Dear Friends,
If all things go to plan you will be reading this just a few days before the general election. Perhaps, like me you have been pouring over manifesto promises, weighing up different christian critiques of the party policies, and even enjoying the new presidential style stage managed TV debates.
Please do take this election seriously and if you are qualified to do so cast your vote. God has established civil government and in his sovereignty we live in a parliamentary democracy. I take it, therefore, that our Christian duty is to do all we can to exercise a godly influence on our knees in prayer and with a cross at the ballot box.
I have tried hard not to speak about the election in a way which could be seen as supporting any particular political party. I think it would be inappropriate for a Pastor to do that. The only exception to this has been with regards the the BNP. I fully agree with a statement issued by the General Secretary of the FIEC in December 2009:
“The FIEC strongly believes that the churches that make up the Fellowship would repudiate any idea that the Scriptures support the published policies of the BNP. There are elements within the policies of all political parties which are contrary to the Scriptures. In the case of the BNP, it appears to us that its policies seek to create an attitude of racial hierarchy which values people of some ethnic origins more than others. The Scriptures do not support any such policies.”
Making up our mind is not easy. The Bible tells us to value matters which the media and the politicians do not highlight. Jesus said the big issues of the law were justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matt 23:23). These three words can help us in our decision making.
Justice. Civil Government is meant to restrain bad behaviour and promote good (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13). How do the parties propose to create a just and fair society?
Mercy. In the Bible we discover instructions to protect immigrants, orphans and widows from exploitation and bad treatment (eg Jer 22:3). There are rules to protect and care for the poor and marginalised (Prov 31:8&9). How will policies impact on those at the margins of our society? Are their policies merciful?
Faithfulness.
This word can be understood in two ways.
It can mean integrity or trustworthiness. In the Bible we find rulers being rebuked for immoral behaviour in their private lives (Matt 14:3&4). This is an important question to ask. Are these politicians people of integrity. Do they say the same thing to your face as they do behind your back?
This word can also describe people who have faith. How will their policies impact on religious faith? Will they promote freedom of conscience and religion or will they further restrict and marginalise people of faith?
So take it seriously, reflect, pray and vote. You will not find one party that ticks all the boxes. With a good conscience before Go you have to prayerfully weight up the options and vote as you think is best. In casting your vote you are not endorsing every item of policy of the party you vote for. Our decision making is further complicated by some new political parties who have tried to hijack the name Christian in their titles as if that in itself validates them. And as if there were not sincere Christians in all the major parties in Wales and England (I don’t know too much about Scotland).
At the end of the day rest content in the fact that God is in control of even the most godless government working out his purposes for the salvation of sinners and the glory of his Son Jesus (see for example Ezra 1:1)
In Christ Jesus
John Edmonds
