On Sunday, we got to hear from our very own Pastor Emeritus Alvin Koh. With Alvin’s heart for the City of Toronto, it was fitting that he shared about why we should be voting in this year’s municipal elections.
He reminded us that God cares about our communities and how they are governed which is why we as Christians need to be engaged in the elections by voting and praying for the election, candidates, and the city.
The scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:7:
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Alvin reminds us that our wellbeing is also directly connected to the leaders who are voted into leadership. When there is peace and prosperity in the GTA, we also get to experience peace and prosperity; that is why we should continue to pray for Toronto and the GTA.
Alvin offers us a practical way of participating in this year’s Municipal Election: Pray, Discern, Engage, Vote and Continue to Pray.
- PRAY – We are explicitly commanded to pray for our communities and those in authority (Jeremiah 29:7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
- DISCERN – We seek God’s wisdom concerning leaders, character, justice and the wellbeing of the community (James 1:5, Proverbs 29:2).
- ENGAGE – We do not withdraw from the welfare of the place where God has put us; we seek its good (Jeremiah 29:7).
- VOTE – The Bible commands us to seek the good of our community, pray for those in authority, exercise wisdom and care about righteous leadership.
- CONTINUE TO PRAY – Once leaders are elected, whether or not they were our preferred candidates, we continue to pray for them as those entrusted with authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
As we get closer to the Municipal Election, may we set our eyes on Jesus. Let us pray, discern, engage, vote and continue to pray with hearts that are full of a genuine love for God and a genuine care for others. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!