Election Hatred or Owned by Love?
As a U.S. citizen living abroad, I have found the current election period to be deeply embarrassing—not just for myself, but for every American.
The way the last election was handled, and how this election is unfolding, has turned what was once a nation respected by others into a spectacle. The United States used to be held in high esteem, a model of democracy and order in the eyes of the world. Now, our electoral process has become a mockery. But what grieves me even more is how many Christians, who are supposed to be a light to the world, have contributed to this decline, instead of being part of the solution.
Living in Europe, I am constantly asked questions about the U.S. elections by those around me. The world is watching. People look to the United States as it continues to drive the general direction of global politics and influence, though, with each passing year, that influence diminishes. One of the reasons for this decline is the terrible reputation we are creating through our electoral processes.
When I start sharing my thoughts on U.S. elections, the conversations almost always take the same turn—people begin expressing their views on who is right or complaining about election corruption and unfairness. But those very arguments are part of the problem that got us into this mess. We keep wanting to blame others for the state of our Country instead of looking at what is between our own eyes first.
So, I ask you to put aside those thoughts for now. If we want things to change, we have to do something different. Especially as followers of Christ, we have serious internal work to do if we want to have the impact God has called us to have in this world. The ideas I am sharing here are a call for us to get back on track, so we can once again experience God's blessing in our nation.
Remembering How Our Nation Was Set Up
The United States was founded on the principle that the people, not a king or dictator, hold ultimate power. Unlike monarchies or dictatorships where the leader is sovereign, the U.S. government is a representative democracy, where elected officials serve as public servants. The authority of the President, Congress, and other officials comes from the consent of the governed. This places a significant responsibility on each U.S. citizen to ensure that the country is led in a righteous way. Because Christians not only carry the responsibility of being U.S. citizens but are also called to live by God's higher standards, our responsibility for the state of the nation is even greater.
I vote for Godliness and Christ-like character.
The Christian's Responsibility
As Christian U.S. citizens, we hold more responsibility for the nation than anyone else. Why? Because we are called to live by God's Spirit, not by the flesh. Before we criticize or battle against others, we must examine our own hearts and actions first. Here are two key ways in which we are responsible:
1. We Must Address Our Own Spiritual Condition First
The Bible is clear that hatred, strife, contentions, and wars are works of the flesh, not of the Spirit. As Christians, we are called to live in the Spirit of God, not in our fleshly nature. Scripture emphasizes that if we are filled with these negative traits, we are living according to the flesh:
James 3:14-16 (WEB): "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed."
Galatians 5:19-21 (WEB): "Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom."
Proverbs 6:16-19 (WEB): "There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers."
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (WEB): "Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now, for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?"
These scriptures make it clear that if we are filled with hatred, strife, and contention, we are living in the flesh, not in the Spirit.
Before we criticize or engage in the political battles of our day, we must ask ourselves: Is there bitterness or strife in my heart? Have I been quick to anger or hostility toward others because of their political or religious views? We cannot clean up our nation if we haven’t first cleaned up our own hearts.
The Bible teaches that the real battle is not against other people (such as Republicans versus Democrats) but against spiritual forces of evil:
Ephesians 6:12 (WEB): "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Spiritual warfare isn’t just about grand battles; it’s about the day-to-day decisions we make to either walk in love or feed anger and division. If we get swept up in the earthly battle of 'us versus them,' we lose sight of the real enemy—evil spiritual forces that thrive on division, hatred, and strife.
To fight this spiritual battle, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, which produces:
Galatians 5:22-23 (WEB): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
The conclusion of this point is that we, as Christians, have not properly cleaned up our lives and our hearts to fight this spiritual battle effectively because judgment always begins with the people of God:
1 Peter 4:17 (WEB): "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?"
We are God’s temple, His house. We must worry about the judgment coming upon us before we worry about the judgment of others.
Three times a year I go to a prayer retreat. I guarantee I will be praying about all the things in this blog post in the next retreat in a few days from this writing. You will be prayed for as well.
2. We Have Not Been Praying for Our Leaders
Another important responsibility we hold is to pray for our leaders. Scripture is clear on this:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (WEB): "I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence."
Let’s break down what this looks like in practical terms:
Petitions: Bringing specific needs or requests before God. Are we asking God to guide our leaders in making decisions that honor His will?
Prayers: General communication with God, seeking His will. Are we truly asking for His will to be done in our government?
Intercession: Praying on behalf of others, including leaders. Are we interceding for wisdom and righteousness for those in authority?
Thanksgiving: Giving thanks for God’s blessings, including the leaders we have. Are we thanking God for the freedoms we enjoy and asking for His guidance?
The truth is, most of us have not been doing these things properly. Even if we have been praying for our leaders, if we are still harboring bitterness, strife, or hatred, our prayers are likely misguided. We must first clean up our own hearts before we can properly pray for others.
The Nation Will Not Turn Without Repentance
Just as we are responsible for the leaders we elect (or decide not to vote), we are also responsible for the state of our own hearts. If we want to see our nation turn around, it won’t happen unless we (you and me) first get right with God. We must love God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Loving our neighbor as ourselves means treating even those we disagree with—politically or otherwise—with kindness, grace, and understanding. It means resisting the urge to vilify or hate those on the 'other side' and instead choosing to see them as fellow humans made in God’s image. Those who fail to heed this message of repentance are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
As God's people, we are held to a higher standard, and our judgment will come first if we do not repent. Repentance means removing anything from our hearts that does not love God fully and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Matthew 5:44 (WEB): "But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you."
As we reflect on our own hearts and take steps to align ourselves with God’s will, let us also strive for unity within the body of Christ. In John 17, Jesus prays for all who are His to be one, just as He and the Father are one. I encourage you to read the entire chapter as it reveals Jesus’ deep desire for His followers to be united. These scriptures will ultimately be fulfilled, and you have a choice: to become part of this oneness or to remain outside of it.
The healing of our nation starts when we, as believers, put aside division, come together in love, and focus on the greater mission God has entrusted to us.
A Simple Challenge to Start Today
I challenge you to take the next week to pray daily for the nation, your leaders, and your heart to be aligned with God's will. Examine where you may need to repent, and seek God’s guidance on how to love and serve your neighbor in this tense political climate. Remember, the real battle is spiritual, and it starts with us.
If you're looking for more guidance on how to grow in loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, as commanded by God through Jesus in Matthew 22:37 and by Moses in Deuteronomy 7:9 and Leviticus 19:9-18, I offer additional resources to help you on this journey. I have written many blog posts, two books, and also created content on my YouTube channel, all aimed at helping you strengthen your faith and live out these central commands. Learning to love God and others is essential for the transformation we seek, both within our hearts and in our nation.
Let us take this seriously. Let us repent, love God, love our neighbor, and truly seek God’s will for our nation. Only then can we hope to see true change.
Notes
-This is a blog post that compliments a live YouTube video- Hatred or Owned by Love? (Messy & Raw)
- All of the ideas in this post are mine. I used ChatGPt only for editing my own work so it was easier for you to read.
-I used WEB version of the Bible only because I will never have a copyright problem with the use of this version. Feel free to check out the integrity of this translation against your favorite version.
We Are Owned By Love,
Katrina
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