As we draw closer to mid-term elections next month it is tempting to divide ourselves into camps. Republican versus Democrat. Progressive versus conservative. #MeToo versus misogyny. Educated elites versus deplorables. Capitalists versus socialists. Producers versus consumers. Environmentalists versus exploiters. The labels are endless.

But I won’t accept any of them. As a Christian, I claim citizenship in God’s kingdom. My first loyalty is to Jesus—every other label or category comes in second place after His name.

Not too long ago Americans knew that being on “God’s side” meant identifying with the Moral Majority or the Christian Coalition. But how does the Bible—not men—describe Jesus’s values? What is important to citizens of God’s kingdom?

1 Peter 2:17 is a good place to start, “Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king” (NET). The first thing that I notice is that “all people” get the same honor that the king receives. Based on the preceding verses this king is the Roman emperor. So heaven’s citizens treat the lowliest beggar with the same honor that they would render to a king. There are no favorites in God’s house—just sons and daughters of the King, men and women created in His image.

Peter does not end with this observation. He gives advice to slaves—lowest in the social hierarchy—first: “Be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse” (1 Peter 2:18 NET). Everyone—the just and the unjust—receives grace in Jesus’s kingdom. Why? Because “Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps” (v 21).

Citizens of God’s kingdom follow Jesus’s example of giving grace and loving service to all people. “When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly” (v 23). Jesus did not pursue political power. He did not stand up for his “rights.” His motivation was, and is, love. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness” (v 24).

Christians, followers of Jesus, citizens of heaven, heirs of the Promise, will you live according to the values of God’s kingdom today? During this election season, will you pursue loving service rather than political power? Will you follow Jesus in letting your actions speak for themselves without answering back when you are maligned?

By all means, vote in this election! But please realize that it is not your vote that will leave the largest mark on the nation in the coming weeks. “God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good” (1 Peter 2:15 NET). Following Jesus’s example of grace-filled, loving service to all people will leave a much larger mark on this country—a mark that will last well beyond any election.

Bob McAlpine, District Pastor

Seventh-day Adventist Churches of the San Luis Valley