How should we, as Christians, react on November 4th?
First, and let’s be really really clear on this: the results of the US Presidential election, in spite of what Trump, Biden, and ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA will tell you on Election Night and the next day, will likely not be officially decided for WEEKS. Let me say that again. WE WILL NOT KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON THE 4TH AND LIKELY NOT OFFICIALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS. And officially the Electoral College votes on December 14th, so the Presidential Elections isn’t over until then.
So with that information, how should we, as Christians, react on the 4th when Election Day is behind us and one side or the other is CLAIMING victory and there are likely protests, many angry people, possibly riots, and Trump still in the White House until at least January acting… unpredictably…?
No matter who you voted for, it’s important to remember that your neighbors might have voted differently. And whether you see your neighbors as just your neighbor or as enemy there are two things to remember:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater(Mark 12:31 ESV)
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44 ESV)
Jesus said both of those. Love your neighbor and love your enemies.
There’s no other options. There’s no other category of people. Neighbors, who you are to love, and enemies who you are to love.
So no matter who you voted for and no matter who your neighbor voted for or how they react you have one choice:
Love.
And it is probably not going to be easy. Things are going to loud and uncertain and possibly even violent. But that’s why it’s more important than every to be the kind of loving person Jesus needs us to be. The kind of person the Good Samaritan was who took an unconscious unnamed person and cared for all his medical needs, even asking for future bills to be sent to him — for a man whose name he never knew.
Check on your neighbors, even if they still have ‘that’ sign in their yard. Maybe take them some cookies or banana bread. Offer to walk their dog. See if they need toilet paper.
That’s our plans for Novermber 4th. That’s how we’re going to react.
