The evangelical election audit: Grace in the saints

I was privileged to stand before the congregation of Covenant Community Church last Sunday on behalf of the elders and thank God for His grace and commend our fellow saints for their gracious interaction during the divisive and just-completed presidential election campaign.

Those who are part of our fellowship undoubtedly handled their ballots in a variety of ways, but our bond in Christ and our love for one another prevailed over our differences on election day. The presidential choices offered by the two major parties left evangelical Christians with no good choices, prompting widespread soul-searching on what to do.

What I didn't observe from our church during the general election season was:

1. Criticism of other Christians about their opinions or decisions.

2. Harsh rhetoric toward those who held different views.

3. Attempts to bind the consciences of other followers of Christ.

Regrettably, I did observe all of those from other Christians on social and other forms of media. That is not to say our thoughts about the decisions of others were always pure. But I never saw any such attitude reflected in words or actions among our fellowship. Nor is that to say, "Aren't we great?"

It is to say God is great, and He gave us abundant grace. He blessed us with love for and patience with one another. He blessed us with the ability to look out not only for our own interests but "for the interests of others" (Phil. 3:4b). He blessed us with the desire to understand our brothers and sisters. He blessed us with the willingness to withhold judgment and to not impose our perspective on others.

Thankfully, God is still making that grace available to us in our post-election lives. We still have much to learn from one another. We still need to show the world what God's love is like by pouring out love, grace and compassion on one another.

We will do this with grace and truth, because the Jesus who has created us as a church and binds us together as a church and indwells and holds onto each of us is the Jesus who is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14b). While we extend grace to one another and those outside our band of brothers and sisters, we also will speak truth in love to one another and those on the outside.

As much as we ever have, we -- as the people of God delivered from death to life and darkness to light -- need to stand strongly for the dignity and sanctity of every human life as doctors continue to slay our yet born children, as the state promotes the killing of the elderly and disabled, as wickedly misguided forces rise to disparage people of color, and as too many Americans treat those outside their tribe with contempt. We need to stand for the free exercise of religion by all religious adherents and those with no religious belief -- while faithfully proclaiming the only gospel, the gospel of Jesus, that can bring them to God.

We were made for this time. Let us embrace it. Let us love everyone. Let us stand for truth. Let us serve one another. Let us trust and treasure Jesus more than ever.