Are you anxious about the 2024 presidential election? If so, you are no exception.
According to the American Psychological Association, almost 7 in 10 adults attributed the current US presidential election as a significant source of stress in their lives.¹ And almost 8 in 10 reported 1 feeling significant stress over the future of our nation.
Let’s face it — this has been a very unusual, and stress inducing, political season. We witnessed an assassination attempt on former President Trump that left two people dead (including the shooter) and two others critically wounded. We watched Vice President Kamala Harris receive the Democratic Party nomination without receiving a single primary vote — after it appeared that President Joe Biden was pressured by his own party to withdraw his candidacy for re-election. We watched both Harris and Trump belittle each other during the debate, while many of the major news outlets staked out sides instead of reporting the facts. And we have been bombarded by a continuous avalanche of political ads from both parties, warning us that our Constitutional government will come to an end should the other candidate win.
As a follower of Christ, how do we handle this turmoil without succumbing to anxiety and worry? How do we approach this election, and politics in general, in a way that most glorifies our Savior? Should we even vote since it appears that both candidates and parties are deeply flawed?
REMEMBER GOD
Our counsel to you is, first of all, to remember that God is in control.
As Romans 13 states, God places into positions of authority those whom He selects. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). Yes, even in our democratically-elected form of government, God is ultimately the one who places people into positions of leadership.
No one achieves any position of authority in life unless God accomplishes it. Daniel the prophet acknowledged this truth when he stated, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…” (Daniel 2:20-21a). So, no matter how tumultuous this or any political season becomes, we can rest knowing that God is in control.
PRAY
Secondly, we encourage you to pray.
Scripture commands us to pray for our government leaders, especially so that stress would be reduced in our lives. Notice how the Apostle Paul gives this command, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Although God is in control of who becomes our next president, we have a responsibility to pray for all of our government leaders. Pray for the election and all of the candidates, and pray that our nation would enjoy God’s blessing of a peaceful and quiet life no matter who wins.
And most importantly, pray that our leaders would recognize God as their authority. Our desire should be that our leaders submit to God and His Word. When leaders do so, the people are greatly blessed. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).
BE A GOOD STEWARD
Thirdly, we encourage you to be good stewards of the political privilege God has given you.
The primary way we exercise this privilege is by voting. We realize that many times in presidential elections the choice of candidates may be discouraging. Or perhaps you are indifferent to politics, and you choose not to vote. We exhort you to not neglect this responsibility. God has called us to be subject to our leaders, and that means participating in the selection process if possible (see 1 Peter 2:13-17). He wants us to fulfill our part, even if it means voting for deeply flawed individuals.
Remember, we are not voting for pastors and elders to shepherd the local church (where Scripture lays out clear qualifications). We are voting for government leaders, requiring our conscience to be guided by Biblical wisdom (more on that later).
DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH
Fourthly, study the candidates and the issues before you vote.
Research the various political issues, and make sure to know the candidates’ positions on each. And if you need help understanding and researching the candidates’ positions, utilize a source that summarizes their positions and voting record. Although there are many excellent secular organizations that provide comprehensive research and detail on candidates’ positions, we recommend you start with these three Biblically-based sources: decisionmagazine.com (the October 2024 edition), ivoterguide.com, and pafamilyvoter.com (for PA residents only).
TEST AGAINST SCRIPTURE
Fifthly, test all political positions with what Scripture says.
Now, the Bible does not directly address every political issue we face today. God is much more concerned with saving souls than with our stance on tax policy or immigration. But by studying Scripture, God gives us wisdom — wisdom needed to rightly think through both simple and complicated political issues. We also encourage you to seek counsel as you study Scripture, to ensure you remain in line with what Scripture may say about a certain topic. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20).
We recommend as a starting point Wayne Grudem’s excellent book Politics According to the Bible (Zondervan, 2010). The author analyzes over fifty various political topics, and then attempts to find a position on each based on the entirety of Scripture.
Allow God’s wisdom to guide your conscience when making decisions on political issues and candidates. Remember, our conscience must be held captive by God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:2). So as you study Scripture, God will use your conscience to help you determine which political issues must take priority. For example, an issue involving the life of a human being will be a higher priority than an issue impacting energy costs.
TRUST GOD
Lastly, no matter who wins the election, trust God.
God wants us to trust Him in all areas of life, including in our nation’s politics. Yes, God does care about the election (as we already discussed above), but He wants us to thirst after Him and His righteousness more than anything else. The question that we must face is do we care about following God and being with Him more than what happens this presidential election?
May our hearts’ desire during this election season be the same as the Psalmist: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).
- “Stress in America 2024: A nation in political turmoil,” American Psychological Association, October 2024, https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024.
About the Author
Dan graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and then from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Dan works as a district manager for Securitas Security Services. Dan and his wife Kristina have been attending CCBFC for over 25 years. They have been married for more than 30 years, and have 11 children and six grandchildren. Dan formerly served as an elder and currently serves as a Youth Group leader and teacher for Discipleship Institute classes.
About the Author
Jason serves as the Lead and Teaching Pastor at Cedar Crest. His main responsibilities are preaching in the morning worship service, leading the Elders and Church Staff, raising up new leaders, and teaching in various capacities.