Persistence is the word that has been on my mind recently. Paul writes in Romans 2:7 (NIV), “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, … [God] will give eternal life.” As America moves beyond a crucial election season, the need for Christians to stay engaged in the political process remains vital. The ballots have been cast, and the decisions that were made will shape the nation’s future for years to come. But the Christian’s responsibility to influence culture through a biblical lens did not end with the recent election.
This election brought important issues to the forefront – life, religious freedom, and the preservation of biblical family values – which is all the more reason Christians are still called to remain steadfast in their witness. Galatians 6:9 encourages believers: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” This call to persist is as relevant now as it was before Election Day. The work of praying for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), holding them accountable, and engaging in civic life continues.
Now that the election has passed, Christians must continue to be salt and light in society (Matthew 5:13-16) because our core mission remains unchanged: to live out our faith and biblical truth in every sphere of life.
I was recently reminded of how cultural battles play out over the course of decades, not just weeks or months. This is especially difficult to grasp today because we live in a society that values instant gratification over the rewards of steady plowing. Steady plowing, from a cultural influence vantage point, is what is needed to create lasting change in American society.
There are three specific areas through which AFA Action, the government affairs affiliate of American Family Association, is working tirelessly to defend America’s families and advance a culture of life, family, and religious freedom.
First, our team is advancing legislation in various states, aimed at protecting parental rights in education and health care. This legislation seeks to give parents the opportunity to pursue legal remedies when their children are exposed to pornography through public libraries, school libraries, and online databases. On the health care front, our legislation is designed to ensure parental access to medical records and prevent radical and experimental transgender treatments and surgeries on minors.
Second, we are working continuously to ensure that judges who respect our Constitution and value the rule of law are nominated at the federal level. We are also fighting back against bad judicial nominations. In a similar vein, we are partnering with our iVoterGuide division to research and evaluate potential state-elected judges to ensure that the good people are getting elected, and the bad judicial candidates are rejected at the ballot box.
Lastly, our iVoterGuide team is already reviewing the 2024 election results and exploring ways to improve on how we reach voters. Through iVoterGuide, our goal is to educate as many voters as possible.
While not as grand, there is a 2025 election season coming. Various states will have statewide elections in November 2025, and positions from mayor to governor will be on the ballot.
So, in the wake of the recent election, important work continues. We, as Christians, must persist in prayer, stand firm in our values, and trust our Sovereign God. Now more than ever, we must uphold our roles as agents of transformation by bringing the light of Christ to a world in desperate need of redemption and by stewarding our God-given rights wisely.
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the December 2024 print edition of The Stand. Click HERE for a free six-month subscription.)
