Staying Sane During Election Season

If you’ve been on social media at any point you might have noticed that people have some STRONG opinions about politics. As a Christian how are we to respond to all of this emotion in our news feeds…or even on the actual news? Our tendency can be to push away from engaging in politics altogether. But what if I told you that it is possible for a Christian to participate in politics without losing their mind or soul in the process? Now this does not mean that Christians should not be active in politics. It does mean we don’t quit being a Christian when acting out in the political arenas. Our job is to transform the world NOT be transformed by it. You know that old saying “I vote so I have the right to complain”? This just isn’t true. Whether you vote or don’t vote, complaining about an issue isn’t productive…in fact I would say that this is more DEstructive. As Christians there is a healthy way for us to engage in politics. One of the challenges we face is finding the right source for our information. Usually it is news outlets that are purposely polarizing in order to boost their ratings. This dynamic creates an “us or them” attitude. It forces us into picking a side – think, “cancel culture.” This is especially common with our elected officials. Because we “elected” that person, we feel entitled to our disrespect when they fail to meet our expectations. The truth is, every Christian has the responsibility to honor our elected officials. We must respond in a way that is wise, respectful, and proper. The bottom line is that in every single thing we do, there is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others…this includes the way we engage in politics.