Our national election day (November 5) is quickly approaching. As news and conversations heat up, it is good for us as Christian citizens in the United States to keep in mind our responsibilities. We cannot believe the lie that faith and politics do not mix. Nor should we disengage. The example of the Old Testament prophet Daniel is instructive for us on this point. He lived distinctly as one of God’s people in a pagan culture (Daniel 1:8); he spoke the truth about God (Daniel 2:28); he desired the welfare of the pagan king (Daniel 4:19); he believed God’s kingdom reigns (Daniel 4:25); he looked beyond the exile (Daniel 9:2); and he was a man of prayer and realism confessing his sins and God’s people’s sins (Daniel 9:14). So let us be people of faith in our great God like Daniel in this intense political season.

I commend to you a couple of resources to stir you up to love and good works as we seek to be citizens of heaven first and citizens of our country second.

• Make Civics Great Again: A Pastoral Guide to Casting Ballots Wisely by Trent Hunter. You can read or listen (38:18 min) to this article – I especially appreciate the explanation of our country being a constitutional federal republic.
• Politics, Conscience, and the Church: The Why, What, and How of Political Disagreement by Andy Naselli. You can read or listen (52:04 min) to this article – Naselli’s categories of “straight-line” and “jagged-line” are helpful when navigating political decisions and discussions.

Keep looking to Jesus Bethel church family,

Pastor Matt