.
Exhibit confidence in God and be skeptical about the power of any man or woman.
Do not believe everything that you hear, good or ill. Nearly every civil war has been fueled by misunderstanding and misinformation.
Focus on things local; remember that the government nearest you affects you most and is most likely to help you and your neighbors.
Go to church and go about your business as normal.
Give thanks for the great Constitutional freedoms that still exist in the USA.
Honor magistrates and pray for them.
Beware of crowds.
When the election occurs, be patient with the results. Assume that bad actors (who do exist) will not prevail.
Remember that the outcome will be neither as bad nor as good as click-driven commentators and craven politicians will make it out to be.
Politeness matters; it tends to peace.
Being a good neighbor will be more important than ever.
Do not taunt or respond angrily to taunting, whatever the outcome.
Say less rather than more; read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
"But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).
Pastor Jeff
“Disciples are handmade, one relationship at a time.”