I Voted...So Now What?

     I have it and I’m sure you do as well —election fatigue. After two years of campaigns, political advertisements, and bitter rhetoric… I am tired. I stayed up late on election night as I’m sure you did as well. However, this year it didn’t end on election night. It is still an ongoing situation, and perhaps might still be an issue several weeks from now. However, in spite of our fatigue we cannot quit. What is at stake in this election is much weightier than our country or the victory of a political party — the glory of God is at stake! 

    At this point we have prayed, voted, stood up for what we believe is right. So, now what? What if the final result isn’t what we wanted? How can we honor God after the results of elections that didn’t go “our way.” 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

     Paul’s charge here is to glorify God in “whatever you do.” This includes living with the pains and joys of the results of elections. Believe it or not, the Bible has much to say on how we ought to respond. 

1. Glorify God by glorying in His sovereign rule

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2)

     This means that we accept the results of elections even if we don’t like those results. We may not be accepting of a particular politician, but we must accept the results of a sovereign God. We just don’t accept the results of the election because things go “our way.” We accept them because we trust in a God who is just and has a purpose for even those hard to fathom election results. We accept the results of elections, because, if God has put that person in power, He has done it for one purpose alone—His glory. 

     There will be people with whom you disagree that get elected to office. We must acknowledge that no person has authority apart from God. There have been corrupt and wicked leaders throughout every era of human history. God knows what He is doing for the accomplishment of His will and glory. Paul gave the command in this passage, that we are to be subject to the “governing authorities.” We must remember that Paul wrote this in the days of the Roman Empire. Paul was writing this command to Christians who were under the reign of the evil emperors named the Caesars. 

     This means that there are no accidental politicians. God has planned it all out for His glorious purpose. For example, Paul wrote about the purpose of Pharaoh. “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17) God raised Pharaoh up and tore him down with only one purpose in mind —His glory.

We must accept the results and trust God in His plan. We may never see the purpose of those results in our lifetime, but we trust in a timeless God who works all things according to the purpose of His will. We must go and exercise our freedom to vote, but ultimately leave the results up to the God who will glorify Himself by those results.

2. Glorify God by being in prayer for those whom He has placed over you in authority

“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, 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” (1 Timothy 2:12

     It is a command from God to pray for the leaders that He has placed over us. This is a good and pleasing practice to God! When we obey and pray for our leaders, we show by our actions that God is in control. Paul didn’t say just to pray for the godly leaders but to pray for all leaders. We must pray for wisdom. We must pray for their repentance and salvation. We must pray for righteousness to abound in spite of their policies. Remember that, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1) God is in control of kings, presidents, and people in authoritative positions

     In doing so Paul admonishes us to live a “peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified” life. This doesn’t mean we stop fighting for what is true, or good, and holy. However, it means that we know that ultimately God will do as he wills, and only HE can change the hearts of our leaders. 

3. Glorify God by honoring every leader that God has placed over you

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17)

     Paul told Timothy to pray for “all people” and for “kings and all who are in high positions,” he is including Caesar! When He says to “Honor the Emperor,” he is referencing Caesar! If God wanted these believers to pray and honor Caesar, how do you think He wants us to honor those leaders who are opposed to his commands now?

     What does honoring the emperor involve? Does this mean that we have to approve of their policies and the direction they wish to take the country? No! I believe it means that we are to respectfully disagree with them. It means that we continue to fight for truth and righteousness and attack the issues not people. Even emperors and Presidents are made in the image of God. To honor the emperor is to respect the position afforded to that individual by the Sovereign God of the universe.

So in spite of the election fatigue we may be experiencing today — we cannot give up.  We cannot throw in the towel and pretend as if our responsibilities just cease to exist. We still have a job to do. We must glorify God by all of our thoughts and actions. We must glorify God in “whatever we do.”