How To Talk Politics As a Family
Political talk is everywhere right now — it’s on the news and all over social media, it’s happening between friends and family, and it’s most likely happening at your kitchen table too. I wonder… what are your kids hearing?
In this episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast, Caesar shares insights on how to talk politics as a family. You’ll get the tools and gospel perspective to discuss and make wise political choices throughout life.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- Why talking about politics with your kids at an early age is important.
- How to teach them NOT to believe everything they hear.
- How to use gospel-fluency to frame the conversation around politics.
- 5 Tips for changing the conversation right now.
From this episode:
“As parents, we want to transmit a value system to our children. For most of us, the idea of our kids switching from blue to red, or vice versa, is pretty scary and maybe unacceptable. I think what we want to do is seek to help our kids grow political literacy, equipping our children to make considered, rational choices from a place of integrity and the gospel, regardless of whether they adopt our specific political party and beliefs.”
Each week the Big 3 will give you immediate action steps to get you started.
Download today’s BIG 3 right now. Read and think over them again later. You might even want to share them with others…
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Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Coaching with Caesar and Tina in discipleship and missional living.
Missio Publishing – Resources for a life on mission
Transcript
When you see a political advertisement, talk with your kids about, like, ask, ask them what they, what they think the creators are trying to make people think or do.
Caesar Kalinowski:Talk about who paid for it.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, what are their interests?
Caesar Kalinowski:What emotions are they trying to conjure up and use to try to get you to do what they want you to do?
Caesar Kalinowski:See, this is how we talk about this stuff, versus just like knee jerking and angry.
Caesar Kalinowski:Tell kids that, you know, fear mongering, and just, ugh, angst, and flipping out over certain things, and pulling on people's heartstrings, that's all tried and true election strategies.
Caesar Kalinowski:Let them know that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, when they see that stuff, like, why are they so passionate about it?
Caesar Kalinowski:Why are they saying that?
Caesar Kalinowski:That seems so hard.
Caesar Kalinowski:Is that even possible, that that person really wants that?
Caesar Kalinowski:They need to see that.
Caesar Kalinowski:There's a lot of manipulation going on, both sides of an issue, always.
Caesar Kalinowski:Both politicians on both sides are multiple parties.
Caesar Kalinowski:There always is.
Caesar Kalinowski:Help your kids see that kind of stuff.
Heath Hollensbe:Welcome to the Everyday Disciple Podcast, where you'll learn how to live with God.
Heath Hollensbe:greater intentionality, and an integrated faith that naturally fits into every area of life.
Heath Hollensbe:In other words, discipleship as a lifestyle.
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Heath Hollensbe:And now, here's your host, Caesar Kalinowski.
Caesar Kalinowski:Hey, hey, good to be with you.
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Caesar Kalinowski:com website, um, but most people don't come to the site to listen.
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Caesar Kalinowski:That's big these days, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay, so, uh, let's go ahead and get to our topic this week.
Caesar Kalinowski:Political talk is everywhere right now.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's on the news and it's all over social media and it's happening in person between friends and family and most likely it's probably happening at your kitchen table too.
Caesar Kalinowski:most of you have probably been talking about politics And sometimes the way we talk about politics and the election news and reporters and especially the politicians, I got to tell you, it can be more detrimental than we think.
Caesar Kalinowski:And it can have lifelong effects on relationships, including our own kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, by the way, at the end of this episode, I'll tell you how I'm going to vote for president this year.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay?
Caesar Kalinowski:So, if you're interested, stick around, alright?
Caesar Kalinowski:So, let me tell you a little story here.
Caesar Kalinowski:When I was a kid, I have a very visceral picture in my mind.
Caesar Kalinowski:Being at my grandparents house, we spent quite a bit of time at my dad's mom and dad's house.
Caesar Kalinowski:And, um, I can remember them, had the old black and white TV there in the front room.
