On Sunday I preached an election sermon in two parts. Expounding Psalm 2, I considered four vital truths about God’s sovereignty from God’s promise to give his son the nations, and in response I outlined five practical steps to exercising our political stewardship.

In this sermon, I did not endorse a candidate or commend a singular church approved voting guide, but I did name names and identify a vote for Democrats as a sin. But more than just stressing the importance of Tuesday’s election, I attempted to show how a steadfast hope in Christ’s Lordship leads to a life of good works, even political good works such as voting.

And so, I offer that sermon here as one fallible example of an election sermon, followed by an email (now updated) I sent to our church explaining the background of election sermons and why they matter today. Indeed, as I noted in my Saturday blogpost, I have learned a lot about preaching and politics since 2016, and I offer this example and argument for an election sermon as help to any others who are taking the same path.

Sovereignty & Stewardship: An Election Sermon in Two Parts

God’s Sovereignty in Psalm 2

1. Enrages the Nations (vv. 1–3)
2. Rules over the Nations (vv. 4–6)
3. Rewards the Son with the Kingdom (vv. 7–9)
4. Requires Rulers to Kiss the Son (vv. 10–12)

Our Political Stewardship Today

1. Think Clearly
2. Speak Truthfully
3. Vote Righteously
4. Pray Earnestly
5. Gather Faithfully

All told, in these nine marks of an election sermon, I sought to exhort our congregation to trust God and to act accordingly. Here is the sermon.

The Case for Preaching An Election Sermon

If politics is downstream from culture, and culture is downstream from worship. Then, if we want to see any change in politics, or culture, it must begin in the church. And if it begins in the church, it must begin in the pulpit. And therefore working in the other direction, pulpits must be willing to address worship, culture, and politics.

But how? How do faithful preachers stay on the line of Scripture as they address the jagged lines of culture? That is the question I hope to answer below.

Going Over the Cliff

In recent conversation with Glenn Sunshine, the church historian and author said with respect to the coming election, our nation has two choices before us—to go over a cliff quickly or to go over the same cliff cliff more slowly. Indeed, neither of these options are good or cheerful. But it does remind us of the condition of our country and our desperate need for God to bring revival to our land.

As we go into election week, the largest problem we face goes deeper than a platform, person, or party; our greatest problems are spiritual and ethical. There are undeniable differences between Democrats and Republicans, and these will have very different impacts on the coming years. Yet, in all future scenarios, our greatest need is revival. And without that, our degraded culture will remain cliff-ward bound.

Still, as Christians, such an imminent threat is not one that leads us to despair. For we know who rules the heavens and the earth. And more, Scripture gives us wisdom to walk in the best and the worst of times. Equally, church history informs our path of faithfulness too. And that history includes what American Christian’s used to take for granted—that during a time of national election or government transition, the pastors would preach “election sermons.”

Sermons for Elections and Other Public Occasions

As Baptist Historian, Obbie Tyler Todd, has noted, “one cannot really understand how early Americans viewed themselves and their covenant with God without the election sermon.” As Ellis Sandoz notes in his two volume collection of Election Sermons, in the generations leading up to and following America’s War for Independence, pastors—especially Puritans pastors—took time to preach Election Sermons, Artillery Sermons, Fifth-Day Lectures (Thursday Lectures). Respectively, these sermons were preached throughout the colonies to instruct the saints and to call upon God’s mercy in times of election, war, and other social needs.

While biblical exposition was the staple of Puritan preaching, these pastors often delivered sermons that helped Christians think about civil magistrates. And they preached sermons to help civil servants (magistrates and others) think about God’s expectation for their service. What a world of difference it would make if our elected officials fear God, his Word, and his judgment. And what a difference it would make if congregations looked to pastors to preach doctrinally-sound messages related to civic affairs.

Tragically, somewhere along the way, as religion in America became increasingly democratic and individualistic, and then postmodern and pluralistic, election sermons fell by the wayside. Admittedly, there were and are abuses of the pulpit to promote candidates. But by and large, the separation of church and state has grown so wide as to expect pastors and churches to avoid speaking to political matters. Yet, such a posture of religion and state is a modern invention and one that is both a cause and effect of our secular age.

Implications of Christ’s Lordship

Biblically, however, God’s Word speaks to all areas of life. The statement “Jesus is Lord” is a political declaration and it is one that should impact the home, the church, and the state. And more, when we read Scripture, especially the Old Testament, but also Acts and Revelation, we discover how the growth of God’s church has direct impact on local institutions of commerce and government.

To that end, with our minds and prayers directed to the election next week, we should take time to consider Psalm 2. Psalm 2 declares the Lordship of Christ and it gives us confidence that God is truly sovereign over all things, while also instructing us on the part we are to play in the world. Indeed, Psalm 2 stresses God’s sovereignty and our stewardship. And on Sunday, this was the text I chose to help us think about God’s sovereignty and our stewardship. (You can see the sermon above.)

To these two ends, I gave the message on Psalm 2, and I encouraged our people to think, speak, vote, pray, and be the church with the Lordship of Christ in mind. Indeed, because Christ is Lord over all things, we can confidently approach election week with faith, hope, joy, and love. We can vote in faith, knowing that Christ is king, but also that he uses means to accomplish his ends.

To that end, let us pray. And may the example of this sermon, along with this brief apology for preaching it, serve you and our Lord well—whatever the election results are this week.

Soli Deo Gloria, ds

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash