The signs are coming down. The final votes in our 2025 Lethbridge municipal election have been counted. For some, there is celebration. For others, disappointment. For many, perhaps, just relief that it’s over.
In the quiet after the campaign storm, it’s a perfect time to ask a fundamental question: What does the Bible, our ultimate guide for faith and life, actually teach us about elections?
You might be surprised to find that the Bible doesn’t outline a system of democracy. It doesn’t command us to hold primaries or nominate candidates. But it is profoundly concerned with the principles of authority, leadership, and our role as God’s people within a nation. Let’s explore three key pillars.
The Sovereignty of God Over Every Throne and City Hall
This is the non-negotiable starting point for a Christian. Before we had campaigns, God was on His throne. And after the last ballot was cast, He remains sovereign.
Proverbs 21:1 declares, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
This is a stunning truth. It tells us that the hearts of our leaders—including our new Mayor and City Council—are ultimately under God’s divine providence. He can guide and direct them according to His purposes. This doesn’t mean every leader is godly or that God approves of every decision, but it does mean that no human authority operates outside of His ultimate control.
This truth should fill us with a deep and abiding peace, whether our preferred candidate won or lost. Our hope is not in a person or a party; our hope is in the Lord, who holds the heart of our city’s leadership in His hands.
Our Dual Citizenship: A Call to Engage and Submit
As Christians, we hold a dual citizenship. We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we are also citizens of Lethbridge, Alberta, and Canada. The Bible speaks directly to both.
First, we are called to engage. We are to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt preserves and flavours; it’s active. Light exposes darkness and guides the way. Being salt and light in politics means engaging with our culture, advocating for righteousness, and voting according to biblical principles. It means praying for our city and seeking its welfare, as Jeremiah told the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:7).
But secondly, we are called to submit and honour. Romans 13:1-7 is very clear: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
This is a challenging command. It means we are to respect the office of our leaders, even when we disagree with the person holding it. We are to be model citizens—paying taxes, obeying laws, and praying for those in authority. This submission is not blind obedience to sin, but it is a recognition of God’s ordained structure for human governance.
The Heart of a Leader: A Model of Servant Leadership
While the world often sees leadership as a position of power, the Bible consistently frames it as a position of service.
Jesus provided the ultimate model. He told His disciples, “…whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45).
This is the “Kingdom Leadership” model I often speak about. It’s a call for our newly elected officials—and for anyone in authority—to reject pride and embrace humility. It’s a call to govern not for personal gain or power, but for the good of the people they are called to serve. The best leaders are those who see themselves as chief servants.
A Charge to Lethbridge and Its New Leaders
So, as we look ahead, what do we do?
To our new Mayor and Council: We, the Christian community, commit to praying for you. We will pray for wisdom from above (James 3:17), for courage, for integrity, and for servant hearts. We urge you to lead with humility and righteousness, knowing that “righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34).
To my fellow believers in Lethbridge: Our civic duty is not over. Our most powerful tool is now prayer. Let us be known as people who faithfully lift up our leaders before the throne of grace. Let us be peacemakers and active contributors to our city’s welfare.
The 2025 election has set a new direction for our city. But our ultimate compass remains the Word of God. Let us move forward together, as faithful citizens of both heaven and Lethbridge, trusting in the One who alone establishes and removes kings, and who calls us to be His agents of light in our community.