In this election season, isn’t it tempting to get caught up in the frenzy. Everyone we encounter seems to want to polarize and divide us. “Whose side are you on?” “If you vote for him/her you are voting to dismantle our democracy!” “If you don’t vote at all, you’re just giving a vote to him/her.” “How can you call yourself a Christian and vote for him/her?”

Yes, the upcoming election is very important, but losing our kindness and generosity in the process can be worse than voting for any particular candidate.

All of this touches me, too. It’s easy to get frustrated when other people don’t see it your way, right? But I know that if I find myself demonizing people on the other side, I’m on spiritually dangerous ground. The world may act that way, but such behavior has no place in the body of Christ.

So, as I feel these tugs, I want to share with you what I’m doing as I approach the election this November.

1. I am praying for our candidates. We are instructed to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2), and one of the most important contributions I (or any other Christian) can make is to pray. If you believe that God answers prayer, please join me.
2. I am learning about those running for local office. Those who serve in state and local government often have more influence in our day-to-day lives than any presidential candidate. This election is about more than who is elected president of our country, and it is crucial that we vote wisely.
3. I am making the effort to listen to and learn from political commenters with whom I disagree. Some of our television news programs, in an effort to gain viewers, sensationalize the news; and some of our commentators interpret the facts in such a way as to help make their case. This is why I need to listen to more than one point of view.
4. I am committed to remaining friends with those who support candidates other than those I support. It’s an astonishing statement for me to write, but I realize we have become so divided that choosing whether or not to back a particular candidate can make or break friendships. May God protect us from this kind of division, especially within the body of Christ.
5. If I share my political position, I expect to receive criticism—from my fellow Christians as well as others. The overarching narrative that touches so much of our political commentary says, “Not only is the other side wrong, but they are also crazy and dangerous to the future of our nation.” Please don’t get sucked into such acrimony. Be clear about your position but generous in your disposition.

Finally, I am committed to staying close to Christ regardless of the outcome. No matter who is elected, I will not give up hope that God is at work. Whether the outcome of this election brings blessings, judgment, or both, I will trust that Jesus is still “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5).

Let us choose to be faithful to Christ, to love our neighbors, and to pray diligently, especially in this season of political turmoil.