Jeff Adams

Did you listen to the big VP debate tonight? I was looking forward to it, but I had the chance to hang out with some of our students tonight and discuss missionality. Sorry, Sarah! See ya later, Joe! By the time I got home I just got to hear the last little bit before the debate wrapped up. No big deal. I’ll watch later. And, I’m sure there will be many media heads to tell me what I’m hearing.

I did have some political thoughts this morning as I was reading through Psalm 85. Here’s the passage that captured my attention.

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Psalm 85:8-13

The context of this psalm is messianic, of course. There are, however, some great principles to guide us even today as we contemplate the upcoming elections and the current economic crisis.

First, this is a time to learn to listen to God. Our prayer is often seeing how loudly we can cry out to God. I am thinking more and more that prayer ought to be as much as listening to God as it is talking to God. In the midst of an historic time in America, are we listening to hear what God might be saying? Have we learned to listen in the circumstances, crises and concerns? Or, as the psalmist would suggest, are we running square into the midst of folly driven by our fears?

Second, are we looking beyond the current situations to see the salvation and glory to come? Wisdom does not ignore the crisis of the moment, but yet looks far beyond the moment to see the big picture of God’s plan – surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him. Do we really see this, believe this? This long range, big picture thinking is what enables us to fear God, not to fear circumstances or current conditions.

Third, as we look toward November elections, putting all party affiliation and personal interests aside, which candidates reflect the beautiful and balanced truth of these verses? In which candidates do we see this balance of mercy and truth? Righteousness and peace? Think about this for just a moment. The question is not which is the “Christian candidate,” rather which candidate most perfectly reflects this balance of mercy and truth, righteousness and peace? Let’s be honest – there are plenty of Christians who are so messed up they are off the chart! And, while we are being frank, there are non-believing individuals who more accurately reflect certain aspects of biblical truth than many believers. Our societal elections are to elect people to govern by truth, mercy, righteousness and peace, not to elect a pastor.

Register to vote. Be an informed voter at all levels – local, state and national. Prayerfully consider the men and women who are running for office, and vote for those who most accurately embody biblical principle, regardless of their personal religious affiliation or lack thereof, and regardless of party affiliation.