Thoughts on the Election

“There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  ~Romans 13:1

This is interesting! You are reading this meditation after the elections, whereas I am writing before the elections (November 4th). What you are reading now, therefore, is in no way colored by who was elected. Regardless of who won, the following things are true.

1)  God is bigger than America’s political landscape. Ecclesiastes reminds us that generations are like the tide – they whoosh up the sand only to dissipate and be replaced by the next wave. Our generation – like our new political leaders, the zeitgeist of our culture, and even our nation as we know it – will dissipate, but our transcendent Lord will reign forever. The American socio-political landscape will rise and fall, but “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13).

2)  God is absolutely sovereign over who rules over us. Whoever was elected to office – whether local, state, federal, legislative, executive, or judicial – all were handpicked by God. “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). Regardless of whether you lament or delight in the election results, you must rest in the reality they were ordained by God. To be sure, sometimes He raises up rulers for blessing, and sometimes He raises them up for judgement (which is what we deserve). But make no mistakes: they are God-ordained and He will accomplish His purposes through them – whether in mercy or judgment (or both).

3)  Regardless of whether or not our new political leaders are our cup of tea, we are to give them honor. Whoever they are, we are to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Peter knew a thing or two about living under godless, overbearing, despotic regimes, and yet he said, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God . . . Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13-17). Indeed Paul, who was imprisoned and beheaded for the sake of Christ, wrote, “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). Now, I believe we can argue from God’s Word that there is a time to interpose against unjust leaders (as I’m sure you Americans will be keen to remind me), but in our moment in history, we are called to pray for and honor our leaders.

4)  Regardless of who rules from Washington, we should keep things in perspective: we are citizens of another kingdom. This world is not our home. Although we shouldn’t be ostriches burying our heads in the sand, we should also be wary of being so entrenched in the political merry-go-round (especially from the pulpit), that we lose sight of whose kingdom we are seeking. Irrespective of the Lord’s dealings with the American nation, brothers and sisters, we “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Rev. Rob Dykes, Pastor of Preaching & Congregational Care