Would it be fair to say that politics are dominating our conversations these days? Would it also be equally fair to say that this current season of political chatter is causing unprecedented anxiety and stress?
Today we (if you are a Canadian) go to the polls. I’m not about to enter the debate and suggest how to vote or endorse a candidate. I do want to build a bigger perspective to help us keep this day in context. Tomorrow at this time we will probably be doing the post-election analysis . . . some will be happy, others not so much. What will happen? I have no idea.
Whether your perspective on the day’s results are “win” or “lose,” let’s consider how all of this fits into the Kingdom of God.
Stewardship. In the eons of human history, the democratic system of government is a relatively new phenomena. Not only is it a privilege to participate in our system of governance, under this system voting for our respective candidates of choice is a responsibility. This is a stewardship of being God’s image-bearers. There are no easy choices. But we cannot ignore that the elector system of governance places a responsibility on each of us. We represent Christ well when we participate - even if our choice is to spoil the ballet. To put it another way, if we don’t vote, we have no voice.
Object of Faith. Even though we have an unprecedented opportunity to speak into the governance of our nation, the process itself - like any other process of governance - does not displace the integrity of God’s sovereignty over all things. He alone remains the object of our faith. Human structures will always fail - democratic, autocratic, dictatorial . . . it doesn’t matter. Here is what remains constant: the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord and He will accomplish what He desires (Prov. 21:1).
Politics can be an ugly game. Researchers dig up dirt on candidates, scrolling through past social media posts, email, video clips looking for something that will discredit them. Rather than address issues, candidates seem to prefer to deride, devalue, and disrespect their opponents. “Anything goes” is the rule of the day. Behaviours that would be unacceptable on the playground are encouraged in the campaigns. Nonetheless, God has not disengaged. He knows exactly what is going on. His purposes, although hidden to us - and usually causing us confusion and challenging our trust - are being accomplished.
Hope. God will not be surprised. Not only does He know how this is all going to unfold, from eternity past He has included the details of today’s events in His good plan for human history which will accomplish His purposes. Our hope is not in the people for whom we will be voting. It is not in the system itself. It is not in our constitution. It is in the LORD our God. By God’s grace, we live in a place and time of unprecedented privilege and prosperity. That could disappear in an instant. This is seemingly unimaginable, but consider Habakkuk! In similar circumstances his response was disbelief, dismay, and yet . . . HOPE:
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab. 3:17-18 ESV)
Authority. What we are doing today is entrusting our shared, collective authority to a group of people who are chosen through the ballot casting procedure. This is just a means by which we empower those who will govern. Ultimately their opportunity and ability to exercise governance is sourced in God. They will be accountable to Him as will we for the honour and respect we show.
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. (Rom. 13:1-2 ESV)
. . . for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:11-12 ESV)
Elections do not short-change God of His sovereignty.
There are only two things left to say:
Get out and vote (and pray for our leaders), and
Go Leafs.
