Grace For The Win

Grace for the Win

Welcome to the Presidential Elections of 2016. The ugliest, most divisive elections that I’ve ever seen. I suppose it could be that I just forget from one term to the next how emotionally charged political arguments get, but the reality is that this year is extra special. I’ve read so much hatred – not just for the candidates themselves, but for anyone with an opposing view. Families are being torn apart and friendships are being annihilated because of a difference of opinion.

This gets me heated. I’m not the most emotional person in the world, but boy, does this make my blood boil. To this I want to scream, “STOP IT!” You can be passionate for your candidate or, as more likely seems to be the case this year, passionate against the other candidate, but America will go on. In the end it doesn’t matter who wins the election. What matters is family. What matters are friends. What matters are relationships.

And Christ followers specifically, let me hit you with some truth.

  • There are godly people who will be voting for Hillary Clinton. Whether they actually like her or whether they’re doing so to keep Trump from becoming president, or whether they’re strictly voting the Democratic platform. To believe a true Christian would never vote for her is just plain wrong. Some of the most devoted Christ-followers I know are voting her.
  • There are godly people who will be voting for Donald Trump. Whether they actually like him or whether they’re doing so to keep Hillary from becoming president, or whether they’re strictly voting the Republican platform. To believe a true Christian wouldn’t vote for him is just plain wrong. Some of the most devoted Christ-followers I know are voting him.
  • There are godly people who will be voting for a third party candidate. And they, too, can be true Christians! (Please see above statements.)

I don’t care which side of the fence you’re on, or even if you’re planted squarely on top (though that sounds a bit uncomfortable), it doesn’t really matter because:

A) God’s gonna do what God’s gonna do and no superpower is going to change that.

He is the head over every power and authority. ~Col. 2:10b

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ~ Romans 13:1

B) Our witness is infinitely more important than who wins this election.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:35

Do your research for sure. Make an informed decision. Pray for wisdom and vote in the way YOU believe you should, not how others are telling you to vote. But don’t lose friends or family over something as petty as an election, regardless of how the other candidate “will destroy America”. God is God yesterday, today and tomorrow. No election will ever change that.

Don’t give Satan a victory here. I don’t mean by voting for the wrong person, but by your behavior. There’s nothing he likes better than to see Christians divided. And frankly, we do a good enough job of that without elections.

When the next president of the United States of America has been announced, pray for him or her. Not out of fear, but because it is pleasing to God.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Be kind and respectful to everyone, whether or not they agree with you and even if you don’t like them.

Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. ~ 1 Peter 2:17 (MSG)

And that makes it grace for the win.

Grace & Such strives to advance Christian growth among women. While we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we also recognize human interpretations are imperfect. Grace & Such encourages our readers to open their Bibles, pray for wisdom and study for themselves what the Word says. For more about who we are, please visit the About Us page.
Jennifer Mobley Thompson
Latest posts by Jennifer Mobley Thompson (see all)

6 Comments

  1. Gretchen on November 7, 2016 at 8:41 AM

    Amen! Spot on, my friend. We are called to be peace makers.

    • Jen on November 7, 2016 at 1:55 PM

      Peace makers. Huh. 😉

  2. Libby Bray on November 7, 2016 at 11:41 AM

    Absolutely PERFECT! Thank you!

    • Jen on November 7, 2016 at 1:55 PM

      Thank YOU!

  3. Diane on November 7, 2016 at 8:51 PM

    Nicely articulated, my friend! Grace, certainly, for the win! Thank you.

  4. Diane Tarantini on November 29, 2016 at 12:10 PM

    I agree with you on all your points, Jen. It’s a mess, isn’t it? And all for nothing because God IS in control. We can say we will do this or that, but it doesn’t matter because God’s going to do what God’s going to do.

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