Caesar Kalinowski:And they were watching the news or something on about politics.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I can remember them just hollering and being super angry.
Caesar Kalinowski:And they said something to the effect of the Democrats would vote for Satan himself if he ran as a Democrat, you know, and I was like, wow, that's a very strong statement and it stuck in my head.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, I gotta be honest with you, I can't remember if they said that about Democrats or the Republicans, but, kinda looking historically back, it probably was, but that's not even my point.
Caesar Kalinowski:It was so strong, and they were so strong about it, and this is, you know, when there was like three stations, I think they might have got two in, on their little antenna with the tinfoil on the, you know, on the ear set or whatever, and, uh, there was no social media.
Caesar Kalinowski:They had a party line phone, seriously, where you shared it with the neighbor next door.
Caesar Kalinowski:And, but I still remember that them saying that so strongly and it really like affected me.
Caesar Kalinowski:And now check this out.
Caesar Kalinowski:Grown up in the Midwest, it would have not been rare or even peculiar to hear Christians commonly saying, I just don't know how you could call yourself a Christian and be a Democrat.
Caesar Kalinowski:Yeah.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't know how you could, how can you be a Democrat and claim Christ?
Caesar Kalinowski:That's what, that's kinda, that was very common in the Midwest, but we moved out here to Tacoma, Washington, here on the West coast in 2004, and it would not be unusual at all to hear the exact opposite.
Caesar Kalinowski:I just don't know how anyone could call themselves a Christian and be a Republican.
Caesar Kalinowski:How could you vote for these people?
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:It's crazy.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's how different our own tribe and family of God can see things politically.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I'm not really here to tell you, uh, which is right or wrong or how to vote or any of that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Um, but I, I do want to talk about the ways we talk about politics and how it affects our kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's in specific, but you'll see this, this goes well beyond kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:So if you're listening and you don't have kids, uh, listen up anyway, because about 98 percent of this is going to hit your the same, I think.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, as I get into this, here's a quick reminder.
Caesar Kalinowski:Remember that our government is not the church, nor is it run like a church, and so why would we expect, and then get freaked out by, things not looking like a bunch of really mature disciples of Jesus are running things for us?
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:The church doesn't even agree on things and run churches and denominations the same way.
Caesar Kalinowski:And just like I don't expect my little kids to make decisions as if they were me or very mature and wise, I don't think it's helpful or balanced.
Caesar Kalinowski:To come from a position where we expect top politicians to run our country like it's heaven come to earth.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I know some people think that's the job of the church, is we're to vote in governments that, that will bring heaven to earth.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't think you can find any evidence for that in scripture.
Caesar Kalinowski:I just don't.
Caesar Kalinowski:And some of you are going to disagree with me and want to write in and maybe you can school me, we can learn, we can be smarter together, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Now that being said, here's a few things that I do want to sort of point out from scripture.
Caesar Kalinowski:In Romans 13, 1, Paul says, For there's no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Caesar Kalinowski:So when, when Paul wrote this, the, the godless Nero was the emperor.
Caesar Kalinowski:Horrible guy, historically, just horrible.
Caesar Kalinowski:And since he obviously fell far short of being a perfect and godly ruler, we have to see that there must be no exceptions to this principle that Paul lays down for us.
Caesar Kalinowski:Namely, that God has ordained government authority.
Caesar Kalinowski:as part of his plan for this earth.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now we, that, that's mystery to us.
Caesar Kalinowski:We go, how could that be?
Caesar Kalinowski:How's that possible?
Caesar Kalinowski:But listen here, it's right here in scripture, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Here's Daniel's testimony to both Nebuchadnezzar and Belsh, Belshazzar.
Caesar Kalinowski:It was very consistent and clear.
Caesar Kalinowski:He says, the most high is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whoever he wishes.
Caesar Kalinowski:You can go look that up in Daniel four.
Caesar Kalinowski:There's a bunch on that.
