When Elections Fall Short…

This coming Sunday, I will be preaching on Mark 8:31-34, where Jesus shared with His disciples what was about to happen to Him when He returned to Jerusalem. Jesus was facing imminent arrest, suffering, death, and His resurrection, but all were needed to accomplish the Father’s. Peter, ever quick to react, rebuked Jesus for what He had said, and Jesus responded with a rebuke of His own: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mk 8:33, ESV).

What was Peter thinking? I’m speculating a bit, but to be fair, he was probably concerned for Jesus’s health and well-being, but also for the work that he had given everything up for. It goes to figure that when a leader dies, a movement will usually stop, and from man’s perspective, the loss of Jesus would be devastating. This logic dictates that Jesus should never die, or at least avoid dying, and Peter’s response communicated that idea in mind.

Yet the ways of man are not the ways of God, and the ways of man will always fall short.

This brings me to today. This morning, I woke up disappointed at the news of our election in Ohio, as issue after issue fell short of what is right and proper in our state. Issue One passed, and now abortion is firmly in the constitution of Ohio. Issue Two succeeded as well, and since the recreational use of marijuana is now legal in the state, we are certainly going to be a smellier place from its distinctive “skunk smell” not to mention the real threat of having additional impaired drivers to go with its increased recreational use. Yes, in my view, the election was disappointing and sad.

And with such a result comes the reminder that people will vote as their heart believes, and we should remember that elections will miss the mark in a post-Christian society. So what is our response? More lobbying? More marketing activities? More politicking? These responses all fall short as they are all man-centered, and we end up looking more like Peter than our Savior. These ways pale in comparison to God’s ways, and although Christians should vote and passionately speak on issues, we cannot depend on these activities. Rather, elections should remind us that there is more gospel work to be done. This work is not going to happen through the ballot box, clever marketing, or gimmicks, but through the faithful sharing of the gospel. It’s on us, after all, to be the missionaries our neighbors need, as their souls cry out for someone, anyone, to share Jesus with them.

Church, wake up. Let’s love those who are without our Shepherd. Let’s stop demonizing people and instead love them with the blood-covered beauty of the gospel. Let’s care enough to get out of our comfort zones and do the real work that God calls us to do: to have gospel-centered conversations with others who desperately need eternal life. Let’s return to our own first love, sparking a fire in our hearts to reach more, teach more, and serve more with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s change our state, one soul at a time.

We have work to do. May we step out for the Kingdom. May God use us to advance His gospel and change the world.

Pastor Fran