What to Do After Election Day

Two years ago I wrote an article on this blog entitled "After the Ballots Have Been Counted." It was my humble attempt to encourage Christians to thoughtfully prepare for the unknown outcome of a particularly momentous and tumultuous political contest.  

Now we’re on the eve of another especially significant Election Day and it’s difficult not to fret. Indeed, I’m gravely concerned about how our country will react tomorrow, no matter which party ends up controlling the House and the Senate. It’s very hard not to feel the heat of the political pot on the stove and wonder at what point will things boil over?

But part of my job as a Christian is to help turn down the heat, not increase it with anxious (or angry) predictions. The Bible tells me that the “fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them who make peace.” (James 3:18) Now granted, part of the reason for the heat right now is because of the reaction of unrighteous people towards righteousness. And for that, I’m afraid the boiling water can’t be simmered. Even Jesus was demonized by unrighteous leaders for calling out their evil ways.

So no, we can’t stop sowing righteousness. But we can show the world how to sow that righteousness peacefully---just like Jesus did. Jesus didn’t just criticize the problems of the day; He lived the kingdom of God by bringing it to all He encountered (including those religious leaders like Nicodemus who had genuine openness to receive it). He loved his friends, His neighbors and His enemies. He engaged in conversations about the kingdom with those in the street as much as with those in the synagogue. 

Right now, probably the most significant thing we can do after Election Day is to show our communities what it means to be a Christian. What does it mean to be a Christian?  Check out Galatians 5:22-23, commonly known as the “Fruits of the Spirit”, for a good reminder. Then ask the Lord how you can be more loving, more joyful, more kind, etc. in how you interact with those around you. Oh, and by the way, that doesn’t get us out of calling out unrighteousness—after all, goodness is a fruit of the Spirit too. But it will help us engage the people in our lives in a way that shows them the fullness of the Gospel of the Christ we represent.  

With that said, here are a few bullet-point actions for you to consider implementing in the aftermath of this year’s mid-terms to help keep the political pot from boiling over:

• Thank God for the outcome of the election, even if you are unhappy about the results. Then commit to praying positively and regularly for each of your elected officials.

• Refrain from apocalyptic laments or disparaging gloats on social media about the election results. Commit to keeping political dialogue civil (either on social media or otherwise). And by the way, “civility” simply means being kind and polite. (Our first president had some rules about this topic that might be of some help).

• Extend good-will towards someone you know personally who voted differently from you.

• Prayerfully consider what you might do to be a help (no, really, I mean that) to your local government officials. Ask them what needs in your community you (or your church) could be involved in helping meet.

• Look for opportunities during the holidays to participate in activities that will put you in contact with people from your community, regardless of their political affiliation. We need reminders that people are people, and far more than the sum of their party affiliation. You may be surprised how much you might have in common.

Meantime, please make sure you get to the polls tomorrow and VOTE! It’s a privilege that we cannot afford NOT to use.