{"id":1858,"date":"2025-01-21T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2025\/01\/21\/reading-the-room-a-pastoral-vision-for-a-politically-weary-congregation-2\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T11:00:00","slug":"reading-the-room-a-pastoral-vision-for-a-politically-weary-congregation-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/reading-the-room-a-pastoral-vision-for-a-politically-weary-congregation-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading the Room: A Pastoral Vision for a Politically Weary Congregation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was the exhale heard around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After what seemed like the longest election cycle in American history, the race for Leader of the Free World reached its long-awaited conclusion on November 7. Depending on which candidate you deemed most worthy of the office, it was either a better or bitter end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a pastor, you likely experienced a sense of relief, regardless of the result. A church divided by political allegiances weighs heavily on pastoral hearts, and no wonder, when you consider the past two election cycles and the damage that politics in general has done among evangelicals and churches.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I am not here to provide data or statistics on political divisions in the church (there is plenty of that). What I want to do is address the Now what?<\/em> questions that pastors may have as President-elect Donald Trump enters his second term, and more specifically, how you can lead and encourage your congregations who are likely suffering some measure of political fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acknowledge the Mood in the Room<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You are not preaching politics from the pulpit when you acknowledge what people may be experiencing in this cultural moment. In fact, one of the most pastoral responses we can give in times of uncertainty is the one Jesus gave to his disciples in John 14:27, \u201cPeace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.\u201d By acknowledging the mood in the room and the lack of peace in the world, you give people permission to rejoice or grieve, while teaching them to be curious and sensitive to the various emotions their brothers and sisters may be experiencing. If that isn\u2019t enough, you also let your people know that political differences don\u2019t need to be taboo if they are approached with a heart of understanding, reasonableness, and grace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Speak in Vague Generalities <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without ignoring wisdom and discernment, try not to dance around the political differences that exist among your people. Common deflections like \u201cwhatever side of the political aisle you\u2019re on\u201d or \u201cwe don\u2019t do politics at our church\u201d may feel like safer responses in the moment, but these vague generalities fail to provide clear, thoughtful leadership informed by the gospel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address these differences effectively, we must understand the specific challenges facing both sides of the political divide. Justin Giboney highlights<\/a> two key dangers for the relationships of people who hoped for opposing outcomes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Whether your candidate wins or loses, there will still be hurting people who need you to give them hope and be a sober and thoughtful advocate for them. Don\u2019t let the outcome defeat you or compel you to pretend the battle is won. Avoid bitterness and triumphalism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For those who voted for Trump, the danger might be a kind of triumphalist complacency. They feel vindicated after Trump\u2019s victory, forgetting that their hope should have never depended on whether Trump won back the office or not. This kind of triumphalist mindset bypasses the missionally minded sensitivity and understanding that neighbors who feel disappointment or fear will need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who voted for Harris, the danger might be falling into a state of bitterness or despair, instead of remembering that their hope was never meant to be placed in the election of one candidate or the defeat of another. Left unaddressed, hearts burdened in this way can grow cynical and create a lasting divide between neighbors that goes far beyond politics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inauguration provides pastors with an inflection point to step courageously down the middle of political divides with a message of divine hope. To remind their people that \u201cThe war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue\u201d but that \u201cthe eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love\u201d (Ps. 33:17\u201318, ESV). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer Unifying Words and Prayers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t discount the healing power of unifying language on the hearts and minds of your people. Pastors, you have so much more than a “can’t we all just get along\u201d gospel. Your words and prayers carry the power of resurrection contained in them. Never grow weary of casting God\u2019s vision for your people, that Jesus Christ was sent \u201cto unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth\u201d (Eph. 1:10). We can be sure that unity matters to God because of how great the cost was for Christ to accomplish it. Because this is true, when church members divide over politics, the mission of God is marginalized, mocked, and maligned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a pastor\u2019s calling is to point people to the love, forgiveness, peace, and joy of Jesus, then let\u2019s offer continual glimpses of those realities by exhorting the faithful and praying for the unity that has already been provided through the salvation of Christ. It is no small thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Your People Back to Acts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may be a necessary thing to preach unity, but it\u2019s another thing to actually practice<\/em> it. Our unity must move beyond words into visible acts of faith. In these delicate times, few things will display the love of Christ as powerfully as church members who lay aside their political differences and sacrificially serve one another. The church is uniquely positioned right now\u2014in exactly the right place and at the right time\u2014to love and serve in the most countercultural ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greatest way for the church to shed its (sadly, earned) reputation as a hub for nationalist ideologies is by becoming what Jesus died on the cross for it to be\u2014a community of light carriers who love God, love their neighbors, and love seizing every opportunity they can to offer that light to others. \u201cHere, have some light!\u201d the church exclaims, and the world is once again dumbfounded by acts of divine kindness and compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastors must offer their congregations the countercultural vision: a bold reminder that the Lord remains sovereign regardless who the American people elect as their president. Empires may rise and fall, leaders may come and go, but his eternal purposes stand firm. The church’s calling remains unchanged\u2014to live as faithful witnesses, anchored in his unchanging plan within an ever-shifting world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be clear, there would have been many concerning implications of the election of either candidate, and this article is not meant to dismiss or candy-coat the underlying complexities. Rather, it offers some ways forward for pastors seeking to shepherd their people through these challenging times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the inauguration approaches, our task is clear: to read the room with wisdom and discernment, avoid trite spiritual fix-its, and lead our people to refix their eyes on the One who through whom \u201call things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him\u201d (Col. 1:16). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ronnie Martin is the director of leader care and renewal for Harbor Network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was the exhale heard around the world. After what seemed like the longest election cycle in American history, the race for Leader of the Free World reached its long-awaited conclusion on November 7. 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