Caesar Kalinowski:And Jesus himself told Pilate in John 19.
Caesar Kalinowski:You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above.
Caesar Kalinowski:So we've got plenty of old and New Testament evidence that God's authority is above all rulers, and he has always chosen to bring about his glory through very imperfect people, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Think about Abraham, David, many of the prophets, you and I, if God didn't use imperfect people, and in some cases, from our perspective, like really not great, then who would he work with?
Caesar Kalinowski:See, and that's that whole, you know, choosing, you know, the unwise to be wise and choosing the, you know, the low to be the high.
Caesar Kalinowski:This is part of God showing His glory and that He's ultimately the one in control.
Caesar Kalinowski:So let's get into a little bit about how to talk to your kids about politics and, and, and politicians.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I've got, uh, five different things I'm going to give you here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Um, but let me just say this.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's never too late, really, or too early.
Caesar Kalinowski:To get started talking about politics or change your ways in how you've addressed it in your life, in your home, with your kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:In a 2016 survey conducted by care.
Caesar Kalinowski:com, nearly 90 percent of parents who didn't discuss politics with their kids said it was because they were too young to understand.
Caesar Kalinowski:But, I read this, this, uh, professor, Judith Meyers Wall, she's a PhD, she's a professor of child development at, at Purdue University.
Caesar Kalinowski:She says, the first stage, if they just don't get it, doesn't last all that long.
Caesar Kalinowski:Children as, as young as three have some understanding about most of what we're talking about.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I know that to be true for my own kids, and Tina and I now are raising grandkids, and we've got a three year old and an almost four year old, and coming up on a one year old and a brand new baby.
Caesar Kalinowski:And they do.
Caesar Kalinowski:Those two oldest boys, Patton and Caesar Five, they pick up on everything.
Caesar Kalinowski:If we barely even raise our voice or have an edge to it about something, Patton wants to know why we're being mean.
Caesar Kalinowski:Why are you being mean, Grandpa?
Caesar Kalinowski:Oh, I'm not being mean, buddy.
Caesar Kalinowski:I was just raising my voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:Or, I'm just excited, you know, or whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:It could be about nothing, not even politics, but they know more than you think.
Caesar Kalinowski:So here's a few tips on the right way to talk about politics with your kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:First, don't shove your political views down their throats.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I know that as parents, we want to transmit a value system to our kids, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:For most of us, the idea of our children switching from blue to red or vice versa is pretty scary.
Caesar Kalinowski:And maybe we find it even unacceptable.
Caesar Kalinowski:I know a lot of families divide over this stuff.
Caesar Kalinowski:Please don't do that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I think that what we want to do is seek to help our kids grow, like, their political literacy.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, coupled with their gospel fluency, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Equipping our children to make considered rational choices from a place of integrity and the gospel, regardless of whether they adopt our specific political party and beliefs, that should be our goal, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Let's not, you know, teach them, not give them a fish, let's teach them to fish.
Caesar Kalinowski:So, so let's, let's have that sort of as a baseline.
Caesar Kalinowski:All right, let's have that as a baseline.
Caesar Kalinowski:We don't have to just try to indoctrinate our kids to believe what we believe.
Caesar Kalinowski:Let's teach them how to think and have integrity and think through the lens of the gospel.
Caesar Kalinowski:All right, next, second thing.
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't confuse your passion for vitriol.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know that word vitriol?
Caesar Kalinowski:It's like cruel and bitter criticism.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like where we're just like, we're just hard, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't confuse your passion for that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Oftentimes when we're freaking out and hollering at some politician or news commentator on the TV, we try and sort of hide, you know, what's really going on and hide behind our very negative and even hateful speech by saying that this is just so important and that we're just so passionate about this issue.
Caesar Kalinowski:Well, author Dr.
Caesar Kalinowski:Laura Markham says it's important to support the principle of free speech, but when our kids see public discourse that's disrespectful in tone, they learn that we adults are not actually serious when we tell them that they should be kind and respectful.
