There is so much division and contention around us. People have different opinions, which become more evident during the election season. We all long for unity! However, unity is not something we pursue in our efforts; as followers of Christ, it is a gift we receive, affirm, and celebrate.
Celebrate the heavenly citizenship of all believers. A central theme of the New Testament is that all believers are strangers and pilgrims (immigrants) on this earth because we have eternal and heavenly citizenship, as stated in Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Other passages that also teach this important reality are 1 Peter 2:11, Ephesians 2:17–19, and Hebrews 11:13.
Consequently, all Christians are citizens of the country where they were born or live, but we are also immigrants in that place because we have heavenly citizenship. We all live with the tension of honoring our duties as citizens of both places. Despite our national identity, believers are united in Christ and part of a global community transcending all human borders. Celebrating our national identity and supporting our country as good citizens is important. Still, at the same time, we must honor the heavenly citizenship that we share with all believers in the world.
As citizens of a country, we must participate in elections and respect the government, but we must never confuse the laws of God with the laws of the world. However laudable, governments are imperfect, and Christians must live by heavenly standards of conduct. As Christians, we can celebrate our heritage and be good patriots, but we also celebrate our unity with other Christians worldwide. Our heavenly citizenship unites us and urges us to live according to divine values that are always perfect and promote all human beings’ dignity and worth.
Remind your congregation that divine values transcend political interests. Amid differences of opinion and political agendas, Christians do not have to be adrift or divided. Political leaders and people with social influence often make decisions based on their own interests or are influenced by social or economic pressure. The Lordship of Christ guides us to place our allegiance only on Christ and his values. Human beings, created in the image of God, have more value than any economic agenda or political interests. Theologian Cornelius Plantinga, in his excellent devotional book Beyond Doubt, describes our relationship with the government and with God in this way:
The Christian church obeys the state, but obeys God first. The state is God’s instrument of justice and peace, but like all else, it needs reform. So, we offer obedience, but not reverence. We honor the state, and also keep an eye on it. Sometimes we honor the state by protesting its evil, and by refusing to give in to it. After all, Caesar is emperor, but Christ is Lord, and Christians are people who know the difference.
Christ has only one Church. Even though we are all different, we are members of the same body with believers worldwide. We are united in Christ regardless of our culture, language, nationality, and political preferences. Having political convictions and voting according to our conscience is essential. But let us never forget that we are one in Christ regardless of our opinions or preferences. Our unity becomes the light to this world that desperately needs hope in the present circumstances.
Note: This reflection was a contribution to the piece, “How to Thrive in a Tumultuous Election Season Biblical Guidelines and Practical Advice for Pastors and Christian Leaders” at the Talbot Magazine, Summer 2024.
