It would be hard to find many people who do not think that the coming 2024 elections are very important to our nation’s present and its future. But how do followers of Christ approach this time considering that our nation has, in many ways, aggressively rejected God’s standards? How should believers pray? Should believers just ignore the whole election and not participate? What should a follower of Christ do when there are few candidates on the federal, state, or local level that seem to courageously support those policies that reflect biblical standards? These are serious matters and we believers need to remember that we are in this culture/nation for such a time as this. Hiding in our bunkers is likely not to be the behavior of a follower of Jesus Christ. There are some things we can learn from history: in this case biblical history.
King Josiah and those Dangerous Days in Judah (2 Chronicles 33:20-34:33). The days of Josiah were characterized by evil, not righteousness. Josiah’s father was Amon and he was a rebel against the Lord God of Israel. Josiah’s grandfather was Manasseh, who was the wickedness king of the entire monarchy period. He was aggressively wicked and is more ungodly than the 42 other kings who reigned in the era of kings in Israel. In fact, God said that Manasseh was more wicked than the Canaanites who lived in the land in the days of Joshua (and they were as depraved as people can be). And because of the extreme evil of Manasseh, God pronounced irreversible judgment on Judah. In other words, judgment was going to come to Judah and there was no possibility that it would not come. The dark cloud of God’s wrath now hung over Judah in the days of Josiah.
When Josiah was 6 years old, his grandfather Manasseh died. Two years later, at age 8, Josiah’s father Amon was assassinated, elevating the young boy to king of Judah. When Josiah was 16, he began “to seek the Lord”, and 4 years later he began to aggressively destroy idolatry in the land. God raised up 3 prophets to strengthen Josiah spiritually; namely, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. When Josiah reached the age of 26, he began a project to repair the Temple. While repairing the Temple the Law of God was found. When God’s Law was read to Josiah, he was rocked to the core of his being as he realized how far his nation was from the Lord their God. He agonized over Judah’s evil and he repented of this wickedness and humbled himself before the Lord. He was then informed that God saw his humble response and God was not going to bring judgment in Josiah’s day. God said that if Josiah was alive, the nation would be spared the “irreversible judgment of God.” Because of Josiah’s choice to repent and then to obey the Word of God, Judah would be given a temporary reprieve. Later, Josiah was killed in an unnecessary battle in the year BC 609, and then the prophesied judgment came in 605 when Nebuchadnezzar and the armies of Babylon overwhelmed Judah. God responded to the heartfelt cry of King Josiah and gave His people several decades of peace and rest.
The Similarities Between Our Day and Josiah’s Day. Our America and Josiah’s Judah have some similarities. Like Judah in the days of Manasseh and Amon, America has purposely walked away from God’s righteous standards and has instead embraced those of Satan’s world system. God Himself has been removed from many public spaces (judicial system, public schools, etc.) and His laws and standards are not seen as the way to go: with the result that America has rejected His laws related to being in debt; human life (abortion); marriage between one man and one woman; human sexuality (male and female only); dealing firmly and quickly with criminals; and other areas.
Because of this active national rebellion, America is in deep trouble. The Apostle Paul details what happens when people suppress God’s truth and willfully choose to reject God’s standards (Rom. 1:18-31) and we are seeing this take place just as he said. They descend into all kinds of idolatry, engage in a wide variety of immoral acts, and they become a people without a conscience. This “depraved mind,” as Paul describes their minds, is seen in acts of terrible violence, rebellion against authority, the breakdown of the family unit (which is that which gives stability to a nation) and about a dozen other manifestations. And people of influence see this evil and are glad for it (Rom. 1:32). Is not all of this being seen today in America’s national life? And like Judah, God’s wrath (present tense in Romans 1:18) is over such a people. And believing what the Scriptures declare; this situation will not improve. Real followers of Christ need to promote God’s righteous standards.
What Should Believers Do in Regards to the 2024 Election? None of us are kings, like Josiah, who had great authority to direct a nation. But, since we serve Josiah’s God, maybe there are things we can do.
- INVOLVEMENT ALLOWED BY THE GOVERNMENT. The Apostle Paul held Roman citizenship and used it when it would bring benefit to his ministry. As American citizens, we should follow the Apostle’s example and use what the government allows us to do. We can vote because we are citizens. We can become involved if we so choose in advocating for those candidates who best support those godly principles which bring blessing to a nation. Remember, we are not voting for pastors or elders of a church, we are voting for those who will make decisions on the federal, state, and local level. The laws implemented can be a blessing or a curse. Righteousness does indeed elevate a nation, and believers can play a part in that.
- LOCATING CANDIDATES WHO ADHERE TO SOME OR MANY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. The candidates’ television ads fill our living rooms and every busy intersection has dozens of signs telling us who to vote for. But, aside from identifying the political party, these really tell us very little about what the candidate believes. It is up to us to locate sources which will tell us where they stand on abortion, on same sex marriage, on God’s covenant people Israel, on fiscal responsibility (debt), on parental rights, on a biblical view of the family, on religious freedom, on the 1st and 2nd amendments, and on our security (strong military, funded police, border security). Slogans and/or bashing the other candidate is insufficient. We need to do our homework as this is part of our stewardship responsibility; that of promoting righteousness.
- PRAY FOR THERE TO BE PEACE IN OUR LIVES AND FREEDOM TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. In one of the few places in the N.T. where believers are told to pray for unbelievers, Paul said that we are to pray for “kings and for all who are in authority in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:2). This is not so that we might go on that cruise or spend more time playing golf or tennis (none of these are evil!). It is so that the gospel might be unhindered in being spread because God “desires all men to be saved” (2:4).
- REMEMBER TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Daniel was reminded that “it is He who changes the times (the sequence of events) and the epochs (major events which change history); He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21). We vote, but God determines the outcome. God has His plans for the future, some of which He has revealed in His Word. These will come to pass. There is no political party, or force of Satan, or earthly king which can thwart, or even delay, that which God is going to do for the benefit of His people. If you need to have your thinking strengthened on this matter, I would suggest you carefully read Psalm 2 and Isaiah 40. He is sovereign!!!
- PRAY FOR GOD’S WILL TO BE DONE AND FOR GOD’S MERCY TO BE MANIFESTED. When the Word of God is proclaimed, then (and only then) can revival come. Given the ongoing departure within the church on the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, I believe that national revival will probably not take place though individuals can repent and return to the Lord. When Abraham dialoged with the Lord about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:22-33), he asked the Lord for mercy. Abraham was sure that there were at least 10 righteous people in the city of Sodom (he was wrong). But don’t you think that there are 10 righteous remaining in America? Perhaps the Lord’s mercy will again be manifested. But above all we must pray for the Lord’s will to be accomplished, because as the Lord said: My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than yours, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).
SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS. Most of us see ourselves as pretty powerless to effect change in our country. And, for the most part, we are right. But we can have some influence as we remind family and friends concerning the blessings of following the godly standards of Jesus Christ. And keep in mind that the Lord has not generally brought about change through committees or mass movements, but rather through those who are wholly devoted to Him. So, open yourself up to the possibility of being used by the Lord Jesus, who does have all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). We can help others see the significance of the issues involved, and to focus on these and not on the personalities involved.
I know that the temptation is to just throw up our hands in disgust and frustration and to retreat somewhere. However, I seriously doubt that is the godly course of action.