Our “conversation” should say it all
As we approach the first Tuesday in November, the number and volume of political ads is way over the top. I don’t know where you live, but every day we get multiple flyers in the mail, a bunch of unsolicited text messages, and a flood of TV commercials. Total national spending is estimated to reach $11.6 billion by election day [1] . And just so you know, that’s more than the total annual revenue of more than half of all the countries in
the world [2] .
Now, I grew up in a family that was loud, so I’m used to lots of volume. While we didn’t offer noise-cancelling headphones at the door for visitors, it might not have been a bad idea. But it’s more than just the volume and frequency of these ads that can’t be ignored. It’s the intensity and total lack of civility that makes my skin crawl.
I won’t try and shock you with my personal Worst-of-the-Worst ads list. These are the ones that I’d hide from my mom. But I’m sure that you have your own personal list that makes you dive to cover the ears of any children within earshot.
The numbers just can’t be ignored. Negative feelings worldwide aren’t just a little bit higher, they’re wildly higher [3]. The levels of worry, frustration, and stress have accelerated by the high cost of living, shifts in society, and polarization in politics [4] . And those feelings go beyond the confines of our culture.
Pick up any Christian publication or podcast and one of the overwhelming feelings is that of negativity. The strongest of those words and feelings are focused on our evil world. And then, to make things worse, the Christian community smugly stands up and shouts their spiritual superiority. The condemnation is swift and brutal.
Yes, the world is fallen. Yes, sin has infected and infiltrated every nook and cranny of life on Earth. Yes, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see (Romans 3:23).
And while all this is more than enough to take the edge off of feeling good, the Good News is that Jesus claimed to be God and proved it through His words, miracles, and resurrection from the dead. But there’s more. His Holy Spirit lives within us and Jesus is coming back to rescue us and this world once and for all.
News is one of those funny words that always, always, always, points back to something that’s already done. Completed. Since it’s in the past, there’s no undoing it. It’s no accident that Jesus’ last words on this world were “It is finished” (see John 19:30). His payment for all sins; past, present, and future, are completely paid for.
So, what does this have to do with the upcoming election? The answer is both really simple and powerful at the same time. Because Jesus is God, our loyalty belongs to Him and Him alone. Period. No one else. He overshadows and overrules any and all other
associations here on planet Earth.
This is why and how the Apostle Paul could not only ask the question about political loyalties but also give the answer from God. As a matter of fact, Paul first gave this answer to the Christian citizens in the city of Philippi.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ Philippians 3:20
It’s no accident that when Paul says citizenship, he uses a word from which we get out word politics [5] Our “politics” are to be in heaven. From heaven. That puts us above local and national political partisanship. There should not be any “us against them” emotion or thinking.
But there’s more to it than just our political party. Who we vote for. There’s a very wide and extensive picture being painted by this word. Yes, it includes our politics, but it also points to our citizenship. Who and what we think most about. Who and what has our deepest emotional ties and affections.
When Paul tells the Philippians that their citizenship is in heaven, he’s talking about the place that empowers and influences how they live. While they are settled in the Greek city of Philippi, and under the rule of the Rome empire, there is a higher power that is to control their choices and actions. live. The community they belong to, the people that they touch and influence every day. It’s the people we belong to. It’s who we support. Who we will stand with and for.
I’m often asked, “Are you left wing, or are you right wing?” And I always say, “I’m for the whole bird.” Have you ever seen a bird with one wing? It flies around in a circle. Rick Warren
Why? Because while we’re concerned about life down here on Planet Earth, our ultimate and eternal priority is eternal. Rather than being focused on what person or party is in power, we are to look forward to the return of Jesus. Then, and only then, will “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (see Revelation 21:4).
The ideas behind “citizenship” include our homeland. The place where we’re from. The people and places that have deeply influenced us. Our every thought, every conversation, the ways we look at and treat people, are all tied up in this word
citizenship.
Today, the word conversation only points to the words that come out from our mouths. But there are at least five English translations that follow the King James Version and tell us that God wants to be the Lord of all. All our words. All out thoughts. All our actions.
All our attitudes. All our conversations.
The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either — but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956
Do we really believe that voting for a certain person is going to bring about the Kingdom of Heaven right here and now? Do we think we can force God’s hand and timing through the political process? The Pharisees thought this. Not only did they believe that the Messiah was going to be a great military and political leader, they knew he wasn’t coming until everyone was obeying all the laws.
They turned a blind eye to Jesus as the suffering servant. As God come down, not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. To seek and save the lost. Are we doing the same?
1 AdImpact, 2026 Election Cycle Ad Spending
2 Wikipedia, List of countries by government budget, Wikipedia
3 State of the World’s Emotional Health 2025, Gallup Inc.
4 Why is America Feeling So Negative?, Visual Capitalist
5 πολίτευμα, politeuma
Chet Gladkowski spent his professional career in insurance technology, using his leadership and communication skills to help people navigate complex challenges and find practical solutions.
Today, Chet brings those same skills to a deeper purpose: addressing the loneliness, pain, struggles, and heartache people face in everyday life. Through writing and speaking, he challenges readers to look beyond themselves for the hope and healing
they cannot find on their own.
His latest book, ServeLife ® – How Serving Unlocks Your Purpose answers the question: what if the life you’ve been searching for was right in front of you? Not found not in chasing recognition, money, or power, but in quietly serving others.
Books By Chet Gladkowski:
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