Public Grace and Courtesy
Written by Matthew Hudson in partnership with The AND Campaign
This election season, The AND Campaign has created the Civic Revival Tour - a dynamic movement aimed at reinvigorating civic engagement and promoting civil discourse across the nation. They are not only hosting events around the country, but they have their own weekly devotional series. You can learn more and sign up here. This week’s Holy Post Voter guide is adapted from The AND Campaign’s Civic Revival Guide.
This month we're undertaking the meaningful challenge to practice public courtesy and grace. As Christians, we're called to love, to show kindness. and to exercise self control, but not only towards those that we agree with, or that love us, or the people that we love, but also to the stranger, and to those that oppose us politically, and that have different convictions or beliefs than we do.
Jesus calls us to love the stranger well, which is why I believe that Matthew 5:46-48 is a very important passage because Jesus challenges the way that we think about love and the way that we engage in love. He says, “What benefit is it just to love those that love you? I've called you to love those who you struggle to agree with.”
Our love for one another should not change based on our political beliefs, but we love each other because we understand our humanity. We love each other because all of us are made in the image of God. So as Christians, I encourage you to love well during this political season, and I believe if we can really do that, then Jesus will be glorified and through partnering with the AND Campaign, I really believe that we can make a real difference in our communities and beyond.
Monthly Challenges for You:
Our scriptural compass for the month is from Matthew 5:46-48, where Jesus pushes us to love harder and smarter—beyond our comfort zones. He asks, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” Let’s challenge ourselves to love like our “heavenly Father is perfect”—inclusive, unconditional, revolutionary.
ACTIVELY WALKING THIS OUT:
Responding, Not Reacting
Self-control is often most tested in moments of high emotion or disagreement. Here, Jesus' teachings remind us to pause and choose our response thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. This means taking a moment to breathe and think before speaking or acting, especially in tense interactions. It's about responding in a way that reflects your values, not just your emotions.
Loving Beyond the Comfortable
Jesus challenges us to love not just those who love us back but also those who might not return the favor. Practicing self-control in this context means actively deciding to show kindness and respect to others, regardless of their actions towards us. This can be particularly challenging when dealing with political or ideological opponents, but it's a powerful testament to the strength and depth of Christian love
Engaging with Grace
When Jesus speaks of being perfect, as the heavenly Father is perfect, it involves a completeness in love and mercy. Practicing self-control here means choosing to engage with grace, giving others the benefit of the doubt, and approaching every interaction with a spirit of forgiveness and openness, rather than judgment or hostility.
Walking out self-control based on Matthew 5:46-48 involves more than just avoiding negative behaviors. It's about proactively embodying the love and perfection of God in our everyday interactions, making choices that reflect our deepest values rather than our momentary impulses.
Resources
The “&” campaign aims to educate and organize Christians for civic and cultural engagement that results in better representation, more just and compassionate policies and a healthier political culture.