Elections
28 Jun 2024
As I write this we are just over a week away from a general election. You may be very interested in politics, glued to every twist and turn in the campaign. Your attitude may be more like that lady who was stopped in the street by a BBC reporter a number of years ago. When she was informed there was to be another election her response was “Oh no - not another one!”.
However we have responded to the seemingly endless news cycle of the last few weeks, general elections are important events for the nation. It is not for me or any church to tell you who to vote for (always be suspicious of pastors who do that). But I thought I’d remind us of some healthy biblical attitudes we should adopt as we think about the election and as we respond to the result - whatever it may be.
GRATITUDE
Let’s be grateful as we approach the ballot box. I find this so difficult - my default attitude is cynicism and pessimism. But that is so wrong. I shouldn’t take it for granted that I live in a democracy, which takes seriously the dignity of all human beings. It is a democracy where we have freedom of speech, religion and expression, and the ability to live “godly and quiet lives” (1 Timothy 2:2).
This is all a sign of the loving grace of God towards us. It is also a consequence of the rich heritage of the Christian gospel our nation has. It has been protected and upheld by the lives of those who have come before us, who literally gave up their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.
We may differ as to whether this means we must all vote, or whether the freedom to vote also includes the freedom to decide not to (that is a conscience issue).
Let’s also thank God for those prepared to put themselves forward to serve in public office. It is not an easy path. It is shocking to think that there have been 2 serving MP’s murdered in the last decade. It is not a path many of us would choose.
Although we can all think of people who have served as MP’s without integrity and have seemed to have been it in it for themselves, this does not mean everyone is like that. Just as there have been fathers, policemen and pastors who have abused their position, this does not mean we can tar everyone with the same brush.
TRUE WORSHIP
“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save” Psalm 146:3
As we approach the election, and politics in general, we need to see the role of government rightly. It is a gift of God, to uphold justice (Romans 13:4). Today though, particularly with the absence of any fear and worship of the Lord in our public life, it has come to take the place of God. Political parties promise that they are able to transform our lives and fix all our problems. When they are in power they pass laws which intrude in every little bit of our lives. This is not simply a fault with one end of the political spectrum - it is true across the board. A candidate will never stand on a platform which says “we can’t solve all your problems - and more importantly, that’s not our job!”
More significantly, we as citizens allow them to take that place. When there is a problem, the first response is to think “the government should fix that”. When things go wrong, it is striking that few people now ask “where was God”. Instead there is a clamour for a public inquiry and a demand to know why the government could not stop it.
All the main parties have been promising that they will grow the economy. But ultimately this is out of their hands - as we have seen, as a nation we are in the hands of far larger international forces. It may be that the Lord is gracious, and that for his glory the economy does grow and this has a positive effect on public services. It may be that in his providence it stagnates or shrinks. Whatever happens, our response shouldn’t be fear but contentment and love. I have been struck by how much the early church were called to love each other practically and look after the poor amongst them (see Acts 2:45, Galatians 2:10). One significant danger of the idolatry of the state is that as the church we can hold back from truly being the church - with all the consequences for witness this brings.
As Christians, we should resist that idolatry (for that is what this attitude is). It is perhaps no surprise that as the role of the state and political influence has grown, so have problems with our political systems and with politicians. This has been true across the world - just think about America. The Lord is very good at revealing that all our idols have feet of clay.
Be thankful for governments - but remember they are not God. Do not trust them to do and provide what only the Lord can do and provide.
PRAYERFULNESS SEEKING WISDOM
As we vote we must pray. It is one of those decisions which is in the category of “wisdom”. That is - there is no one verse which will tell you which candidate to vote for. There are many things to weigh up and we may all come to different decisions as to what is most important. National or local issues? Which issue is the most important? Which is the least important? Do we vote based on what’s happened in the past, or what may happen in the future?
But true wisdom also seeks counsel. Do try and be as informed as you can. Don’t just see an election like a football match - wearing the colours you were always brought up to wear. Remember that there are important issues facing us as a society which don’t always hit the headlines - what do candidates say about them?
LOVE
Although we all enter the ballot box alone, the command to love God and our neighbour should not be left at the door. It would be wrong for me simply to vote in my personal interest. However, it is also good to remember that the way the media reports things may not be accurate. It is always in one parties interest to report an opponents policy as “selfish”, when they may be trying to achieve the same ends for society using different means!
Remember that whatever happens on July 4th nothing has ultimately changed. The tomb is still empty. All authority on heaven and on earth has still been given to the Lord Jesus Christ. And he is with us surely, until the end of the age.