Election is right around the corner. You maybe experience a lot of different emotions, from fear to being hopeful. Let us look at Scripture and find 3 things that we can apply in our lives during this time of political uncertainties.
1. Unity without conformity
And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. (Colossians 3:14)
This election might be the greatest political divide in the history of our country. The division has seeped into the lives of Christians and has brought animosity and hostility between brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. This must not be so. As Christians, we must transcend this division and practice unity without conformity. We must vote for what we believe aligns closes to the Bible. But if another Christian ends up with a different conclusion, we must continue to show love. Never abandon our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ for a political reason. Justice Scalia and Ginsburg were polar opposite in their political stance, yet they remain united in their friendship. How much more for us as Christians?
2. Deep rooted peace for election outcome
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1-2)
Which party do you think God wants to win this November? The party that wins is the party that God wants to win. They may or may not be the one that reflects the Bible the most. But it is what God decides to establish for the time being. Every government authority in this world has been established by God. Therefore, no matter what happens, whoever wins this November, we can still have peace in our hearts knowing that it is God that established them. Moreover, we must continue to show respect and honor to the president who will win, whether Biden or Trump. We don’t have to agree with their stance but we must show respect due to them. Not because they’ve earned respect but because of our respect for God who has put them there.
3. Passion for politics should never exceed passion for disciple making
Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-19)
As Christians, there is nothing wrong with being passionate for politics. In fact, it shows that you care for the people around you. Christians need to care about politics. However, our passion for politics should never exceed our passion for making disciples. Politics is fickle. It is tossed here and there by a wave. Yet, the gospel message is an eternal truth that needs to be heard by everyone. By emphasizing the importance of the gospel message does not anyway minimize the importance of politics. There is a reason why Jesus never talked about politics, because it is always secondary to the gospel message.
選舉指日可待。您可能會經歷許多不同的情緒，如恐懼或盼望。讓我們看看聖經，找出在政治動盪時期可以應用於生活中的三件事。
1. 意見不同的合一 :
在這一切之外，要存著愛心，愛心就是聯絡全德的。（歌羅西書3:14）
這次選舉可能是美國歷史上最大的政治分歧，這種分歧也滲入了基督徒的生活中，造成主內兄弟姐妹之間的敵對與仇視。其實不應當如此的，基督徒應當超越歧見，在不同意見中操練合一。我們投票時必須依照與聖經真理一致的原則。但是，如果另一個基督徒有不同的定論，我們必須繼續活出愛。絕對不要因為政治立場不同而失去主內兄弟姐妹的愛。法官斯卡利亞和金斯伯格在政治立場上截然相反，卻仍能維持美好的友誼，身為基督徒的我們能否彼此相愛呢？
2. 為選舉結果深感平安:
在上有權柄的，人人當順服他，因為沒有權柄不是出於 神的。凡掌權的都是 神所命的。所以，抗拒掌權的就是抗拒神的命；抗拒的必自取刑罰。（羅馬書13：1-2）
你認為神想讓哪個政黨在今年11月的選舉取得勝利？贏得選戰的政黨就是上帝的旨意。當選者也許是、也可能不是最能與聖經真理一致的人。但這是神在這時間決定設立的。這個世界上的每一個政府權威都是由上帝設立的。因此，無論發生什麼事，無論今年11月的當選者是誰，我們仍然可以內心感到平靜，因為知道是上帝設立了他們。此外，我們必須繼續向當選的總統表示尊重和尊榮，無論他是拜登還是特朗普。我們不必同意他們的立場，但我們必須對他們表示尊重。不是因為他們贏得了尊重，而是因為我們對把他們放在那位置的上帝的尊重。
3. 對政治的熱情永遠不應超過作門徒的熱情
耶穌進前來，對他們說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。 所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。」（馬太福音28：18-19）
基督徒有政治熱情並沒有錯，這其實表示你關心周圍的人，基督徒需要關心政治。但是，我們對政治的熱情不應超過我們作門徒的熱情。政治變化多端，翻來覆去。然而福音信息卻是永恆不變的真理，每個人都當聽福音。強調福音真理的重要性並不會減低政治的重要性，耶穌從不談論政治是有原因的，因為福音真理永遠高過政治。
～ Min. David Or 柯啟洋傳道～