Responding to the Election

Weekly Update – November 7th, 2024

One of the fundamental graces that has kept our democracy going for over 245 years is the smooth transition of power that occurs every 4 to 8 years.  Elections occur, voters vote and the losing party concedes allowing this country to remain peaceful as its history continues.  We all had the opportunity to witness this up close on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning as Donald J. Trump became president-elect of the United States.  President Biden has already promised a smooth process in the transfer of power as we all await the new presidency that will take place beginning January 20^th, 2025.  The question to us is, what do we do in the meantime?  Whether you like him or not or voted for him or not, the fact still remains that he will be the next president.  So then, as members of another kingdom first, that kingdom being the kingdom of God, how do we think and act as we await this transition of power to Donald Trump?

First, we should honor Donald Trump as our new leader.  As we saw this past Sunday, 1 Peter 2:17 is clear, “Honor everyone.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.”  Now of course our president is not an emperor, but the same truth is implied.  We owe honor to all of our elected officials, “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:2).  Therefore we should not make claims such as “that is not my president” or “I only honor the constitution.”  We should call him our president as he has been placed in this setting of authority by God.  The same is true now with President Biden and the same would have been true if the results tended differently to lead us to a President Harris. 

Second, we should continue to be the church.  I can remember several years ago, the pastor of the church that I was a member said, from the pulpit, that we should all vote republican down the ballot in the upcoming election.  Now I understand the reasoning behind why he would say this, but the downfall of making a proclamation like this from the pulpit is that it equates the church with a political party.  We as the church should never confuse our mission here on this earth.  We are to proclaim the glories of one king, King Jesus, who reigns over an everlasting kingdom that is more powerful than any other nation on this earth.  Therefore, we as the church should be what Martin Luther King Jr called, “the conscience of the state” and never a “tool of the state.”  That means we seek to influence, guide, direct and even critique our government from the standpoint of righteousness and justice.  And we do this with our hope set in the Lord, resting in his promises over whatever promise secular leaders may give to us.

Third, we should pray from Donald Trump.  First Timothy 2:1-2 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions…”  The call here for Christians is to pray for all of our leaders, but especially now, considering the climate of our country and the division that ensues, this call is even more pertinent to us.  Therefore we pray that president-elect Trump would lead with humility accompanied by wisdom.  We pray that he would be gracious to all Americans in his speech and conduct.  We pray that he would make decisions that would promote righteousness and justice.  And we pray that he would protect the innocent and uphold the laws set before him.  This is a tall job for any man or woman, so let us be mindful to what any leader would face, regardless of their platform, as they enter into this office.

We are in a very volatile time as a nation.  Let us as Christians strive to as the rest of verse 2 in 1 Timothy 2 says, “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”  Living out this verse should lead us to be men and women who clearly love God and serve our neighbor, as we strive to be good citizens of our earthly kingdom.  But this verse should also cause us to be even clearer proponents of an unshakable kingdom, where we are first and foremost members, proclaiming an everlasting king.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson