Election 2024 & Church Unity
Dear Redeemer Church Family,
As we enter another election season, I've been reflecting deeply on our family values and how we, as followers of Christ, engage with the world around us. There's a real danger that, if we're not vigilant, we might slip into the same tribalism that fractures our society—a division from which Jesus has already redeemed us. Scripture warns us about the works of the flesh, which are evident in "jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions" (Gal 5:19-20). It's so important that we guard our hearts and our church against these pitfalls.
Some might think that maintaining unity means sidestepping certain topics altogether. However, if we truly want to be a gospel-centered family, this election season is an opportunity to test how deeply our family values hold up. We've often been taught not to discuss politics at the dinner table or at family gatherings. But I encourage us to embrace unity by listening, promoting humility, and caring for one another. As James tells us: "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (Jam 1:19). Jesus also instructs us to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Mat 10:16).
I know that some people can get fired up about politics, while others are completely exhausted by them. Regardless of where we stand, we need to anchor our zealous and passionate thoughts with humility toward one another, having the courage to speak the truth lovingly, just as the Lord calls us to do (Eph 4:15). As a church family, an important part of our responsibility to one another is to protect each other from deception by relying on God's promises over the enemy's lies and manipulation—especially when so much manipulation swirls about during election season.
Jesus calls us to be wise so that we are no longer "children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Eph 4:14). This brings me to a word that casts a long shadow over our society—propaganda. Propaganda is deceptively biased or misleading information used to promote a political cause through mass manipulation. The Holy Spirit helps us discern propaganda, revealing the Lord's truth amidst half-truths. He brings to our remembrance all the promises of our Lord and guides us into all truth (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit never divides the church; He unifies us harmoniously.
This means that if Christians find themselves on opposing sides of political topics, they can't both be entirely correct. They might be expressing incomplete understandings of a complex situation—one may be right and the other wrong, one may be more right and the other less so, or perhaps both are wrong. Therefore, it's essential for us to seek unity through the Holy Spirit, striving for clarity and understanding as we navigate these complex issues together. That's what church families do: we support and teach one another, as Scripture encourages in Titus 2:1–8. We need to be in close proximity to achieve this family value.
It's important for us to be unified and share our family values even when we go into the voting booth; otherwise, this will inevitably cause jealousy, anger, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions. We are not led by the flesh but by the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
In the next four years, many decisions will have a more profound impact on your walk with Jesus than who you vote for. Yet, it's wise for us to view voting as a unique privilege. God has sovereignly placed us in this nation—a nation for whom Christ died, as He came for every tongue, tribe, and nation.
Jesus is our standard of truth, and He governs us with wisdom. Voting is a privilege granted by God, and we should approach it with intentionality and discernment.
Biblical Principles for Voting
Be Informed
Avoid making choices based on chance or insufficient knowledge. "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps" (Prov 14:15). Understand what and who you're voting for.
Seek Wisdom
Discuss your thoughts with wise members of our church community who can help articulate how policies align with biblical wisdom. "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety" (Prov 11:14).
Recognize Distinctions and Trust in God's Design
We need to understand the distinct roles that God has established for families, churches, and government. Jesus taught, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17), highlighting the separation of earthly and divine responsibilities. Part of wise voting is recognizing that the government doesn't share the same calling as individual disciples. God has instituted various institutions—family, church, and government—and since He established them, He defines their purposes by His Word: "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1).
We must not delegate our God-given responsibilities to the federal or state or local government by voting for them to handle what He has entrusted to us. It's a mistake to give the government roles that God has directed toward the church or the family. Governments can't show compassion like disciples; they aren't called to care for widows and orphans—that's the church's role. Likewise, teaching moral values and providing for the needy are responsibilities given to us as believers, not to secular authorities. If a political party claims it will assume responsibilities that belong to the church, we should not support that agenda.
Instead, we should lovingly speak the truth to those in power, reminding them, "You are out of bounds, out of your jurisdiction." God has given the government certain boundaries, and they cross them when they attempt to take on the roles and responsibilities of the church or the family. Remember, the government is meant to be "God's servant for your good... for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad" (Romans 13:3–4). God entrusted the church with caring for the poor, the orphans, and showing compassion to all (James 1:27; Matthew 25:35)—not the government.
When the government overreaches by saying, "This problem is too big; we have to step in," we must be wise and cautious. Through our votes, we should not empower them with authority that Jesus says belongs to the church. Thinking it is wise to delegate our responsibilities as followers of Jesus to a government—whose God-given role is to punish evil and commend good—is part of party platform manipulation, deceiving voters into thinking they have shared values while actually using them to grant more power outside their God-given responsibility. This is why we need wise counselors to help us discern—with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God—the distinct responsibilities of families, His Bride (the church) and the nation.
Standing Firm on Biblical Truths
As we approach November 5th, it is absolutely crucial that we align our choices with the unchanging truths of Scripture. I speak to you not as a political pundit or scientist, but as your pastor committed to the Word of God. While applying Scripture to complex issues like foreign policy may invite debate, there is no debate when it comes to God's design for mankind. He created us male and female, intended for husband and wife to become one flesh, and calls us to protect our children—including those in their most vulnerable state, the womb. If a candidate or party platform misses the mark on the fundamental dignity and identity of humanity, how can we possibly trust them to govern us well?
Any party or candidate that does not protect innocent life stands in direct opposition to the sanctity of life that God upholds. "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). Every life is precious in His sight! Therefore, we must unequivocally distance ourselves from parties or candidates who do not defend this fundamental value. To put it plainly and boldly: supporting a pro-choice stance is supporting policies that allow the termination of innocent life, which is contrary to God's command to protect life and enact justice. If a candidate or party platform fails to protect the lives of those in the womb, how can we trust them to govern the nation well?
Furthermore, the biblical definition of marriage—as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman—is a cornerstone of our faith. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). We are called to stand firm against any efforts to redefine or destroy this holy institution. We must boldly stand for God's definition of marriage with our friends, neighbors, and representatives in our constitutional republic. Upholding this truth is about remaining faithful to God's design. If a candidate or party platform misses the mark in defining the core foundation of families as one husband and one wife, how can we trust them to govern the nation well?
In matters of male and female, (pretty basic stuff) Scripture provides clear and uncompromising guidance. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you... glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). If a party advocates views on human sexuality that diverge from biblical teachings, we must courageously and prayerfully speak against their error. Our allegiance is to Christ above all else! We should have nothing to do with ideologies that lead us away from His truth (2 Corinthians 6:15). If a candidate or party platform fails to define male and female as God intended (Genesis 1:27), how can we possibly trust them to govern the nation well?
Given these considerations, it's important to address the reality that certain political parties do not align with core Christian values. Specifically, the Democratic Party, due to its stances on issues like abortion, the redefinition of marriage, and human gender, stands in opposition to our faith in Jesus. Any notion that this party is a viable option for Christians may indicate the powerful influence of its messaging. We must remain vigilant and discerning, ensuring that we are not swayed by manipulative messages that contradict our faith and our calling to pray for God’s will and kingdom to come on Earth as it is in heaven.
In Conclusion
Let's recommit ourselves to embodying our family values during this election season and beyond. We are called to be a gospel-centered, disciple-making family.
Let us be a beacon of truth and grace, engaging openly and honestly with one another and seeking to apply God's Word in every area of our lives. We need to be united both in the voting booth and in our homes, laboring side by side to grow into Christlikeness as His disciples. Remember, our ultimate hope is not in political parties or candidates but in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
May we stand firm in our faith, support one another in love, and glorify God in all that we do.
With love and in Christ,
Pastor Cody
