By Lt. Col. Darin Gaub, US Army ret
Co-founder of Restore Liberty
There is something deeply troubling about watching professing Christians react to election results (or potential results) as though the future of civilization, the survival of Christianity, and the sovereignty of Almighty God depend entirely upon which candidate wins.
Each never-ending political cycle continuously floods us with “the most important election in history” narrative. Fear is a fund raiser.
When their preferred candidate wins, God is good. When their candidate loses, suddenly the sky is falling, the nation is doomed, and all hope is lost.
That is not faith. That is fear masquerading as conviction.
Christians are called to something far greater than political victories. We are called to trust God in all things, not merely when circumstances align with our preferences. See my article about “The Failure of Ggod” where I show why the left side falls apart when they don’t win. However, those of us who remain anchored to Christ must not become complacent when we see “our person” win, because evil never rests.
Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. Notice that Scripture provides no exception for election night.
Romans 13:1 reminds us that governing authorities exist under God’s sovereign authority. That does not mean every elected official is righteous, every policy is good, or every election outcome reflects God’s moral approval. It means that no earthly political outcome places God in a position of surprise, helplessness, or defeat. God is never quoted as saying “I didn’t see that coming.”
God has never surrendered His throne because a terrible person won an election.
Yet too many Christians behave as though their political party is their savior, their preferred candidate is their deliverer, and the ballot box is their ultimate source of hope.
That is dangerously close to idolatry. We should never put a person on a pedestal, only Jesus Christ.
There is nothing wrong with being politically engaged. Christians should vote, advocate for righteousness, defend constitutional principles, and hold elected officials accountable. We should stand courageously against injustice and refuse to compromise biblical truth.
But there is a huge difference between faithfully engaging in politics and letting politics consume our faith.
Consider Daniel. He served under pagan kings without surrendering his allegiance to God. Consider Joseph, who trusted God’s providence through betrayal, imprisonment, and political uncertainty. Neither man’s faith depended upon having a righteous government.
And neither should ours.
Jesus told His followers in John 16:33 that they would experience tribulation in this world, but they should take heart because He had overcome the world.
He did not say we would overcome the world by winning every election.
Christians who panic whenever political circumstances turn against them communicate something profoundly damaging to the watching world: that their confidence rests more securely in politicians than in Jesus Christ.
We must do better.
Fight for what is right. Speak truth boldly. Vote according to conscience and biblical conviction. Challenge corrupt leadership. Defend liberty. Never confuse trusting God with doing nothing.
But when the votes are counted, remember who remains sovereign.
Our responsibility is obedience. The outcome belongs to God.
The Church survived Roman emperors, persecution, collapsing kingdoms, revolutions, and centuries of political upheaval. It will survive another election.
If your faith collapses because your candidate loses, perhaps your faith was resting on the wrong foundation.
The sky is not falling.
God is not worried or surprised.
Jesus Christ is still King.
And that should be more than enough for anyone who claims to trust Him.
What is Faithful Political Engagement?
Faithful political engagement does not mean sitting quietly on the sidelines while our nation struggles with difficult moral and political questions. It means standing firmly for biblical truth, voting according to conscience, defending what is right, opposing what is wrong, and holding leaders and politicians accountable regardless of political affiliation.
But it also means understanding that our responsibility is to be faithful, not to control every outcome.
Christians should never confuse political defeat with spiritual defeat. We can oppose policies without demonizing people, challenge elected leaders without surrendering our peace, and fight passionately for our convictions without acting as though God’s plans depend upon our preferred candidate winning an election.
Faithful political engagement means bringing our Christian convictions into politics without allowing politics to become our religion. Yes, this means pastors should stand in pulpits and boldly proclaim the truth.
We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world—not the loudest voices spreading fear and despair whenever an election doesn’t go our way.
Our faith should shape our politics. Our politics should never determine our faith.
If you’re bothered by the direction of the world and the results of elections, remember that the final majority vote will be cast someday, and each person decides their own destination. We already know most will choose the wider path. It is sad, but it is their choice.
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