Caesar Kalinowski:Oh, that really hits hard.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that kind of hits home for me.
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:We're always like, Hey, you know, like we raised our kids, like, don't say something, unless it's nice, necessary or true.
Caesar Kalinowski:We used to have that on the refrigerator.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like don't say things unless they're nice, necessary, or true.
Caesar Kalinowski:And we had to return to that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Daily, often with our kids and we say those kind of things and we look at scripture and we talk and talks about gentleness and how Jesus was and all these things, but then if, if our discourse, especially like now in this sort of election season is really disrespectful in tone, what are our kids really getting?
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, what are they really thinking?
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that kind of brings me to my third point is, you know, don't gossip, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, gossip's a very real thing, and it's sin, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Scripture teaches that clearly.
Caesar Kalinowski:See, it's not okay just because someone is a public figure or running for office or on TV to sit and just hack them and, and act like we know their heart and every one of their motives and everything reported about them must be accurate and be a perfect lens into their soul and their heart and their intentions, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Scripture warns against all that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Matthew 5, 21.
Caesar Kalinowski:Jesus says, You've heard that our ancestors were told, You must not murder.
Caesar Kalinowski:He says, If you commit murder, you're going to be subject to judgment.
Caesar Kalinowski:But I say, If you're even angry with someone, you're subject to judgment.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you call them an idiot, you're in danger of being brought before the court.
Caesar Kalinowski:If you curse someone, you're in danger of the fires of hell.
Caesar Kalinowski:Wow, that is so strong.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't want to be guilty of that.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I don't want to be modeling that to my kids.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, but in this category, it's okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:Or because I don't know them.
Caesar Kalinowski:See, we tend to think that gossip is just like talking behind someone's back that we know, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Oh, uh, this, that, that, this or that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Right.
Caesar Kalinowski:My mentor in life, Pastor Johnny said, gossip is speaking about someone.
Caesar Kalinowski:When they're not there that you're neither part of the problem nor the solution.
Caesar Kalinowski:And it's really served us well.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now you might say, well, I, I'm going to talk about, I am part of the solution because we get to vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:Well then, but you don't have to talk negatively.
Caesar Kalinowski:and weird about it, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:That's where it gets into gossip.
Caesar Kalinowski:In other words, I can mention somebody in my life and say, Hey, you know, so and so just got a new job.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'm really stoked for them.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I'm glad that they got that.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's not negative.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's not gossip.
Caesar Kalinowski:But when we're just like, just hacking and hacking and hacking, I know my, my son and all, and I lately, we've been talking about this and that and other, you know, things that are on the news and what's been going on politically.
Caesar Kalinowski:And my daughter, Kristen, she's like, I don't even want to hear any of that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't even want to hear it, which.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's partly the issues at hand, but it's also, I sort of fear and have to confess, it's probably some of our tone, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Let's not gossip and somehow whitewash it because it's someone on TV or a politician.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's still sin.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay, next, um, teach your kids not to believe everything they hear.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay?
Caesar Kalinowski:I read an article that was written this summer by author Gail Corwall and, uh, it was really good about this whole topic.
Caesar Kalinowski:And, um, you know, offering reassurance and optimism to our kids doesn't mean creating dummies, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:But children need to know they can't take everything they hear about politics at face value.
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:So we don't discount everything, and we certainly don't just pick and choose certain channels of TV or social media and then act like that's gospel.
Caesar Kalinowski:Talk about elections in general.
Caesar Kalinowski:Are they popularity contests?
Caesar Kalinowski:Are they about ideas?
Caesar Kalinowski:A little of both?
Caesar Kalinowski:What role do race and gender play in this issue, or this debate?
Caesar Kalinowski:politicians stance, or this election, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Maybe introduce kids to political cartoons, and how social media is really a powerful and not necessarily trusted way to gain our insight into, into these types of things.
