As a Christian Who Votes in the USA
Have you ever noticed that the word “votes” rhymes with “gloats”?
The day after every election I often see a lot of gloating among my brothers and sisters.
I see another thing happening (that does NOT rhyme with “votes”): bemoaning.
Both tend to sadden me.
The first because it is a manifestation of pride and I can’t find much in the Bible about “pride” that seems positive. God HATES pridefulness.
The second bothers me because it is a manifestation of despair and we only despair when we find ourselves feeling completely vulnerable and/or destitute.
As Christians we have no reason to ever feel these…because God is our supply (Philippians 4:19) and because God is our protection (Proverb 18:10 – “the name of the Lord is a strong tower…”).
Post-election gloating and bemoaning reveal that those who practice either do not see themselves as citizens of heaven who are merely sojourning on the earth.
“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
and
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
We, as Christians are CITIZENS of heaven who have been assigned by God to live temporarily on the earth wherever He has planted us. We are sojourners in the earthy countries to which the Lord has assigned us. As sojourners we have some abilities, and in the USA that means we get to vote.
Our primary citizenship, though, is in heaven…and we all have dual citizenship in that we also dwell in some nation on the earth. This is our ETERNAL reality. All earthly things, in great contrast, are temporary.
If we do not CONSTANTLY see ourselves, first and foremost, as citizens of an eternal nation we will get caught up in earthly politics and that will dominate our focus. Post-election gloating, weeping, mocking and despair are evidences of this and they must stop among us.
Peter encouraged us in 1 Peter 2:12 to keep our “conduct honorable among the Gentiles”.
We are citizens of and ambassadors for a far more grace-filled nation than is typified by Christians gloating and mocking those whose candidates lose earthly elections. Likewise, as eternal citizens of heaven, a hope-filled nation, those Christians who swear, despair and become angry because their candidates lose earthly elections do not represent heaven well.
These earthly things (elections, political parties, earthly governments) will pass away. OUR primary nation, HEAVEN, never will. These elected officials will come and go. OUR King, JESUS, will reign forever.
Let’s please keep our focus and remember our mission is to portray Jesus in the unique, individual ways each Christian can portray Him. We are here to advance an eternal nation – not a very temporary earthly governmental structure.
We are in the world now because God wants us here but we are no longer OF the world. We vote when, as sojourners, we are allowed to vote. We do so in such a way as to represent godly values on the earth.
We do our best to vote wisely…and then we move on. The election results really do not matter to us because God is sovereign.
“Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:12-16)
This has been written in a spirit of humility and obedience to my Lord Who, I believe, directed me to write it. May it be received with the same humility and obedience with which it was written.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
Decatur, TX
© November 7, 2018
(For use with permission)