what now?

​There are varying degrees to which Christians are called to engage in the political sphere. I can’t see, Scripturally, that any of us are called to disengage completely, because politicians make POLICIES, and policies affect PEOPLE. The body of Christ is called to care about people. So, I believe we must then care about the policies which affect them AND the politicians who create those policies. And, because God’s hand touches every sphere of human life, I believe God cares about politics, too.
 
That being said: to varying degrees.
 
Some of us are called to be influential on our local school boards or city councils. Some are called to run for state congress. Some to work in the halls of the White House. Some, even, to the office of President.
 
And some of us are simply called to vote for the politicians with the policies that align most closely with what God says is best for humans. He does know what’s best, because He created us, so we need to vote from a Biblical worldview.
 
BUT THEN. What happens after we vote? After we’ve educated ourselves, our families, our friends and been faithful to our duty as citizens of the country in which God has placed us? What’s our next course of action?
 
Some of us will be called to further engage. To run for office or help those who do.
 
But most of us will be called to the walls of our homes, for our domain of control lies predominantly within them. Our duty, now as always, is first to God and then to our families. To our churches. To our personal friends. Most of us are not called to continue to spend exhaustive amounts of time engaging with what is happening in Washington, DC. The chips will fall where they may. But WE have a clear Biblical duty to teach the Gospel to our children, to raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to love our spouses well. To honor our parents, to serve the body of Christ, to care for the widow and the orphan, to counter injustice where we see it in our day-to-day lives.
 
These are our mandates, and they DO NOT CHANGE based on the outcome of any election or political contest. They are the same for every Christian, in every country in the world.
 
Of course, we want the promises of God to be fulfilled. We want to SEE THEM come to fruition! But as I read Hebrews this morning, I was reminded that even the great heroes of our faith did not always see promises fulfilled in their lifetimes.

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth...
 
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city...
 
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs’ daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considred the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Eqypt, for he was looking to the reward...
 
...who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight...”

-Hebrews 13:11 and following (emphases mine)

While waiting for the promises of God, the heroes of the faith went to work! They busied themselves with the things of God, and they worked heartily as unto the Lord.
 
This is our duty, as it was theirs.
 
If you are not being called to take stands in your local politics or in the halls of D.C., TAKE HEART that your calling is within the walls of your own home, within the confines of your own life. Shrink your circle and turn off the Noise. Most of us aren’t being Asked to engage constantly, to scroll fervently, or to keep continual tabs on “what’s going on.”
 
Instead, I know that I’m being Asked to keep tabs on the people within the walls my home, and to offer the hope of Jesus Christ to those with whom I come into contact as I go about my days.
 
Keep your eyes heavenward, and keep your attention focused. The people right in front of you need you to offer them the Fruits of the Spirit that you’ve been given.
 
Do that work. It is good, and it is enough.