Read Time: 4 min 41 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

POLITICS

A Bad Night

On the last Thursday in June, President Biden and former President Trump squared off in 2024’s first presidential debate. Since then, people from President Biden’s own political party have been calling for him to drop out of the presidential race.

So what happened?

President Biden had a tough night from the start. He looked dazed and appeared to lose his train of thought. The Trump campaign criticized Biden for being “unintelligible.” The Biden campaign admitted it was a “bad night.” They said the president had a cold and criticized former President Trump for “nonstop lying.”

Since the debate, polls have not looked good for Biden. 72% of voters believe he's too old for the job. The backward momentum has made Democrats publicly question whether he should remain their nominee.

On Monday, President Biden wrote a letter to Democrats in Congress. He said he’s for sure staying in the race because he has an “obligation” to the voters who nominated him.

Now, all eyes are on the Democratic National Convention. Will the party officially nominate President Biden in mid-August?

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
As the presidential race continues to heat up, there will be a lot of different perspectives. Remember that both your opinion and how you share your opinion reflect on Christ.

“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ… Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14, 31-32 (CSB) (read full passage)

How can I model loving an enemy when discussing this story?
It’s always easy to see the shortcomings of others and cast ourselves in the right light. 

Today, that may be the shortcomings of President Biden, former President Trump, or someone in your personal life who is constantly grumbling about one or both of them.

In these situations, we must remember to check our own hearts. Jesus warns against hypocrisy in Matthew 7: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?... You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5 CSB) 

When you’re critical of someone else, humbly consider how you might struggle with the same sin in a different way—and bring that to God.

How can I model putting my hope and trust in Christ when discussing this story?
Model a healthy disinterest in politics. 

Believers should invest in the welfare of our temporary homes (Jeremiah 29:4-7), pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1), and give thanks for the opportunity to vote. But just as many Americans view foreign elections with a certain level of detachment, Christians should view all earthly political outcomes (yes, even in America) as secondary to the campaign of our eternal home, where we hold our truest citizenship. 

Our home is in heaven, and we are ambassadors for Christ first and foremost. God’s plans are not contingent on American politics—we can have confidence in Him no matter what happens in November.

• Ask about a time when your child has disagreed strongly with someone else. Did they handle that disagreement well?

• Memorize Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (CSB).

• Pray for humility as you evaluate public officials during election season, engage in conversations (especially with people you disagree with), and in your everyday life.

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