Caesar Kalinowski:And, and talk about the impact of polls, on campaign momentum, and things like that.
Caesar Kalinowski:We know from the last presidential election here in the United States, that uh, the polls aren't always very accurate, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:They're not always very accurate.
Caesar Kalinowski:We're about to see what happens here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Well, at the time this will be dropping, tomorrow, but I don't think we're gonna find out that quick.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay?
Caesar Kalinowski:When you see a political advertisement, talk with your kids about, like, ask, ask them what they, what they think the creators are trying to make people think or do.
Caesar Kalinowski:Talk about who paid for it.
Caesar Kalinowski:We're like, what are their interests?
Caesar Kalinowski:What emotions are they trying to conjure up and use to try to get you to do what they want you to do?
Caesar Kalinowski:See, this is how we talk about this stuff versus just like knee jerking and angry.
Caesar Kalinowski:Tell kids that, you know, fear mongering and just angst and flipping out.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, over certain things and pulling on people's heartstrings.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's all tried and true election strategies.
Caesar Kalinowski:Let them know that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Like when they see that stuff, like, why are they so passionate about it?
Caesar Kalinowski:Why are they saying that?
Caesar Kalinowski:That seems so hard.
Caesar Kalinowski:Is that even possible that that person really wants that?
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, like they're going to cancel every bit of health care.
Caesar Kalinowski:They're going to cancel.
Caesar Kalinowski:Old people are going to all go to, you know, what, really?
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't think so.
Caesar Kalinowski:OK.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that's not just the case for ads.
Caesar Kalinowski:But for candidate speeches too, when, you know, when kids watch an interview or maybe watch the debate with you, point out when a candidate doesn't answer the question, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:They just kind of avoid it or they circle back to their talking points.
Caesar Kalinowski:Help them see that, like both sides, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Explain how politicians use like, you know, something like a scarecrow to distract attention from the important issues and you know, and to try to rally their base.
Caesar Kalinowski:They need to see that.
Caesar Kalinowski:There's a lot of manipulation going on.
Caesar Kalinowski:Both sides of an issue, always.
Caesar Kalinowski:Both politicians on both sides of multiple parties.
Caesar Kalinowski:There always is.
Caesar Kalinowski:Help your kids see that kind of stuff.
Caesar Kalinowski:And here's the biggest opportunity in all of this.
Caesar Kalinowski:It really is.
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't miss this.
Caesar Kalinowski:Talk about the thing behind the thing connected to issues or strong political statements that you hear in the news and from politicians and from others around you.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, how come, how come Uncle, you know, Bob's always flipping out on this or we were over the other day and Grandpa was going nuts, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, talk about the thing behind the thing.
Caesar Kalinowski:What are they believing?
Caesar Kalinowski:About people or this country or who's ultimately in authority like we were just talking about a few minutes ago What will really change this issue?
Caesar Kalinowski:Like discuss those things with your kids because is it is it just is everything super simple and black and white?
Caesar Kalinowski:We know it's not remember everything is a heart issue and our struggle is not against flesh and blood It's not.
Caesar Kalinowski:Those are, you know, like it or not, those politicians on both sides of the aisle, that's brothers and sisters.
Caesar Kalinowski:Those are image bearers that God created, and we get to treat them with respect as humans, as image bearers, even if we don't agree or respect some other choices or policies or whatever, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:All right, here's another thing to kind of remember.
Caesar Kalinowski:No government will give us the life we want or fix every societal ill.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's never going to happen.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's just, it's not.
Caesar Kalinowski:We get to be a part of this ourselves and God is accomplishing the restoration of all things and filling the world with his glory when we, his kids, Christians, live as disciples of Jesus and we focus our lives on making more disciples of Jesus.
Caesar Kalinowski:Yeah, that's, that's our greatest and highest call.
