John Hayward Posted: 1 June 2009
Keywords: Government & Foreign Affairs,
So, you recognise that voting is part of your worship, an act of loving service to God and your neighbour, but you're tired of government sleaze and constant revelations about unjustified expense claims by MPs. You are tempted to "send a message" to the main political parties by making a protest vote for one of the many minority parties on offer in this week's European elections, but you don't want to endorse any party with a history of racism. Should you 'vote Christian'?
Six years ago, we presented the case for and against Christian political parties. Arguing in favour was Ram Gidoomal, then leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, who concluded that 'it may be that the small tug of Christian Democracy is required to give [the secular parties] the shunt that they need.' Concluding the case against, Michael Schluter conceded that 'to vote for a ‘Christian party' may be ‘the lesser of two evils', depending on the alternatives on offer.'
A few weeks after these elections are behind us, we will be publishing our general election guide to the issues, Votewise Now! Based on our original Votewise, this completely new book offers a Christian perspective on all the major issues, each authored by an expert in their respective fields. In it, we encourage broad engagement with the issues throughout our lives, not just when we mark our cross on a ballot paper. We attempt simply to inform voters how to evaluate the issues, not to sway how voters will vote. The book concludes, however, with three exciting responses by Christian MPs, representing the three main political parties, to the question, 'Why should a Christian vote for my party?'
Now, as with the coming book, we leave it for the parties and their candidates to make their particular pitches to you, the electorate. Perhaps it is simply worth noting that the European elections are determined by proportional representation, not our more usual 'first past the post' system. This means that we are all voting for the party, not any particular candidates. On the other hand, as historian Professor Niall Ferguson warned on this morning's Today programme, at times such as now, when there is 'a deep suspicion of all established parties,' proportional representation makes us far more vulnerable to 'a flight to new parties on the political fringes'.
Voting should be Christian policy oriented not just a Christian party. It should reflect doctrinal teaching.
Margaret Steel 27 June 2009
Given the continuing multiplication of Christian denominations it is difficult to see how just one Christian Party could represent an agreed Christian Political Concensus, particularly as an inability to agree on the basic stuff is the reason for so many denominations to exist in the first place.
And that's just in Swindon.
Look what happened with Political Islam, and in Israel there is a slew of religious parties vying to be most the most authentically "Jewish", each considering non party members to be not Jewish enough, if at all, and causing all sorts of problems.
By all means bring your Christianity to the political process but I don't think forming a single party (you'll get several at least) is desirable, useful or even possible.
Graham Happé 29 June 2009
No Christian has any business to be voting - except perhaps on matters relating to single issues. All parties in Britain today promulagate evil policies to one degree or another - sadly even the so-called Christian Party supports continuing membership of the EU - surely one of the most ungodly - indeed anti-GOD - organisations on earth today! Christians should have nothing to do with voting for anykind of evil even a lesser one. They should instead leave things to unsaved man to exercise what he thinks is his \"free will\", when we Christians should know & trust God\'s word which tells us that a paradox is true, which is that HE alone appoints Kings & governments.
I concede that it may be a different matter should a Christian man feel called to become an MP and influence change from within (I leave that to his conscience but as for the Christian voter I remain convicted taht he should have no truck with voting for any evil.
Chris Wallis 29 June 2009
Could somebody please tell me how God goes about appointing kings & governments and why He does not work his will through the democratic process. I admit it's not perfect but it's better than all the rest.
And how would we recognise God's appointee - is it just anyone who manages to grab power by whatever means, his ascendancy explained by God's "mysterious" moving?
I also don't see the paradox, unless it refers to the Christian man who only achieves his calling by others committing the sin of voting for him.
I've seen these ideas before, they neither wash nor hold water.
Sincere apologies for that last one, it was dreadful!
Graham Happé 30 June 2009
Grahame, please see Proverbs 8 - especially vs. 15 & 16. Also, Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1 and much more! As for any further understanding, HE alone can reveal it if we want to receive it...or we can carry on with our own intellectual reasoning & justifications if we prefer. He gives us those choices.
In His love.
Chris Wallis 3 July 2009
It's well known that cash makes us autonomous. But how to act if someone has no cash? The only one way is to try to get the mortgage loans or small business loan.
LeahCAREY29 24 September 2010
Tnhkas for the insight. It brings light into the dark!
Summer 22 May 2011