The letter below was sent to Providence Church Members from our pastor, Rob Ivy, in November of 2020 just before the presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. I was encouraged by this letter and I feel it is well grounded in Biblical truth so I am passing it on to you.
Dear Brothers And Sisters,
Today is election day. Although I wanted to get this out sooner, I still don’t think it’s too late to give some words of instruction about how we, as Christians, should interact with the politics of our country. Of course the very first principle is that politics should take up relatively little ‘bandwidth’ in our hearts; but I know this attitude will be hard to maintain in the days ahead as politicians and national media, and perhaps even friends and family, will be speaking as if everything in our lives hinges on this election.
In these days (as in all days) the best thing we can do for our own souls and for the good of our country is to pull our heads out of the noise that is the 24/7 news media, and put them down into God’s word and prayers of faith to Him. He is the one who, in every age, is a restorer, redeemer, and builder.
With that being said, here are a few words of instruction for you regarding the election today and its aftermath.
Avoid Political Apocalypticism
Democrats will tell you if Trump wins, then it’s end of our republic. Republicans will tell you if Democrats win it’s the end of our republic. While either of these things may be true (we do know, after all, that our republic will end someday), the goal of these statements is not to encourage rational thinking, but to stoke your fears and passions—the kind of fears and passions that should be reserved for God alone. After all, even if America ends, we know that, as Christians, we still have a glorious life in Jesus Christ. Our life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). Therefore, do not fret as the world frets. Yes, it is a worthy aim to seek to preserve our nation, but the most important thing is to remember that all does not hinge on the preservation of our nation. All hinges on God—always has and always will.
There is a true apocalypse coming, and that is what we should fear and be preparing others for. If America crumbles, it would almost certainly lead to much pain and suffering, but, as the Apostle Paul says, any earthly sufferings are “light and momentary afflictions” (2 Cor 4:17) compared to what eternally awaits us.
In fact, this reality has led to a couple of good evangelistic conversations for me in this political season. When I engage others in political conversation (and I can see that their hope is really in our political system), it gives me the very clear opportunity to tell them that I can care comparatively little about politics because my hope lies elsewhere. Let’s make sure that Jesus reigns as king in our hearts despite which party seems to have the upper hand.
Avoid Indecent Attacks
As Christians, we are to be a generous in our judgments of others—judging them as we ourselves would like to be judged (Mat 7:2, 12). Politics, especially today, is infamous for “weaponizing” every last piece of dirt or misstatement made by one candidate or the other. Let us not seek every possible opportunity to attack the candidate on the other side of the aisle, rather, let us strive to judge with the measure we would like used against us.
Of course this is not to say that we cannot criticize the candidates at all. There is much, in both candidates, that is well-deserving of criticism. But we only undertake this criticism after we have taken the log out of our own eye and are sure that we are using a measuring stick that we would not object to being used on us. We show generosity even toward those we disagree with.
Vote for Love of Neighbor
Voting is not the holy sacrament that our national leaders make it out to be—it is a comparatively minor act of obedience to our God and should really only be motivated by a broader feeling of love for neighbor. Each of you probably thinks that one candidate would lead to the flourishing of our country more than another candidate. If you think that is the case, then you should vote for the person who you think will cause our country to flourish! Not because you have an inherent love for the greatness of America (although that love, properly ordered, is not wrong), but because you love your neighbor and want to see them flourish.
Do not Belong to a Political Party
I use the word “belong” here in its strong sense. It is not problematic for a Christian to affiliate with a political party if you believe that party is truly working toward the common good. On the other hand, you must never belong to a political party in the way that you belong to a church or belong to God. Your tie to political party must be radically loose in comparison to your tie with the people of God and to God himself.
Think Through the Issues Christianly
While many (perhaps most) political topics have no clear Christian impulse (higher capital gains taxes or lower capital gains taxes; stimulus or no stimulus, etc.) some do. These items do not necessarily dictate your vote (for example, perhaps you think there are alternate avenues to show concern on the same issues), but, again, they should inform your vote. In other words, I believe that God would say you must care about these items.
In these days (as in all days) the best thing we can do for our own souls and for the good of our country is to pull our heads out of the noise that is the 24/7 news media, and put them down into God’s word and prayers of faith to Him. He is the one who, in every age, is a restorer, redeemer, and builder.
With that being said, here are a few words of instruction for you regarding the election today and its aftermath.
Avoid Political Apocalypticism
Democrats will tell you if Trump wins, then it’s end of our republic. Republicans will tell you if Democrats win it’s the end of our republic. While either of these things may be true (we do know, after all, that our republic will end someday), the goal of these statements is not to encourage rational thinking, but to stoke your fears and passions—the kind of fears and passions that should be reserved for God alone. After all, even if America ends, we know that, as Christians, we still have a glorious life in Jesus Christ. Our life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). Therefore, do not fret as the world frets. Yes, it is a worthy aim to seek to preserve our nation, but the most important thing is to remember that all does not hinge on the preservation of our nation. All hinges on God—always has and always will.
There is a true apocalypse coming, and that is what we should fear and be preparing others for. If America crumbles, it would almost certainly lead to much pain and suffering, but, as the Apostle Paul says, any earthly sufferings are “light and momentary afflictions” (2 Cor 4:17) compared to what eternally awaits us.
