We’re often reminded to ask ourselves, when we’re at a critical juncture, this simple question: What Would Jesus Do? Frankly, as I’ve reflected on the 2016 US Presidential candidate who was declared the winner, I’ve mused on a similar question: How Would Jesus Vote? The spiritual voice in my head keeps telling me firmly that the man who prevailed on Election Day wouldn’t have been Christ’s choice.
- If you feel as I do, this post is for you. Can we talk?
While our faith in some of our fellow citizens may have been badly battered, we can’t let our faith in the Almighty waver. We can’t. Scripture tells us that when we’re weak, he’s strong. In times like these, strive to find comfort in those who voted like you . . . and the one who walks with you and me and ‘makes our path straight’. Acknowledge the Almighty, even on those days when you turn on the TV and see something about politics that makes you want to scream or cry.
- To put it simply, when abiding Christians are presented with a mountain, they must trust that they’ll have the power to climb the unclimbable. They know they’re not climbing alone.
Four Habits for dealing with your Post-election mountain
How can you successfully deal with the huge mountain that the events of the last 35 days, and the campaign season which preceded it? There are 4 habits, four steps to climb the political/societal mountain that you, I, and those who voted for one of the defeated candidates should practice.
- Stay: Don’t flee and run from a challenging situation. When you do choose to stay, be engaged, not paralyzed due to indecision – like a deer in a car’s headlights. Those deers don’t fare very well, do they? Stay engaged and face the situation at hand.
- Pray: If you do, a way to deal with the giant may be divinely revealed to you. Guess what? With some help from Him, you may even be able to take down the giant without casting a single stone! The Lord doesn’t utter ‘void words’! (Isaiah 55:11).
- Slay: If you haven’t run or avoided asking the Lord for help, you’ll be in a far better position to deal with the situation – slay the giant. Your ‘walking buddy’ will not leave or forsake you. David (1 Samuel 17) knew this! You and I should too, right?
The 4th Habit is about what you can do for OTHERS.
This is based in the well-known Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25 – 37). A Sermon my Pastor (Dr. Rev. James A. Webster) gave on September 18th on this parable revealed how people in life, when faced with ‘man lying on the side of the road’ situations, generally fall into one of three categories:
- Assisters (the category God wants abiding Christians to be in)
- Avoiders (crossing to the other side of the road)
- Abusers
You may be asking now: Who might be someone needing an assisting, Good Samaritan like me? Three groups of people come to mind:
- People who are the victims of post-election hate, racism, bigotry, or anti-immigrant hatred. You may be able to assist such people in a way that they’ll never forget. Ever!
- Like-minded Christians who need to be reminded to stay, pray, and slay. If this is a racially-diverse group, this has the potential to be mutually beneficially. There is great power in knowing that people who don’t look like you DO share similar feelings. Even if they aren’t very religious, the things you hear from spiritually-grounded, moral people may make their day – or yours.
- Someone who voted for the man who was the victor, but who is now having reservations about the voting choice they made 5 weeks ago. This may be the toughest group to work with. However, what you do could change how they vote and live forever. You may be the designated angel to convey the benefits of studying the Bible and using the What Would Jesus Do question to guide their life – and future election choices.
I can speak to the amazing power of interacting with those in the second group. In the next post on this blog I will share a story of someone who helped people (1st group) who were the victims of racist and misogynistic rants. Who says Good Samaritans only happen in the Bible?
- A New England businessman, in a rowdy Southern bar on Election Night, got more than he could stand.
Peace be with you.
Greg Silverthorne
66 Assurance Way
66 Assurance Way 