George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, is speaking out about the presidential elections in a new online video designed to offer guidance for Christians.
Wood, who recorded the video prior to Election Day, explains that no matter who won the election, the president now leads a country that is in the midst of multiple sharp social and economic challenges domestically and severe tensions internationally.
Using an acrostic gleaned from Jeremiah 29:7, Wood spells out a P.E.A.C.E. plan for how the Assemblies of God can influence the nation in a godly direction—including Prayer, Evangelism, Action for the common good, Civility and Example.
After encouraging routine fervent prayer for leaders, Wood takes time to clearly state that although being politically active is important, it is not to be a Christian’s priority: “The mission of the church is to ‘make disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:19), not to ‘win an elections in all voting precincts.'” He goes on to encourage Christians to be known as soul-winners and discipleship-makers.
Wood also affirms churches and individuals who engage in compassion ministries to the lost, last and least in society. However, Wood cautions Christians concerning speech, stating, “Christians should be known for ‘speaking the truth in love'” (Eph. 4:15), explaining that God commissions Christians to speak hard truths in a soft way, but nevertheless, the truth.
In his final point, Wood stresses that actions speak louder than words. Referring back to Jeremiah and the captivity of the Judeans, Wood says, “I wonder if the Babylonians marveled at the Judeans, who sought peace both with and for their neighbors. Whereas other exiles sought to subvert the Babylonians, the Judean exiles were directed [by God] to serve them.” Christlike character must supersede partisan politics, he says, encouraging the church to make its platform on the biblical command to “love one another.”
Click below to view the video.
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