Pastoring Post Election
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Benjamin Kreps:
Hey everyone. And welcome to the Mark Prater podcast, where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director. Mark, as of recording today, this is a podcast, it's Thursday, November 5th. We are in the middle of an election here in the United States. That is as yet undecided, the podcast won't drop until next week. But it could be that it won't be decided even by then. And so there's a lot of anxiety and concern, frustration, and anger connected to this election and our people are not immune from that. What are some suggestions or some thoughts for how we care for people in our churches as we navigate through this season?
Mark Prater:
It's a great year to be a pastor because we've needed to shepherd our folks and care for them through a pandemic and through much of the civil unrest over the summer. And that even continues a bit today. And now with an election that remains undetermined here in the States. And by the way, for those listening outside of the States, thank you for listening. I know that those in other countries do watch the election in the States. So I think these truths we're about to talk about—how to care for people—apply in your nation, as well. But it really is, I think, a great time to be a pastor. And I think our primary responsibility is to point them to truth and pastor them with truth and help them soak their soul in the Word of God, because that will make just a dramatic difference in their life.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yes. What are some suggestions or thoughts you have about how we might do that?
Mark Prater:
Well, let me first just talk about some of the truths that you can remind your people of. And I say remind, because the brothers watching this, they know these truths. And people in our churches know these truths. But I think it's a time when the members of our churches need to be reminded and even reassured of certain truths that relate to the truth about God and his reign in the world. So, let me just give you a few. I would say one of them would be that if you voted, you could say to your people, “If you voted, which is a right you have as a citizen, you can now trust God with the outcome.” Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” And it's just good to know you fulfilled your right as a citizen and now you can trust God with it.
Another one is regardless of the outcome of the election, here's what we can be sure of: God's will be done. Let me read another passage. Ephesians 1:11, “In him, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined, according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” That reassuring truth. And we can remind our folks of regardless of the outcome of the election, we are to be people who abound in hope through the word of God and by the power of the Spirit. That's Romans 15:4. And Romans 15:13. We shouldn't be hopeless during this time. Rather, we should have hope and joy that we could derive from God's word. And as we're filled daily with the Spirit, our folks just need to be reminded of that regardless of the outcome of the election God's will will stand and God's church will stand. And the church will continue to play its vital role in redemptive history.
Jesus said as much, right in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So that's great to be a Christian, right? And to be in a church that we know will not disappear, will not go away. Even when we might face persecution, regardless of the outcome of the election, our mission as a church, and really as a family of churches, really couldn't be more urgent. But the great commission will continue to be fulfilled that we see in Matthew 28. Regardless of the outcome of the election, the unity of the church couldn't be more timely and necessary in our divided world. And so that language there in Ephesians 4:1 where Paul urges us to pursue the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That’s real necessary today. The church can be a stabilizing place for people who are confused and hopeless and fearful actually.
And then just one more truth. God is and will continue to be our refuge and strength in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 says as much God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. So those are just some of the truths that I thought of, wanted to remind our guys about. But that you can also communicate to your church that I think will strengthen and reassure them.
Benjamin Kreps:
Amen. It is stabilizing to remember that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken even as we also live as citizens of the country where we reside in. So, what are some strategies or suggestions that you might say when it comes to getting this truth into our people?
Mark Prater:
Well, obviously, you know your church best so these are just thoughts, and thoughts you would really think of.
So obviously preaching would be one way to do that. But I think you can also communicate those truths in a pastoral prayer. You might consider writing a blog post and putting it up on your church's website. You might just want to send a pastoral letter through email to your church. It just a “I'm carrying you on my heart right now” type of letter. “And I just want to remind you and reassure you as some truths right now.” Those would all be approaches that you could take. In fact, I know you said before we began to record this podcast, you're thinking of preaching a message, I believe, from Psalm 2 this Sunday, right?
Benjamin Kreps:
That's right. That's the plan. And my thinking is that what's preeminent on many people's minds right now is the turmoil,of the nation. And it becomes harder. We all acknowledge that God's in control, but that can be shaded. Like this can have an oversized effect on our perspective. And so Psalm 2 speaks to the tumult of the nations that are raging and declares the preeminence, of the might and glory of God. And so I think that has the ability to adjust our perspective appropriately, to get to a place where we care. It's consequential, it matters. But God is what matters most and his preeminence. So I pray that will help stabilize people in my church.
Mark Prater:
Thanks for caring for your church that way, Ben.
Benjamin Kreps:
it's my privilege just as it is for all of us to serve our churches. And we thank you for how you serve us and for your encouragement in these things. And thank you everybody for watching. We'll see you soon. Bye for now.