A Response to the Virginia Elections: A Pastoral Reflection on Troubling Days and the Hope of the Gospel

/ Jamie McClanahan

By Pastor Jamie McClanahan
11/12/2025

As I reflect on the outcome of the Virginia elections and their impact on Virginians—particularly Christians—I feel a sobering sadness. The cultural landscape seems to shift more quickly than many of us can process. It brings to mind the haunting introduction from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, where Galadriel says:

“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.”

Her words set a somber tone—describing a world passing from an age of light to a darker era. And yet, that story ends with good overcoming evil by divine and humble means. That is our story too through the power of the Gospel working in the hearts of God’s people. 

As a Pastor, I will share a few words with my fellow shepherds before I give some general encouragement to the church.

First, though the cultural and political tide may be shifting and rising, and harm done to the most vulnerable will be heartbreaking, our calling as shepherds of God’s flock has not changed (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Peter 5:1-5). We must continue to engage in the following activities with passion and determination: Feed, Lead, Guide, and Protect the flock of God entrusted to us.

Second, we must do all this with great hope, knowing that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). God can be trusted to carry out his will for his people.

Before sharing 8 Ways to Push Back Against the Gathering Darkness, allow me to frame our situation with three overarching themes that I hope will give Christians some direction and motivation.

Three Big Themes for Christians in This Cultural Moment

1. Distraction Can Be as Destructive as Opposition

If the devil can use political outrage to distract you from the Great Commission, he will gladly do so. A Christian distracted from disciple-making is a Christian neutralized.

Jesus reminds us in Luke 9:62:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Politics matters—but it is not primary. The gospel is.

2. We Are Not Trying to Win Arguments—We Are Trying to Win Souls

We’re not primarily called to build an army of conservative activists—we’re called to make disciples of Jesus Christ who will impact our world. Faithful Christians should carry their transformed worldview into politics, yes—but we must not turn our churches into political arenas for debating partisan politics.

The temptation will be strong to let political urgency overshadow eternal priorities. Resist this.

3. We Cannot Fight Alone—We Need Alliances as We Engage in Spiritual Warfare

In Scripture and history, lone nations do not win global wars. Alliances do. Even Nazi Germany fell only because a coalition stood together.

Spiritually, the same is true.

“For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
—Proverbs 24:6

Now is the season for the true church to be unified, to show mutual support in the Kingdom, and to pray together for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

8 Ways to Push Back Against the Gathering Darkness

1. Don’t Lose Sight of the “What” and “Why” of Our True Calling

  • What are we to do? Hold fast to living out “The Great Command” and “The Great Commission” in our culture. (Matt. 22:36-40, 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)
  • Why do we do it? To save the lost from the peril of their sins. (Prov. 24:11; John 3:15-21; Jude 22-23)

2. We Must Know Our Adversaries

  • The World – the fallen system opposed to God (1 John 2:15–17)
  • The Flesh – indwelling sin and corrupted desires (Gal. 5:16–27; Rom. 8:5–8)
  • The Devil – a real spiritual enemy of God and his people (1 Peter 5:8–9)

3. We Must Farm Together as We Fight Together

  • We must plant seeds of the Gospel and cultivate them. 1 Cor. 3:6-7
  • We should stand shoulder to shoulder as we farm and fight. 2 Tim. 2:3-7
  • We can hold the sword and the trowel as we fight and work for the Lord. Nehemiah 4:13-18
  • We must defend the portion of the wall assigned to us by God. Nehemiah 4:16-18

4. Do Not Fight and Plow Alone

  • Every Christian and Church leader needs brothers and sisters who will lift up their arms in the struggle. Ex. 17:10-13
  • Every Christian needs to gather regularly for encouragement and strength, especially for the battles in life. Eccl. 4:9-12; Heb. 10:24-25 

5. Prioritize heavenly citizenship in the Kingdom above earthly citizenship in America.

  • We are citizens of heaven first (Phil. 3:20)—that reality must shape how we operate on earth toward others, even those who rule over us in civil government.

6. We must define reality for those around us.

  • The word of God is our authority (II Tim. 3:16-17), and it is sufficient for all matters (Psalm 19:7-9; Hebrews 4:12).
  • The world is fallen, and we face earthly and spiritual enemies (Rom. 3:23, 5:12-14; Esph. 4:14; 6:12).
  • We must embrace biblical truth and speak it in love (John 14:6; 17:17; Eph. 4:14-15).
  • Our theology must govern our ideology (Col. 2:8; 1 Cor. 3:19).
  • Christians must evaluate policy—not by slogans or personalities—but by Scripture. Col. 2:8; I John 4:1

7. Get Your Church House in Order as a Shrewd Steward (For Church Leaders)

Matt. 10:16; Luke 12:42–43; 16:8–9

Maintain Internal Health in our Churches

  • Financial reviews or audits
  • Updated legal paperwork (incorporation, constitution, bylaws)

Pursue Alignment with Beliefs and Practice

  • Vision, mission, and values matched with policies
  • Building use guidelines which honor the Word of God
  • Marriage and facility policies updated
  • Job descriptions reflecting church values and beliefs
  • Personnel guidelines for employees which emphasize theological alignment and high character.
  • Clear leadership structures defined and communicated

8. Political Engagement Must Always Be Christ-Centered and Bridled by God’s Primary Purpose for His People

  • We engage politically, yes—but always as disciples of Jesus first, not as members of political parties. Matt. 6:33; Eph. 5:1; Phil. 3:20;
  • Our servant leadership is to be different than the world. Mark 10:42-45

Recommended Pastoral Resources

Books on the Church & Politics

  • James K. A. Smith, Five Views on the Church and Politics
  • David Koyzis, Political Visions & Illusions
  • Jonathan Leeman, How the Nations Rage
  • Megan Basham, Shepherds for Sale
  • James Davison Hunter, To Change the World
  • Pastor, Church, and Politics: What’s Legal and What’s Not (Church Law & Tax)
  • Alliance Defending Freedom, Legal Guide for Churches

Legal Resources

Political & Cultural Resources

Closing Encouragement

As the darkness gathers, the light of the church must grow brighter. We cannot do this unless we gather together as a city on a hill (Matt. 5:14-16).

Someday, Jesus will rule unopposed from the throne in Jerusalem on the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21-22:1-11).

Until that time, Christ has entrusted us to shine the light and love of Jesus as citizens of the Kingdom in this moment of history. Let us steward that trust with courage, clarity, unity, and unshakeable hope in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and his call to make disciples of all nations.

Blessings,
Pastor Jamie McClanahan

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