“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” – Mark 3:25

In the wake of another election season, we find ourselves at a familiar crossroads. Campaign signs are coming down, social media debates are settling, and we’re all taking a collective breath. As a church family united under the banner “Real People. Real Hope,” this is our moment to reflect on what truly defines us.

Our mission hasn’t changed: “Love God, serve others, share truth.” These aren’t just words on a wall – they’re our roadmap for every season, including this one. As the apostle Paul reminded us, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

// Love God First

When tensions run high and opinions divide, our first call remains unchanged: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This primary devotion puts everything else in perspective. Before we are citizens of any nation, we are citizens of God’s kingdom. This identity transcends political affiliations and electoral outcomes. Jesus himself made this priority clear: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

// Serve Others – Especially Those Who Differ

“Real People Real Hope” reminds us that we’re all on this journey together. Our neighbors – whether they celebrated or mourned the election results – are real people created in God’s image. They have real hopes, real fears, and real needs. Our call to serve doesn’t come with political prerequisites. As Paul instructs in Galatians 5:13-14, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.‘”

What might this look like practically?

  • Listen more than we speak (James 1:19)
  • Extend grace in conversations
  • Look for practical ways to serve our community
  • Pray for all our leaders, regardless of party (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
  • Build bridges instead of walls

// Share Truth with Love

The truth we’re called to share isn’t about political victories or defeats – it’s about the unchanging hope found in Jesus Christ. In a world that often seems polarized, we have the opportunity to demonstrate a different way: unity in Christ above all else. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:15, we are called to “speak the truth in love,” growing to become more like Christ in every way.

Remember, Jesus’s prayer in John 17 wasn’t that His followers would all vote the same way, but that they would be one as He and the Father are one: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21). This unity in diversity becomes a powerful testimony to a watching world.

// Moving Forward Together

As we move forward, let’s be known for:

  • Being peacemakers in a divided time (Matthew 5:9)
  • Showing respect to all (1 Peter 2:17)
  • Maintaining perspective – our hope isn’t in political systems
  • Demonstrating that Christian unity transcends political difference
  • Living out “Real People Real Hope” in tangible ways

The election is over, but our mission continues. The world needs to see real people living out real hope more than ever. They need to see Christians who can disagree politically while remaining united spiritually. They need to see faith that’s bigger than political parties and hope that’s deeper than electoral cycles. As Peter reminds us, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

So now what? We keep loving God. We keep serving others. We keep sharing the truth. We keep being real people offering real hope. Because at the end of the day, our ultimate allegiance isn’t to any political party or candidate – it’s to Jesus Christ, who remains on the throne regardless of who sits in earthly seats of power. As the Psalmist declares, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Let’s move forward together, showing our community what it looks like when real people share real hope in all seasons.