Article

17 Exhortations For Christian Citizens

by on October 29, 2026 | Comment

Bad government and national decline grieve those who love their country and bring a kind of chaos—a hard providence for Christian citizens. Yet even worse forms of chaos stand at the door if enough citizens (including Christians) give in to anger, passion, and impatience. What are pilgrim-voters and stranger-citizens to do as another supposedly cataclysmic “most important election of our lifetime” approaches?

May I suggest two main things: Remember who is in control and respond with biblical wisdom. The latter may call for unfashionably low volume, or even (believe it or not) silence. Chaos has all the agents it needs; give calm a chance. And pray for peace.

There is nothing new under the sun, even in modern electoral politics, but several factors make late 2026 seem unique. The United States is involved in an active, uncertain military conflict in the Middle East, which includes all that comes with Israeli involvement. Russia, an agent of chaos if ever there was one, has its own imperial hot war. Violent protests roil major European cities, and one wonders what this might inspire from the American left. A uniquely polarizing president still occupies the White House, and Congress is up for grabs. Both parties have raised the bar on rhetoric and on using courts and prosecutions for political ends. Add to all this inflation, high energy costs, division (and some radicalization) on the American right, bots, algorithms, agitators, social media-fueled racial rhetoric, and fear and loathing of both immigrants and bad foreign actors.

Just because there is precedent for most of these things does not mean we know how to respond. So, based on the two larger principles of remembering our God who governs providentially and responding with biblical wisdom, some exhortations:

  1. Remember that God is sovereign and will not be surprised by any outcome. Remember that he is good; remember that he is powerful and can direct, change, and turn the hearts of people, kings, and nations.
  2. Considering the above facts, ask for more faith to be calm for the sake of your own family and church; remind yourself and others that we seek a better country, a heavenly one.
  3. Remember that there are no prophets who can read providence perfectly or call down fire on their chosen enemies.
  4. Exhibit confidence in God and be skeptical about the power of any man or woman (including you) to fix things or “save” the country.
  5. Do not believe everything that you hear as soon as you hear it, good or ill. Nearly every civil conflict has been fueled by misunderstanding and misinformation. And artificial intelligence has handed nefarious misinformers truly unprecedented tools.
  6. Focus on things local. Remember that the government nearest you affects you most and is most likely to help you and your neighbors.
  7. Go to church and go about your business as normal. The ordinary means of grace and the communion of the saints still mean more for the Christian than all that the world and its words can offer.
  8. Give thanks for the great Constitutional freedoms that still exist in the United States. Tune out those who would ignore or get rid of the Constitution.
  9. Honor magistrates and pray for them.
  10. Beware of crowds, whether in the streets or on the internet.
  11. When the election occurs, be patient with the results. Assume that bad actors (who do exist) will not prevail.
  12. Remember that the outcome will be neither as bad nor as good as click-driven commentators and craven politicians will make it out to be.
  13. Politeness matters; it tends to peace.
  14. Being a good neighbor by word, example, and deed always matters.
  15. Do not taunt or respond angrily to taunting, whatever the political outcome.
  16. Say less rather than more; read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
  17. While “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God,” it does build audiences and raise funds. Do not allow your anger to serve the outrage economy.

In this time between the times, frustration and conflict are normal and expected, and however difficult our days may seem, countless Christians have suffered—and still suffer—far greater hardship than we do. Nevertheless, we should pray and work for things to get better, even as we bow to God’s providence and trust his word. Glory will come for all who look up in faith and hope for Christ’s appearing, yet we look up from under the shadow of the cross, living in the land of the already and the not yet.

©Brad Isbell. All Rights Reserved.

RESOURCES

Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Subscribe to the Heidelblog today!


Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments are welcome but must observe the moral law (Matt 22:37–40). Comments that are profane, that deny the moral law, that deny the gospel, that advance positions contrary to the Reformed confession, or that irritate the management are subject to deletion. Please use a working email address so we can contact you, if necessary, about content or corrections.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.