Election Wisdom from Acts

Instead of the usual vlog, here are six brief verses from the book of Acts that have timeless wisdom to offer for our upcoming U.S. Presidential election on November 3rd.  After you read these, consider the order of events (laid out below), and then questions to ask yourself.   Please join me in answering them.  It’s the most important way we can cast our votes.

Acts 6:1-6. “… When the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.  3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them”.

Look at the pattern:

1. discord and disunity that included complaining (sound familiar?!);
2. division of labor to give God-centered activities the highest priority;
3. identification of qualifications for new leadership in the church;
4. community consensus and agreement;
5. an election;
6. praying for the new leaders of the early Church.

Did you see the three qualifications of these new leaders (v. 3)?

• In good standing
• Full of the Spirit
• Wise

Question #1:  In preparation for this election, how can you support these specific three characteristics in ALL candidates?

Question #2:  How can you contribute to the peace and order of this election by embodying these specific three characteristics more yourself?

For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  (Matt. 17:20)

(Note:  To all of our wonderful friends outside the United States, forgive what may seem like a parochial focus, but hopefully, you can use it to apply to your own country’s elections, whenever they might be.)