An Election Day Pastoral Letter

Posted on November 3, 2020 | Posted by Pastor Daniel

An Election Day Pastoral Letter

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The anxiety is palpable.  It hangs in the air and infiltrates every
conversation.  We live our lives gingerly today, worried.  So, as
Christians, what do we do?

There are some who will feed on your anxiety.  They will stoke your
fears to get you to vote a certain way, click on a certain link, buy a
certain product.  They will use you for their own ends.

There are some who will, out of love and their own fear, seek to
minimize your anxiety.  They’ll try to minimize the importance of this
day.  “They’re all crooks, anyway.”  “There’s no real difference.” 
“God’s in charge, so none of this really matters.” But elections do
matter.  Leaders and referendums do matter.  They are a manifestation of
or against Christian values like peace, freedom, justice, uplifting the
lowly, and being a neighbor.

We are anxious, in part, because we feel powerless.  But we are not
powerless.  We are called.  Today, I encourage you to take seriously
your faith and your calling.  You are called to be a citizen.  That
calling includes voting, care for the neighbor, and working with and
praying for your leaders.  The election comes to an end today, but your
calling does not.  Today is a beginning.

And have faith.  Our God is not disinterested in the workings of this
world, but enters into them.  Like all days, today is a beginning for
God too.

May God grant you courage, wisdom, faith, and peace.
Pastor Daniel Smith