OK. Let me make three things clear before I start:
First, I have no vote! I’m still a subject of Her Majesty, do you see.

Second, what I say here has nothing whatsoever to do with party-politics, well, almost nothing. Any ethical issue, for example, will have implications depending on how important it may be to one party or another. But ethics falls outside of politics and speaking on them is not a case of the church meddling where it shouldn’t meddle. The church should, in my opinion, stay out of party politics.

Third, I write this on November 3, the day before the election. Though I have been following the polls, I have no real idea what the outcome will be.

With these three caveats, I make the following points:
The first and most important point is that GOD REMAINS SOVEREIGN no matter what the result of the election is. Fears of apocalyptic scenarios as a result of the election shows a lack of faith in God and way too much faith in man. God ruled when Emperor Nero burned Christians for amusement in first-century Rome. Psalm 91 guarantees the stability of the world against all the forces of chaos. Job testifies, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job. 42:2). Christians must be careful to reflect the stability that such sovereignty engenders rather than be mindless propagators of panic.

The second point is that no matter who sits in the Oval Office (or who governs the Senate, or the House), the POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED BY GOD. At least, that was Paul’s assessment of the “governing authorities,” saying specifically: “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). It is “by me princes rule” God says (Prov. 8:16).

The third point is that civil government deserves OUR RESPECT. Paul wrote Romans 13:1 in a period when maniacal Roman Emperors ruled. Democracy grants us the right to free speech, but lawful governments deserve our respect and, unless it forces us to specifically deny God’s law, our obedience.

The fourth point is that lawful governments NEED OUR PRAYERS. Paul urged Christians to engage in “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings … for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

The fifth point is to ensure that we seek first THE KINGDOM OF GOD. We invest far too much importance to civil government. We must learn that here we have no “lasting city” (Heb. 13:14). This world is not our home. We must not so invest ourselves, and our hearts, in such a way that civil government takes precedence over the church and over the gospel. The powers of the state cannot save one single soul from hell. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that. Whatever may be happening in Washington, the church’s task is the same today as it always has been: she must proclaim the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation through faith alone in his finished work alone.
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Dr. Derek Thomas is Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., and Minister of Teaching at First Presbyterian Church, and a citizen of Wales. Reprinted from Dr. Thomas’ column in First Epistle, “Understanding the Times”.