I’m actually writing this on Wednesday, so before the polls open. This means that technically I don’t know what the result is yet. Though unlike quite a few other recent elections, we probably have a strong idea of what the conclusion will be. Over the past 15 years, votes have thrown up a few surprises including the Coalition of 2010, Cameron’s surprise majority in 2015 and May losing it in 2017. Brexit itself was a surprise to many. It looks highly unlikely though that we will be waking up this morning surprised.
So, how do we respond to the General Election result? Well, I think there are some things we can say that are true whichever way things go.
- Be alert and loving towards others
Back in 2016, on the Sunday after the referendum, quite a few of our church members were shell-shocked. They arrived for church in funeral mood. The risk was that this could have shaped our worship time. I had to remind them that if they felt like it was a day for mourning, others would be celebrating. We needed to be alert to that mood. Similalrly, those in triumphant mood needed to be reminded that other brothers and sisters were grief stricken and some were very afraid for their future.
Some of us will be joyful, relieved, excited, feeling vindicated today. Others will be feeling disappointed, crushed, anxious. We need to look out for each other. Let’s be praying for one another and seeking to understand why those emotions are present.
- Our true delight and hope is in God’s sovereignty
After the referendum, I wrote that one thing had not changed. God was still on the throne. This is true today. This is important for those who wanted, worked or prayed for a different result. Our trust is in Him, whatever the political climate. This means that this is the election result that God purposed and he will use it for his glory and for the Gospel.
But it is equally important for those of us who are excited y today’s result to remember God’s sovereignty too. Why? Well because we need to be reminded of a few things. First, that we cannot put our trust in politicians and parties. The government before July 4th was led by frail, fallen, fallible humans, so too the government after today. They will get things wrong, they may well let us down and that might be sooner rather than later.
It’s also important to remember what we mean when we say that God is sovereign over the election result. It does not mean that because this is the result we have got that God is specifically going to use this government to materially bless the nation. It doesn’t mean that these are the good guys and they are vindicated. Nor does it mean that God is punishing wither a political party or the country, that the bad guys have been put in power as a form of Isaiah style judgement. Indeed, we should be careful not to second guess God’s secret will here, whether he has decreed a time of plenty or a time of want, a time of peace and prosperity or conflict and hardship. We simply know that God will somehow use this, with all things for good.
- Our own priorities and responsibilities remain the same
Joseph lived through times of plenty and times of suffering, both in his own life when rising to prominence and being thrown into pits and prisons, and in terms of the wider world going through 7 years of plenty and 7 of famine. His responsibility throughout was to keep trusting, worshipping, listening to, speaking for and serving the one true God.
Our responsibility today remains the same as yesterday. Our church has a number of aims including to impact nations, be for the good of our city and to make Jesus the most talked about name here in Birmingham. Those priorities are unchanged this morning.
We still have the same responsibility to do good, to look after those in need, to care for our families. We still have a responsibility to pray and intercede. We still are meant to be speaking up for what is right and good. Today, as yesterday, we need to be hearing God speak through his Word. Under this government as much as the last, the biggest need here is for people to hear the Gospel and meet Jesus, our responsibility is to be ambassadors for him.
Faithroots 