Caesar Kalinowski:Jesus gave us that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Jesus is the glory of God and our only hope for glory.
Caesar Kalinowski:As Paul tells us, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:We get to explain to our kids that all the messed up stuff in this world and in our countries will never be solved by governments, but rather by the gospel changing hearts and therefore lives and families and culture, society.
Caesar Kalinowski:and Nations.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's how God is bringing about the restoration of all things, through disciples making disciples of Jesus, who is the glory of the Father, and our only hope of glory.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's big.
Caesar Kalinowski:See how that flips the whole thing.
Caesar Kalinowski:We're not avoiding topics, we're just staying rooted in the truth, what our true calling is, and where our hope lies.
Caesar Kalinowski:And then last, and I, you know, this might just sound like, oh yeah, of course, but you know, I want to really encourage you, pray with your kids for our leaders and the outcome.
Caesar Kalinowski:of this election and every election.
Caesar Kalinowski:Paul tells us in first Timothy two, that we should pray for kings and those in authority.
Caesar Kalinowski:And he goes on, he says, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's beautiful.
Caesar Kalinowski:Pray for kings and those in authority so you can have a nice, tranquil, godly life with dignity.
Caesar Kalinowski:Notice who that's directed at us.
Caesar Kalinowski:We pray for our leaders to gain a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Caesar Kalinowski:I love it.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that doesn't sound anything like freaking out and howling at the TV, and slandering and gossiping about people just because they happen to be, you know, a politician or whatever.
Caesar Kalinowski:Or they, some people we know who have opposing views to ours, or lighting someone up on Facebook or other social media.
Caesar Kalinowski:Right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Yeah.
Caesar Kalinowski:So please, like, like, hold hands around the table when you're thanking God for your food.
Caesar Kalinowski:Pray for our elected officials.
Caesar Kalinowski:Pray for those running for office.
Caesar Kalinowski:Pray for our hearts to be able to see the thing behind the thing and really understand the gospel issues behind everything.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's our hope.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's our hope of glory.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now in closing, I just want to say, I recently heard author Askinas say something about He said something to the effect of when we don't get involved in any aspect of society in a meaningful way, we're left with having to choose between the lesser of two evils.
Caesar Kalinowski:And I know in these election times, many of you, I know I have felt this way in recent elections, feel like that's, that's my choice.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'm trying to choose between the lesser of two evils.
Caesar Kalinowski:And so I want to say get out there and vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:Even if you're hearing this and it's like, You know, you're in America and it's Tuesday, you know, and it's the election day and you're like, I'm not going to vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:What's it matter?
Caesar Kalinowski:It's never, it does matter.
Caesar Kalinowski:God has ordained that we would live in a country where we do get to vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:We do get to have a voice.
Caesar Kalinowski:It's not where we put all our hope, but it is a privilege and a right that's been extended to us as grace.
Caesar Kalinowski:And so I want to encourage you to vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:and not, hopefully not just be stuck with the lesser of two evils forever.
Caesar Kalinowski:I don't want that anymore.
Caesar Kalinowski:So I want to encourage you to get out there and vote.
Caesar Kalinowski:All right.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, as always, I want to leave you with the big three takeaways from today's topic.
Caesar Kalinowski:This can be hard to condense down to three things, but I think I got you here.
Caesar Kalinowski:Now, if nothing else, I don't want you to miss these three things.
Caesar Kalinowski:And by the way, as always, you can get a printable PDF of this week's big three as a free download.
Caesar Kalinowski:All you have to do is go to everydaydisciple.
Caesar Kalinowski:com forward slash big three.
Caesar Kalinowski:EverydayDisciple.
Caesar Kalinowski:com forward slash big three and boop it'll send to you and you can have these so if these really sum up some Things or you want to talk to others about this, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Here you go.
Caesar Kalinowski:So here's the first thing Remember that our God alone is sovereign and rules every country and its leaders.
