Honoring Christ During the Election Season

Waypoint family,

As we enter the final stretch of the election season, we wanted to share a resource that we found from a pastor in Arizona. We hope this simple guide based on Scripture will help all of us honor Christ during this contentious time for our nation. 

Commitment-During this election season, I commit to following Jesus in my political participation and discourse. 

Worship

I commit my allegiance to King Jesus over all idols and ideologies. (Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 115:1-8; Philippians 2:9-11)

Love of Neighbor

I commit to participating in civic life as a means of loving and serving my neighbor rather than just serving my own interests. (Matthew 22:34-40; Philippians 2:1-11)

Image of God

I commit to honoring the image of God in all people by treating them with respect and abstaining from dehumanizing caricatures. (Genesis 1:26; James 3:9)

Biblical Wisdom

I commit to having my views challenged by the biblical story rather than using the Bible to proof- text my predetermined positions. (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16)

Biblical Justice

I commit to understanding and pursuing justice as l engage in civic life, not minimizing Scripture's repeated call to seek justice, and allowing Scripture to critique popular conceptions of justice in our culture. (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Matthew 23:23)

Fruitful Speech

I commit to engaging in political discourse with speech that is marked by the fruit of the Spirit— love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23; James 3)

Peacemaking

I commit to face-to-face conflict resolution rather than vitriolic arguments on social media or talking behind someone's back. (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:17-21)

Removing the Log

I commit to giving more attention to examining the potential flaws in my own political leanings, conduct, and sin than I give to scrutinizing others. (Matthew 7:1-5)

Humble Learning

I commit to being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger as I seek to learn from the varied perspectives within the body of Christ. 1(Corinthians 12:12-26; James 1:19)

Loving Enemies

I commit to loving and praying for my so-called political enemies, especially those I have the hardest time loving and praying for. This includes a commitment to praying for our government leaders regardless of who wins the election. (Matthew 5:43-44; 1Timothy 2:1-4)

Let us continue to be a local church that loves the Triangle, our state, our nation, and the nations, as we seek bring the hope of Jesus to a broken and hurting world!