Rich talked about this at small group, but I think this is an important think to post. (lifted from KTIS' online blog)

After the Election… What’s Next?

Dr. Paul Virts
Northwestern Radio

Political campaigns seem to bring out the worst—and sometimes, though seemingly less often, the best—in people. Candidates and their followers often turn to personal attacks to harm their opponents and to advance their own cause. They use partial information or outright distortions to gain votes. Emotions often run high—and sometimes out of control. The electorate becomes deeply—almost hopelessly–divided


So with all of the heated debate leading up to an election, how should a Christian respond to election results? Gloating—if your candidate wins? Or, despair—if your candidates loses? If we truly believe God’s Word is true and want to please Him, we should engage in neither.


In everything we say and do—whether before, during or after elections—God expects us to give evidence that His Holy Spirit lives and works in and through us (Galatians 5:22-23). We are to honor God in all we do and say (Colossians 3:17). Let’s please Him in our response to the election.


Whatever the outcome of the election, one thing remains certain—God is sovereign over all the affairs of people. Paul tells us that all governmental authority is established by God (Romans 13:1). God knows everything, is present everywhere and is supremely powerful (Psalm 139). We can revel in the awesomeness of God (Psalms 46 and 47). We never ceased to be amazed at His power (Psalm 24 and 95).


Several years ago a well-known preacher admitted that when the presidential candidate he opposed actually won the election, he awoke the next morning under a blanket of discouragement. Then, he recalls, God spoke to him, “Your candidate (who seemed to be more principled yet lost) was not able to usher in the Kingdom of God, and his opponent (who appeared to be less virtuous yet won) will not be able to stop it!” Joy returned when he moved his gaze from politicians to his sovereign God.


God also uses what appears to us to be good—and even evil—to accomplish His purposes. In hotly contested elections, it is easy for us to see one candidate as good—God’s obvious choice—and the other as evil. We convince ourselves that the good candidate must win and become disappointed when that doesn’t happen. We forget that even the “good guy” is a sinner and can mess up (read about David—II Samuel 11-12) and that the “bad guy” sometimes gets it right (Saul in I Samuel 11).


What practical steps can we take in the wake of an election? Let me suggest a few.


· We need to pray for our newly elected—or re-elected—officials so that, in the words of Paul, “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:2). When Paul wrote these words, Nero was the Roman Emperor, arresting many Christians and burning some alive publicly! Paul clearly believed we should pray for our leaders whether we agree with them and whether they are good or evil. Newly elected leaders have many important decisions to make and officials to appoint and need God’s wisdom to do so. We need to pray for peace and unity in our nation after a sometimes bitter and divisive campaign.

· We are to submit to government authorities, whether we like them or not (Romans 13:1). Again, the diabolical Nero was the Roman Emperor when Paul penned this command.

· We should respect and honor our political leaders (Romans 13:7), again whether we agree with them or not. Our human tendency is to honor and respect only those we favor, but God’s Word grants no such exemptions. Jesus (Luke 23) and Paul (Acts 24-26) exhibited respect for secular political authorities. Yes, Jesus called Herod a fox (Luke 13:32) and reminded Pilate that his power came from God (John 19:11), but there was an underlying tone of respect for their positions.

· Whether we approve or disapprove of our leaders and whether they are good or evil, God calls us to be salt (as flavoring and preservative) and light (shining the light of the Good News of Christ) in our decaying and dark world (Matthew 5:13-16).

· Since our eternal citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), let us in words and actions tell others the Good News of God’s love and help them mature in their relationship with Him with as much passion as we have spoken about political issues and candidates recently.


While we live with our feet firmly planted in a sinful and needy world, we live with an unquenchable joy, knowing our God is in control.