Caesar Kalinowski:He already knows the future laid out for us, for His greatest glory and our ultimate good.
Caesar Kalinowski:When we speak and act like a single election or vote is going to determine the fate of our futures, we're showing our unbelief in God's authority and His goodness.
Caesar Kalinowski:Second, practicing your gospel fluency with your children is always a good way to approach a topic.
Caesar Kalinowski:Help your kids see the thing behind the thing in what politicians and newscasters and others are saying.
Caesar Kalinowski:What is the real issue and where does their hope really lie?
Caesar Kalinowski:Ask these questions in connection to an issue, policy, or protest.
Caesar Kalinowski:Ask these questions.
Caesar Kalinowski:Who is God and what is his character like in connection to this topic?
Caesar Kalinowski:Mm hmm.
Caesar Kalinowski:You know, he's, he's sovereign.
Caesar Kalinowski:He's loving.
Caesar Kalinowski:He's powerful.
Caesar Kalinowski:He's generous.
Caesar Kalinowski:He's patient, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:Like, like, connect the dots to that.
Caesar Kalinowski:What's his character like in connection to this issue or this policy?
Caesar Kalinowski:Next, ask, what has he done in and throughout history that shows us this is consistently true of him?
Caesar Kalinowski:And how does Jesus life, death, and resurrection speak to our ultimate hope and his willingness to care for us?
Caesar Kalinowski:Then ask, what is all of that?
Caesar Kalinowski:about God and Jesus say is true for us and our identity, authority, and privilege.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that leads to asking, how do we get to respond in light of all these truths?
Caesar Kalinowski:That'll serve you.
Caesar Kalinowski:It really will.
Caesar Kalinowski:That'll serve you well.
Caesar Kalinowski:And instead of just avoiding the conversation or speaking ill of people, this allows us to practice the gospel and see the thing behind the thing from God's perspective.
Caesar Kalinowski:And third, spend more time praying together as a family for the politicians and elections we're privileged to have a vote in.
Caesar Kalinowski:Don't believe everything you hear or read, always seek to educate yourself from both sides of an issue and let prayer guide your response.
Caesar Kalinowski:In all of this, you can help your children to develop a gospel centered approach to our government and politics, and develop rational opinions and choices from a place of integrity and faith.
Caesar Kalinowski:And that, that's the kind of kids we want to raise, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:When it comes to this.
Caesar Kalinowski:So I hope that's helpful.
Caesar Kalinowski:I hope you, uh, find that good and give you some ways forward.
Caesar Kalinowski:And, um, that's not only for, you know, this week, um, but in the weeks ahead, as we kind of sort through all that's happening, but even in the years and elections ahead, we have lots of elections, right?
Caesar Kalinowski:So now, as I promised you that I would tell you how I was going to vote for president this year, here it I vote . by early mail in ballot.
Caesar Kalinowski:I never said I was going to tell you who I voted for.
Caesar Kalinowski:I was going to tell you how.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:That's how I vote . Yeah.
Caesar Kalinowski:They sent it to me.
Caesar Kalinowski:We fill it out and then we go in and we put it in a dropbox.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:All right.
Caesar Kalinowski:Hey, that's about it for today.
Caesar Kalinowski:Join me next week.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'll be talking with my friend and amazing author, Neil Cole.
Caesar Kalinowski:/He's written some pretty watershed books on discipleship and missional living.
Caesar Kalinowski:I bet you've read some of them.
Caesar Kalinowski:And he's going to talk to us about prayer and finding ways for ordinary people to connect with God in all of life.
Caesar Kalinowski:Man, I love that.
Caesar Kalinowski:Okay.
Caesar Kalinowski:You're going to love him and you're going to love this episode.
Caesar Kalinowski:So I hope you'll join us for that.
Caesar Kalinowski:I'll talk to you real soon.
Heath Hollensbe:And remember, you really can live with the spiritual freedom and relational peace that Jesus promised every day.