You grew up hearing little phrases that meant something in your neck of the woods. Phrases like, “You’re behind the 8-ball now” or “You’re barking up the wrong tree” or “bless your heart”. All of these meant something specific where you grew up. One I grew up hearing was “never talk about politics and religion together.”
But over the last two to three election cycles, my American friends have told me they felt like they were between a rock and a hard place. Comments like, “No candidate inspires me” or “I don’t trust either one” or “I just don’t know who I should vote for” has led to the comment, “So I’m just going to sit this one out”.
Now, I am not a political person by nature. You’ll really never hear me endorse a candidate or a platform or a party. But Paul tells us in Romans 13 that God establishes human government. And it doesn’t make sense to me that God would not want humans involved in the government he has established.
When we read Jeremiah 29, you find a prophet of God living in a broken Jerusalem who’s trying to encourage his countrymen who have been taken hostage. King Nebuchadnezzar took thousands of Israelites to Babylon as he conquered and dismantled the country of Judah. So, while the Israelites are living in a country and culture that doesn’t share their values nor their belief in the God of Israel, Jeremiah sends a letter to encourage them. This letter is written and sent to Babylon in about 597BC and Jeremiah has some insight that will help us in our difficult and divided moment here in America.
Jeremiah reminds us to be responsible in our culture. He says look you’re going to be there a while, 70 years so provide for your family, get a home, get a garden, get a job, get married, have kids and raise a family. The average life span in America is 78.9 years. And we live in a culture that doesn’t have the same beliefs we do in a risen savior nor an everlasting God. But don’t isolate, permeate. Be salt and light and live in such a way to represent Jesus well.
Jeremiah reminds us to be prayerful for our country. Our lives are wrapped up in the welfare of this country. Prayer is our declaration of dependence on God. I think most of us would agree that our country desperately needs God. So prayer for revival and another chance. Pray for our leaders to use the wisdom of God in their decision making. Pray that we’d be united instead of divided.
Jeremiah reminds us to be careful about who you consider when you vote. Every election candidates from both sides tell some truth and some things not so true. We hear positives and negatives from both sides. So, take time to think, research and learn. Don’t just listen to your favorite evening news broadcast and go with it. Investigate and discover what the real issues are in the campaign. Then make the best choice you can out of what is available. Participate in the process; don’t isolate.
Finally, Jeremiah calls us to be hopeful in your calling. Keep your eye on the permanent heavenly home. We are here for a lifetime; we are not here for all time. We are just passing through. At the end of the day, God is still on his throne. The Lamb is greater than the donkey. The Lion is greater than the elephant. As a child of God, I should never be hopeless because our God is in control.
We are about a month away from election. So, be responsible, be prayerful, be careful and be hopeful. We are called by God to be salt and light. It’s our opportunity to show our friends, coworkers, and family how to navigate a culture making sure God is the priority. Blessings on the journey.