Just short of a week after the election, I know emotions are still running high. I know some of you are enthusiastic about the results of the election, and I know that some of you are concerned about the results of the election. Normally, I try to stay away from making any political statements, but I think a pastoral message is appropriate for us as God’s people. At a time like this, I wonder what the Apostle Paul would write to the Church. It would probably start like this, as it does in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 1 verses 2-3:

Revising verse 1: From Paul, called by God’s will to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and from Adrienne (totally adding myself in!) our sister. To God’s church that is in America:

^“2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That’s a good place to start. With grace and with peace.

I am not going to attempt to write as Paul does. That’s not my style! However, I would like to share a word of pastoral care and hope for all of us in these days past the election. I would do the same regardless of the outcome. Whenever there are winners, there are those who suffer. This is not based on who won or who didn’t win as much as it is a message of concern about how we might go forward together. Let us keep in mind that our true hope rests in the power of our unfailing God and we are called to make sure we are not stumbling blocks to anyone who puts their hope in Christ.  

As a pastor, part of the call is to evaluate and work toward the health of God’s people. Admittedly, it is hard to find one’s ministerial footing in an inflammatory political climate that has become divisively partisan and uncivil. Right now, I think that God’s people, on both sides of the spectrum, are not in the healthiest state of living out their civil vocation. I think most of us are hoping for better times and think we know we could all do better.

Going forward, I encourage us to remember what Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians. We have been made holy to God in Christ Jesus and we are called to be God’s people. How can we be God’s people moving forward? Here are some guidelines.

First, we are called to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2: 1-2). We are called to pray for our newly elected president and for all people who serve in all levels of government. We can do this on our own and in our corporate prayer life. A colleague of mine once told me that he prayed for our President by name every week and sometimes people would walk out in disagreement; but whether we are aligned with a certain presidents policies or not, prayer becomes all the more important. Praying for our leaders is not a partisan act, it is an act of trust in God that God will provide the guidance and grace needed for such a position of responsibility and the good of the nation and care of its people. We remember that Christ is King.

Second, keep your light shining! Keep caring about the causes you care about. Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Whether your candidate was elected or not, keep proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the way we show up in this world. Both parties need to remember that Jesus is Lord and he tells us how we are to care for others.

Third, remember that your most important citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. The nations can provide many things, but not everything. Philippians 3:20 - "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Our ultimate concern is God and living lives of service to our neighbors in response to the amazing gift of grace. We must act as citizens of Christ's kingdom and not of Mammon and power. When we remember this we can live in the example of Jesus and will value the things and people that Jesus valued.

Peace be in our hearts and Christ in our mind,

Pastor Adrienne