Allen Jackson is on a prayer-filled mission to assist Christians navigate the complexities of an ever-contentious election cycle, offering advice on the way to respond if one’s chosen candidate loses.
Jackson, pastor of World Outreach Church in Nashville, Tennessee, saw his church organize a 48-hour prayer event over the weekend, encouraging believers to lift America as much as God.
“We’ve been praying for our nation for weeks and weeks now but, as we approach the election, we desired to make a little bit of a more focused effort,” he recently told “Higher Ground With Billy Hallowell.” “So, we took out a 48-hour block of time.”
World Outreach Church then invited people to affix together to hope for the nation, encouraging them to coalesce to appeal to God — and take motion.
“We don’t desire to face on the sidelines and watch what’s happening,” he said. “We wish to be participants in what God is doing within the Earth.”
Listen to him explain:
Jackson also responded to reports that tens of thousands and thousands of Christians won’t be voting in 2024, expressing his belief that withholding a vote is not helpful.
“Some of us have type of been trained that what our project is to hope after which that God does every little thing else,” he said. “And I’m an amazing advocate for prayer, but I believe that is an inadequate understanding of Scripture and our role with our journey through time.”
Jackson continued, “I think that God provides all we want for our lives but, if I sit in my house and pray for food and I do not plant the garden, I’m probably going to get hungry. And I believe if we wish a civil government that’s God-honoring, then I believe we’ve got to be engaged in the method.”
The preacher likened the dynamic to praying for healing but still looking for a health care provider for treatment.
“I believe Christians have to vote, must vote — no excuses,” Jackson said.
As for the way believers — and all Americans — should react if the election doesn’t go the way in which they need, the preacher offered some advice.
“It’s higher if we process it early than not wait until real-time,” Jackson said. “And if the election final result doesn’t satisfy you — whatever your imagined or preferred final result was — I believe we’ve got to acknowledge that we still have an project.”
He added Christians “have a future beyond time” and a deeper mission outside of mere electoral wins.
“I like to consider elections … it’s type of the equivalent of a stress test while you go to the doctor for a physical,” Jackson said. “You get on the treadmill, they usually hook you as much as the EKG, and perhaps they monitor your oxygen intake or output. It’s a snapshot of your physical health. It doesn’t make you … less healthy or sick. It’s just an evaluation.”
In the identical vein, he said elections are an evaluation of the nation’s spiritual health, with the one who is chosen serving as a representation of values and policies. Ultimately, some Americans — and Christians — may not like the results of certain elections, to which Jackson has some advice.
“What I’d say to the Christians: for those who’re upset by the final result of the election, it is not time to panic,” he said. “It’s time to start to hunt the Lord in a latest way. We’ve got to alter some behaviors, change how we engage with culture.”
Jackson encouraged believers to hunt “greater influence” of their God-given spheres of influence.
“The election is absolutely an evaluation of where we’re,” he continued. “It’s not the start of the tip. God’s still on the throne and the sun will come up tomorrow. We may not just like the outcomes and the results could also be difficult for a season, but that is the character of our journey through time.”
This article originally appeared on CBN’s Faithwire.
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes
Billy Hallowell is a journalist, commentator, and digital TV host who has covered 1000’s of the most important faith and culture stories. He’s written greater than 14,000 stories on faith, culture, and politics, has interviewed tons of of celebrities, authors, and influencers, and is the creator of 4 books: “Playing With Fire,” “The Armageddon Code,” “Fault Line,” and “Left Standing.” Twitter: @BillyHallowell Facebook: facebook.com/billyhallowell
