This month Bishop Lee reminds us of our responsibility as Christians to engage with the General Election and make our vote count for the Kingdom of God.
These are worrying times for our political process. With a General Election imminent the country’s confidence in politicians is at the lowest I can remember. Scandals over expenses and “MPs for hire” have incensed the public and transformed indifference into hostility. Given the difficult economic conditions and a Government which is creaking after three terms in office, one might have expected opposition parties to be streets ahead in the polls.
Yet that has not been the case. At the time of writing, commentators tend to agree that the principal political parties have struggled to distinguish themselves from one another, or to articulate a compelling vision of what the UK could be like.
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts, addressed a number of community leaders from Wiltshire and Dorset last November at a seminar drawn together by the Bishop of Salisbury. He drew attention to how politicians collude with consumerist attitudes in the electorate in seeking to win votes; no party is willing to present the really hard choices for fear of losing them. The result is that the political process does not encourage maturity but instead breeds dissatisfaction, dysfunction and disengagement.
It is vital that Christians do not disengage but do our best to bring a measure of reality and wholeness. Though the Bible is clear about the ways that power can be abused by political leaders, there is plenty of encouragement to support those who bear the responsibility of government (e.g. Romans 13, 1 Peter 2). Taking part responsibly in elections, whether local or national, is a significant dimension of this.
Churches are frequently in the forefront of arranging hustings around a General Election, where those who are seeking election can present their perspective on a range of issues and be asked questions about their views and policies. This is an excellent opportunity to assess how a potential MP’s agenda, and his or her party’s manifesto, aligns with the Kingdom of God.
It would be a mistake to vote on the basis of a “single issue” (e.g. the environment or taxation) so we need to look for the wider perspective. What does he or she think are the principal goals for our economy? How might we deal with the increasing inequality in the UK (according to recent research, now the third most unequal of the developed nations)? What are the most pressing issues in the realms of the criminal justice system, in healthcare, children’s welfare, defence or the environment, and how might we find long term solutions?
I believe the character of the person we elect is of vital importance. Is this a person of integrity, with solid evidence to back it up? It is preferable to vote for someone of the right character than bote for someone who represents a given party.
Being citizens of heaven does not excuse us from participating as citizens of the UK. Rather our status obliges us to engage fully and redemptively in the political process. We need to use our votes wisely and well for Jesus’ sake to create greater wholeness in our society and beyond.
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