OPINION:
The recent election has left us with many lessons that we need to consider – particularly for the Body of Christ. In this critical moment, I believe God is speaking clearly to Christians engaged in the culture, highlighting the importance of the work we are doing and the direction we must take as we move forward in both ministry and service to others and our personal commitment to Jesus.
We saw many incredible victories around the nation as Bible-believing Christians were elected or re-elected to office. People who have the sanctity of human life, protecting our children and grandchildren from harmful ideologies and policies, and those who seek to promote religious freedom won in many cases.
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Christians Engaged saw many victories as we mobilized over 850,000 Christians to vote in this election and every election in the future. What we are building together offers a distinct approach to civic engagement, one that combines faith with action. As we reflect on the election, we must continue to be challenged to move forward and see how God can even use us in a greater way.
Here are the key things I think this election experience taught us that we, as Christians, need to cling to for the future.
1. Prayer is powerful. It cannot be an afterthought.
First and foremost, God hears our prayers, and He answers them. But prayer cannot be something we do only in emergencies. What if prayer became our lifestyle? What if our churches returned to being true “houses of prayer”?
In Mark 11:15-17, Jesus cleared the temple, declaring that His house should be called a “house of prayer for all nations.” We must reflect on this – not just as a call to action for our churches but as a personal challenge for our individual lives. Prayer can transform us and our nation. If we allow God to use us in “the place of prayer,” the results can be extraordinary.
Isaiah 56:6-8 reminds us that God’s house is a place for all nations, and those who love Him and serve Him will find joy in His presence. We need to cultivate this atmosphere of prayer in our lives, our homes, and our churches – thinking outside of our individual lives praying for our nation and all nations for God to move. As we prepare for the upcoming election cycle, let us remember that prayer is not just a tool for each election, but a spiritual practice that nurtures revival ongoing.
2. Take ownership of discipleship
Another critical lesson from this election is that Gen X (ages 45-64) played a decisive role in the outcome, shifting the election with a remarkable 10-point swing. The call is clear: We, as the generation of mature believers must rise to the occasion becoming spiritual mothers and fathers to the next generation. We must take ownership of discipleship in our families, and our churches, and become leaders in our communities. The other generations need us to be who we are called to be. This is not just a call for political action; it is a spiritual imperative.
In 1 Corinthians 4:14-16, Paul urges us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. This is not just a call to discipleship but to leadership. We are to be spiritual guides, mentors, and protectors for the generations coming behind us. Gen Z needs our wisdom, our faith, and our example.
3. Embrace authenticity in a culture of deception
The election revealed something profound: People are hungry for authenticity. Even with imperfections in our candidates, voters gravitated toward those who were real and transparent. The new media landscape has furthered this shift, as “truth-tellers” — though imperfect — gained the trust of the people. As Christians, we must ask ourselves: Are we living authentically? Can people see our integrity, both in public and private?
Another question for us is this: Are we seeing through the deceptions around us and seeking out authentic leadership even though imperfect?
2 Peter 2:17-22 warns against the deceptions of false teachers, those who allure through empty promises and empty words. In a world filled with deceit, it is essential that we, as Christians, embody the truth. As we step into another election cycle, we must remember that our witness matters. The world is watching, and authenticity is one of the most powerful tools we have in sharing the gospel.
4. Spiritual change is at the heart of civic engagement
What sets Christians Engaged apart from other political organizations is our focus on spiritual transformation over electoral victories. While we do seek to influence the political landscape, our primary goal is revival — a deep, lasting awakening that begins in our hearts. We must not just talk about revival; we must live it.
Psalm 85:1-13 speaks of God’s desire to restore us, to bring peace and righteousness to our land. Revival is not just about external change; it is about internal transformation. If we want revival in our families, churches, and communities, it must start within us. We must return to the simplicity of walking with Jesus and living out our faith in every area of life.
5. The church must be strengthened for the challenges ahead
One troubling trend is the seeming slight decline in evangelical voter participation. Born-again evangelicals now make up only 22% of the electorate, down from 26% in 2016. Though we saw growth in Christians voting in the Catholic communities, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, black and Hispanic populations, and even Gen Z males shifting more conservative, we saw a decline in the white evangelical Bible-believing voters overall running to the polls.
Despite major victories for the pro-life communities like the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many Christians did not turn out to vote in the numbers we expected. It seems clear that many in the church still have trouble making political decisions, not understanding that every vote we take is not ever for perfect people but for better policies, and also apathy still has a stranglehold on the Body of Christ and we have much more work to do.
Matthew 7:21-28 reminds us that not everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to profess faith; we must also live it out. As we move forward, we must ensure that we are firmly planted on the rock of Christ, living authentically, and engaging in spiritual disciplines that will strengthen us in the days ahead. From a point of spiritual strength – we engage with the culture, become leaders in our communities, and are not afraid to take on the hard topics and stand up for truth.
As we reflect on the election, we are reminded of our calling to be spiritually grounded, authentic, and passionate about the work of revival above everything else. We saw some incredible victories this election cycle, but our work is never done to impact America. We must ensure that we are truly God’s people, living in integrity and walking closely with Him. The call to be spiritual mothers and fathers is upon us — each generation must rise to the occasion. Let’s keep doing the work of the ministry – pray, vote, and engage.
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Bunni Pounds is president and founder of Christians Engaged, a ministry activating the Body of Christ to pray, vote, and engage regularly, as well as the host of Conversations With Christians Engaged. She is also the senior vice president of civic and church engagement for the Family Policy Alliance and the Family Policy Alliance Foundation. Her book, Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession, was released in February.
