Date | Sunday, October 11
NEW Time | 9:00 - 9:50 am
Location | Shalom Hall

Election Season 2026: America at a Crossroads—
Does Scripture Provide Historical Parallels and Guidance for Such Times? 

Twenty-six years into the 21st century, and we are living through the most perilous times for America’s democracy since the Civil War. Unlike the two world wars, the peril does not come from an external enemy, but from extremist ideology on both sides of the political spectrum here in our own country.

The economic and social conditions that have weakened our country have been brewing for decades, as our moral grounding has been shredded by the forces of greed, selfishness and apathy. The struggle to regain our erstwhile sense of decency and fair play and perhaps to apply them in ever wider ways, is ongoing and alive with urgency.

The 2026 midterm election season is upon us, and our politics continue to be supercharged with controversy and division. And while the current breadth and depth of our divisions are unprecedented over the past 150 years, the fact is, controversy and conflict are an inherent part of governance in societies around the world (especially democracies) and have been with Americans from the beginning.

A study of Scriptures and history reveals that there has never been a shortage of powerful individuals who try to take freedom away from the many and hoard it for the few. Tyrants existed during Biblical times too, and what may we learn from these? Our own Ed Hinson will lead us in an exploration of times in the Old Testament where despots came to power. Might there be any parallels with despots in our time?

And also of importance, how can we deal with today’s plague of corruption and injustice? Does the Bible offer us any wisdom for such a time as this?

After a period of relative peace and tranquility, Samuel was aging out of a successful career as Israel’s main judge, dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law with wisdom and integrity. His sons who were taking his place did not inspire the same confidence, so the people petitioned for the appointment of a King to rule over them. Samuel prayed to the Lord who warned they would regret putting an autocrat in charge, but God would give them what they thought they wanted. (1 Samuel 8).

A few books later, in 1Kings 18 and 19 the prophet Elijah contended with the tyrannical regime of Ahab and Jezebel who imposed the worship of Baal as the state religion. After a dramatic victory over Baal prophets, Jezebel sent Elijah running for his life where he found God in sheer silence. Captivity and exile haunted the people of Israel; and Jesus and the early Christian movement were essentially disenfranchised when it came to exerting earthly political power, despite the bold claim of Handel in the Hallelujah Chorus and the declaration of the Seventh Angel in Revelation.

Scripture is filled with guidance for how to live in a flawed world with incompetent, unjust, dishonest and often corrupt political leaders and systems. Join us as we turn to Scripture to find ways we can reclaim the personal and collective characteristics necessary to establish Justice, ensure peaceful cooperation, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and those generations who will follow us.