The Leaders We Deserve
God doesn't always choose what we think is "best."
November , 2024
This editorial will be sent well before the 2024 US elections are complete. This is not a reaction to any particular result. It's a vision for a path forward. No matter how the votes go, American Christians will be living in a nation split between uneasy relief and bitter disappointment. Believers should recognize that God's sovereignty includes using our own choices. What seems like victory or defeat may be judgment or grace, instead. Either way, when we're unhappy with our choices, we should remember that the Lord probably gives us the options our nation deserves. Christians must demonstrate reasonable, confident trust flowing naturally from faith. Rather than putting our trust—and anxiety—in top-level politics and elections, we should focus on the fields where we've been placed and the people God has allowed us to reach.
It's tempting to despair when politics slides in the wrong direction (Proverbs 28:12, 15). The mirror of that is the impulse to become smug when our "side" wins. Both urges need to be tempered with biblical balance. God doesn't intend government to be the ultimate solution for major issues (Psalm 20:7). Law and authority have their uses (Romans 13:3–4), but they will always be run by limited, imperfect people (Psalm 118:9; 146:3–4; Jeremiah 17:5). Leaders and laws can be how the Lord blesses a nation—or how He punishes it. That applies even if we think the "right" person or issue was chosen. No matter who will have won the various US races, a result you don't like may be a mercy; what you thought was victory could be judgment (1 Samuel 12:13–16; Hosea 8:4).
In short, consider this month's spotlight verse (1 Samuel 8:18) and be careful what you wish for (Romans 14:22; Proverbs 18:17). Mind who is tickling your ears (2 Timothy 4:3–4) with scary predictions and reassuring promises (1 John 4:1; Proverbs 5:3–6).
Yes, the will of God's is going to be done, no matter what (Job 42:2). That doesn't excuse ignoring our God-given resources and rights (Acts 22:25; Matthew 25:24–26). Given the power to influence law and government, we should take it. But that is only a tool applied to a temporary solution. It must be a distant second compared to our trust in God. The alternative is living as if some problems can only be fixed by the results of a vote. It means outsourcing responsibility to a politician or a ballot issue. It makes us live in anxiety that we might lose something we can't keep anyway (1 John 2:17; Matthew 6:19–20).
For a nation to avoid the consequences of godless leaders (Proverbs 14:34; 29:2), Christian believers must influence the culture, itself (Luke 6:43). People don't change their views because the law tells them to; laws change when the culture shifts. You can't force a tree to grow good fruit by painting its apples a different color. To change the results, you must change what's happening at the roots.
Believers truly concerned about trends in their nation need to start with prayer—both about and for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–4)—and commit to the hard work of contending for Christ in our immediate circles (Matthew 5:13–16). Being in the world, not of it (John 17:15–16), means shunning apocalyptic rhetoric and behaving like faithful, confident, reasonable children of the One True King (1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 4:5; Ephesians 5:8). Whether you feel this election was triumphant or tragic, the world around you needs the patient healing influence of godly peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
Don't let bitterness or fear, anger or vindictiveness, despair or rage cloud your response to whatever happens in this world. That includes the latest election results. Turn to God for strength (John 16:33) even as you diligently work for what is right (Ephesians 4:15). A born-again believer's hope was never in this world, to begin with (Hebrews 11:16). If you're truly relying on Him, and Him alone (John 15:4–5), His peace can shine through you in times like this (2 Corinthians 4:6).
-- Editor
