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| Which way to turn? The dilemma of voting |
Brand isn’t the
first, and won’t be the last, to suggest that voting is a waste of time. Even
faith leaders have spoken against it. Some Moslems have said that voting is
un-Islamic. And some Christians regard politics and social involvement as
needless compromise with or distraction from the allegedly primary task of
Christians to “preach the Gospel”. However, biblically “the Gospel” is not only
about personal salvation; it is also about building the Kingdom of God and
bringing God’s concerns and values for all aspects of human life into the
world.
Democracy does
not of course have any biblical (Old or New Testament) roots; it was the Greeks
who introduced it some 400 years before Christ. But every vote does count, for two reasons. First, the society
we live in is organised through the ballot box and when we are given the chance
to participate in it we should; not to do so is to say we don’t care about our
world. Secondly, there is no such thing as a wasted vote even if the person you
vote for is not elected. The number of votes sends a signal about the relative
support for people, parties and policies. It warns elected MPs that there is a
significant proportion of their constituents who do not share their views; some
may even be elected by a minority of the total votes cast, such is the downside
of a first-past-the-post system. It may be important to remind them of that when
they support measures we disagree with; letters and emails are another way of
engaging democratically in the system.
Reasons to vote
1. Apathy is the seed from which anarchy may
grow. If we don’t exercise privilege, power may be misused.
2. People (especially women) have suffered or died
to give us the opportunity to have a say in the way we are governed. Their
sacrifice should not be overlooked; using our vote is a way of thanking
previous generations.
3. God is concerned with communities, not just
with individuals. The Old Testament story is of the development of a community of
faith with its customs and laws; the New Testament sees the inauguration of a new
community, the church, which is meant to be a model for all and as such an influence
on the wider community: “salt and light” to preserve goodness and illuminate
righteousness (Matthew 5:13-16).
4. Jesus promoted compliant citizenship
exemplified by paying taxes whether or not people agreed with the authority to
raise them or the purpose for them (Matthew 17:24-27, 22:15-22).
5. He was also unafraid to stand up to secular leaders
and question their actions (Luke 13:31-33).
6. Jesus taught that his followers are “not of
the world” (that is, they have a different set of values and aims) but he also
sent them into the world with a mission to change hearts and minds, attitudes
and therefore actions (John 17:14-19; cf. Matthew 28:19-20).
7. The apostle
Paul likewise did not advocate withdrawal from “the world”, but rather
continuing to rub shoulders with people whose lifestyles Christians might
disapprove of (1 Corinthians 9-11).
8. In his famous comments about the state which at
the time was increasingly hostile to Christians, Paul recognised that secular
authority has been delegated to human communities by God for the well-being of
all. That such authority was misused was not a reason for withdrawing from it
(Romans13:1-7).
Who to vote for
In British
politics no one party can claim to be authentically Christian. Generally (and
thankfully) we are spared the highly selective reasoning of some in the USA who
claim that only one party can be supported by Christians and that not to do so
is to compromise or deny one’s faith. (That such advocacy also may include a
commitment to the right of individuals to hold firearms seems to many of us
this side of the Atlantic to be a glaring blind spot for followers of a
non-violent Messiah.)
In Britain,
there are committed Christians in all the main parties and each one
passionately believes that the party they stand for best represents the values
they espouse. They disagree on where the emphasis should be placed and what
practical steps should be taken to deal with important issues. Out of the
public eye, they can and do enjoy Christian fellowship together in
parliamentary and other Christian groups.
Because the
2015 campaign is closely run, there has been an avalanche of possibly wild
promises from all sides. Tax freezes or cuts, spending on health and education –
such promises appeal brazenly to our self-interest: Russell Brand’s question
echoed that of millions: “What’s in it for me?” Christians have to step back
from that. The two basic commandments are to love and serve God and to love and
serve our neighbour. So each voter has to ask, which party is closest to my understanding
of what is involved in building the Kingdom of God and which is most likely to
be helpful to my “neighbour” (who, by definition in scripture, is usually
someone less fortunate than myself).
The likelihood
of course is that party A has some things in its favour and party B has other
things in its favour. It makes the case for some form of proportional
representation (such as the single transferable vote) stronger, as does the
probability that we will have hung parliaments for the foreseeable future. But
we don’t have that system yet, so here are some issues to be thinking about and
they are not in any particular order of priority.
1. What is the long-term vision, rather than
short term quick fixes, on offer?
2. Peace and security: the purpose of government
is to enable us to live quiet lives without fear.
3. Wholeness and wellbeing: these have become
fashionable words among the generally well-off parts of society but are
relevant to all. Materialism alone doesn’t create a rounded humanity. Culture,
work-life balance, living wages – these are important factors in human welfare.
As of course are ready access to healthcare and a rounded education-for-life
rather than just for exams.
4. Co-operation and harmony: One of the worst
aspects of current UK politics is the ceaseless personal attacks on opponents and
shrill rubbishing of their policies that is reminiscent of playground
barracking and teenage bitching. A willingness to give credit to others, to
work together for the common good, should be an open desire, not a last resort
of compromise to stay in power.
5. Care for the less fortunate. This is fundamental
to the biblical concept of human society and is a priority for Christian
concern. From the charge in Deuteronomy 10:16-20 to care for the poor and
refugees to the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) there is no
escaping this responsibility. The assumption that growing prosperity in one
sector of society will trickle down to others simply hasn’t worked; even if it
did, the trickle is so slow that people suffer while they wait. The same
principle applies to overseas aid: the richer nations are their brothers’
keepers and should help both in crises and longer-term development needs.
6. Care for the environment. God put us in this
world to care for it (Genesis 2:15). Care is not the same as exploitation
without thought for the actual or possible consequences for people and the
future well-being of the planet. Being careful, cleaning up the mess we may make,
is a creation mandate, not a side interest for a few keen conservationists.
7. Sensitivity to people’s beliefs. Freedom of
expression is rightly valued in western society. I don’t mind people
questioning my faith or making jokes about it so long as they do so from knowledge
rather than ignorance. But at the same time elected governments and public
officials as well as entertainers need to treat people of faith with respect.
Notice how Paul remained sensitive to people’s consciences and was prepared to
modify his own behaviour even though he did not share their views in 1
Corinthians 8:1-13, 10:23-33.
Five-point checklist
Finally, here’s
five broad Christian principles with which to gauge party promises.
1. Justice. No party should discriminate in
favour of one section of society.
2. Righteousness. A party should be putting what
is good ahead of what is popular.
3. Truth. Do candidates really mean what they
say and acre about the people they represent or are they cynically trying to
seize power?
4. Charity, in the former sense: graciously
dealing with people and their needs, a genuine care for human beings
everywhere.
5. Humility. Biblically, leaders are to be servants.
The concept of public service is fast fading from commercial “service
industries”. May it not disappear from politics and national leadership.
Think and talk
1. About all the above!
2. Take the opportunity to vote, not only in local
and national government elections, but also in the clubs and societies, the unions
and trade associations. Become an active participant in your world.
Reference
1. The Times, 11 April 2015.
© Derek Williams 2015
Material on any of these blogs may be
reproduced for private or small group use with appropriate credit. See “Me and
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