In fact, this reality has led to a couple of good evangelistic conversations for me in this political season. When I engage others in political conversation (and I can see that their hope is really in our political system), it gives me the very clear opportunity to tell them that I can care comparatively little about politics because my hope lies elsewhere. Let’s make sure that Jesus reigns as king in our hearts despite which party seems to have the upper hand.
Avoid Indecent Attacks
As Christians, we are to be a generous in our judgments of others—judging them as we ourselves would like to be judged (Mat 7:2, 12). Politics, especially today, is infamous for “weaponizing” every last piece of dirt or misstatement made by one candidate or the other. Let us not seek every possible opportunity to attack the candidate on the other side of the aisle, rather, let us strive to judge with the measure we would like used against us.
Of course this is not to say that we cannot criticize the candidates at all. There is much, in both candidates, that is well-deserving of criticism. But we only undertake this criticism after we have taken the log out of our own eye and are sure that we are using a measuring stick that we would not object to being used on us. We show generosity even toward those we disagree with.
Vote for Love of Neighbor
Voting is not the holy sacrament that our national leaders make it out to be—it is a comparatively minor act of obedience to our God and should really only be motivated by a broader feeling of love for neighbor. Each of you probably thinks that one candidate would lead to the flourishing of our country more than another candidate. If you think that is the case, then you should vote for the person who you think will cause our country to flourish! Not because you have an inherent love for the greatness of America (although that love, properly ordered, is not wrong), but because you love your neighbor and want to see them flourish.
Do not Belong to a Political Party
I use the word “belong” here in its strong sense. It is not problematic for a Christian to affiliate with a political party if you believe that party is truly working toward the common good. On the other hand, you must never belong to a political party in the way that you belong to a church or belong to God. Your tie to political party must be radically loose in comparison to your tie with the people of God and to God himself.
Think Through the Issues Christianly
While many (perhaps most) political topics have no clear Christian impulse (higher capital gains taxes or lower capital gains taxes; stimulus or no stimulus, etc.) some do. These items do not necessarily dictate your vote (for example, perhaps you think there are alternate avenues to show concern on the same issues), but, again, they should inform your vote. In other words, I believe that God would say you must care about these items.
- God does not look favorably on the taking of unborn lives. God is the giver of all life (Gen 1) and he, himself forms life in the womb (Ps 139:13). The taking of innocent life is an abomination to God (Gen 9:5–6; Lev 20:3; Ps 106:38) and should be to us as well. Even non-Christians should clearly see that the taking of innocent life is wrong by the clarity of natural revelation (Rom 1:18–2:16).
- God does not look favorably on immorality, especially in national leadership. God hates every sin (Ex 34:7; Prov 6:16–19). Those who boast in their sin or sit comfortably with their sin are even more of an abomination to the Lord (Zeph 3:11; Ps 18:27; Jas 4:16). Leaders who sin will lead a nation into sin (1 Kings 14:16; 2 Kings 3:3; 24:4). We ought not trifle with or excuse sin, whether that be in ourselves or in others, especially if they are powerful politicians.
- God cares about the poor and about the fair execution of justice (Deut 10:17–18). It is an abomination to God when the wealthy have better access to justice than do the poor. This “poor” should even include those who are immigrants or “sojourners” (Deut 10:19).
- God cares about human sexuality. God made humankind man and woman (Gen 1:27). He desires for men to live as men and women to live as women (Deut 22:5). This is not say we ‘impose our religious views’ on a populace, but it is to say that humans only flourish within God’s ways, and we should seek human flourishing.
- God cares about being subject to the authorities (Rom 13:1). It is a sinful and satanic desire to want to overthrow or ‘fundamentally change’ authorities that God has put in place. In America, we should understand these ‘authorities’ as primarily being our set of laws and governing documents.
- God cares about racial equality (Rev 7:9). Just as unborn lives are precious in God’s sight, all human life is precious in God’s sight and it is an abomination to God when someone is treated differently, whether uniquely well or uniquely poorly, based on the color of their skin (Prov 20:23).
- God cares about peace and political stability. 1 Timothy 2:1–4 says, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” In short, God desires (at most times and places) peace and political stability so that the spread of the gospel is not impeded.
Does all of this add up to a “Christian way to vote”? I don’t think so. Each of these factors must be weighed and the means to these ends discerned. And Christians can, in good conscience, come to different conclusions. But my hope is that, if you choose to vote, you will consider God’s thoughts on each of these issues as you do.
Of course much more could be written (and has been written) about a ‘Christian approach to politics’. In no way do I mean for this to be some kind of comprehensive treatment. Again, I merely wanted to give you some Biblical guidance in light of a heated election. Let’s act like Christians at all times, whether in the cauldron that is national politics or in matters of less passion and consequence.
Above all, remember that CHRIST is Lord—this is the ultimate political statement that we make. When we are united to him, we have no fear of the future and we walk in confidence. Psalm 34:5, "Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed."
Of course much more could be written (and has been written) about a ‘Christian approach to politics’. In no way do I mean for this to be some kind of comprehensive treatment. Again, I merely wanted to give you some Biblical guidance in light of a heated election. Let’s act like Christians at all times, whether in the cauldron that is national politics or in matters of less passion and consequence.
Above all, remember that CHRIST is Lord—this is the ultimate political statement that we make. When we are united to him, we have no fear of the future and we walk in confidence. Psalm 34:5, "Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed."
Pastor Rob
