Every four years, like clockwork, my skin starts to crawl. No, I’m not allergic to leap years. This itchy feeling happens right around the start of the presidential election season. And maybe it’s just me, but these elections seem even more intense and polarizing these past few rounds than they were when I was growing up.
It’s an intense season, and that can mean a lot of fiery opinions and emotions over issues people care deeply about. That’s a combination that can lead to strong reactions and sometimes arguments too.
As someone finding her voice after years of people-pleasing, this is a tricky process for me. If you, like me, have trouble finding the balance, Paul gives some suggestions to help us seek unifying peace (that apply even in a tempestuous election season).
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2): Followers of Christ are not immune to the influence of the patterns of this world. Prayer, personal Bible study, and stillness with God are all ways that we cultivate our faith and align ourselves with God’s heart daily. Connecting with God is allowing ourselves to be formed by him, to grow more in Christlike character, and not let the world around us dictate our beliefs or actions. We can come from a much healthier place to engage with others when we tend our minds and souls.
What should we pray for in this season? Pray to grow in Christlikeness in how you interact with others, to see other image bearers the way God sees them, and to express yourself clearly, truthfully and humbly, with compassion. Pray to be open to what God has to teach you through others in this season, and pray for gentleness and respect in your interactions.
Pray for the safety and health of our country’s leaders (non-partisan), and that God would guide their decisions for his glory and our good. Pray for their integrity and resilience in the challenging roles they have, and guidance toward what is best.
Start with humility (Ephesians 4:3-4): In choosing humility, we set our expectations for our relationships and interactions accordingly. Humility involves gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. Love and unity are the goals. Romans 12:3 tells us that humility isn’t making yourself a doormat, but rather thinking of yourself in a sober-minded way, not elevating yourself above others.
Humility means seeing someone as God sees them: made in his image, beloved by him, and worthy of being treated respectfully. It’s appreciating that we are made differently and uniquely, with individual experiences and journeys. It’s an openness to the fact that someone may see things from a different view, and that your view might not be best or right for everyone.
To approach with humility, try being compassionately curious and asking questions. Be present in your listening, not quick to reply. (My kids memorized James 1:19-20 in 2020, and it continues to be a great guide for conversation.) I also love how Paul puts it in Colossians 3:12–”Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15): We’re not asked to silence ourselves, be dishonest, or simply agree with the other person to maintain some kind of “status quo”. Paul instructs us that as we speak the truth in love, we grow in maturity as the body of Christ. That maturity comes from working out our issues, without bulldozing someone else, or being silent and passive, either.
Approaching with humility and listening with curiosity are two parts of the equation; the third is being honest about your thoughts and opinions. This is part of supporting the body of Christ, part of building it up with love and doing our own parts.
Speak the truth in love by praying before, after, even during the conversation. Remember your goal of peace. Actively listen. Be straightforward. Share scriptures as appropriate (see Colossians 3:16-17). Keep putting on the “new self” of humility and caring for others (see Ephesians 4:22-23).
Use your words wisely (Ephesians 4:29-31): Paul closes out Ephesians with a charge to speak words that are helpful and build up instead of tearing down. He indicates in context that the Holy Spirit prompts us to speak life-giving words, as he warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
And then he gets very specific and very practical. Bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice have no place in the kingdom of God, nor our speech. I don’t know about you, but those are things I have to check within myself and surrender over to God, continually. It’s laying down a need to be right or to win an argument.
He also gets practical in how we oppose those qualities: by being kind and compassionate, and forgiving like Christ does for us. We have the greatest example in Jesus!
Take heart! There is comfort in the reminder that we need to forgive. It allows for the fact that mistakes will happen and people will be hurt. It’s okay to make mistakes if you go back to being humble and asking for forgiveness, or offering it as needed.
As the body of Christ grows in engaging in conversations with kindness and compassion, we will make an impact on the world around us, operating differently than the world does. We can make it through this election season and beyond without allowing the Enemy to tear us apart. Keep leaning in to God and the Holy Spirit, stay honest and humble, and speak the truth in love.
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Read more of Jenn’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
