By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Election Day – May we earnestly be in prayer and fasting over our nation for God’s shalom, Christ’s ongoing redemptive work, and the power of the Holy Spirit to fill Jesus’ church. Following God’s design and command to be known by our selfless love and our radical unity, we enter a significant moment of opportunity to vividly express who we are.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come (Rev 4:8). The truth that God is “holy, holy, holy” speaks to his eternality, divine perfection in the Trinity, and absolute otherness. He alone is worthy of our worship.
Salvation belongs to God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (7:10). Trite but true – we do not worship or put our hope in an elephant or a donkey. Our trust is in the Lamb of God. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be [our] shepherd; he will lead [us] to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes. (7:17)
My eyes are fixed on Jesus, but I hear my mom’s wisdom, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthy good!”
Despite whomever is our next public lands commissioner or president, our work remains the same. What does the Lord require of [us]? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God. (Micah 6:8). We remain people of justice, mercy and humility. What is the greatest commandment? We remain people who love our God with our whole beings and love people like ourselves; in fact counting other’s interests more important than our own (Phil 2:1-5). My heart and hopes are here.
And with that I want to be clear. I am more concerned that the church actually be the church rather than the U.S. be any one of our ideas of a Christian nation. It is the church that Jesus promised to build while nations rise and fall.
My prayer for us at this election turning point for the country – Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58).
Yes, vote in the most biblically informed way as a Christ follower. Policies do matter. And just as importantly, get involved in people’s lives and in your wider community. Put your best energies and attention into doubling down on being close to people and to pain. Get granular. Get personal. Invest locally. Take walks to see what you can’t from the car. Have conversations to see where the Spirit leads. Mentor somebody. Definitely disciple somebody. Go to a city council or school board meeting. Volunteer. Be radically generous. Share your story. Be the church, Mission Friends. Be the church. We hold onto our hope in Christ as the church has always during the most perilous of times. Stand firm. Be strong and courageous. Continue to fight the good fight.