Should Christians Vote?

10 reasons why Christians should vote. (taken from the web)

John 10:11-16, 

Jesus is the one who takes responsibility for us – all God's children – like a good shepherd. Its not just that Jesus is a decent bloke and wants to do a good shepherding job. Its more than that – he is committed to the sheep. Knew their mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers – and will provide for them, help them give birth, protect them even at the cost of his own life. Jesus takes responsibility.

Just as these parents and God parents take responsibility – make themselves answerable to God for these children. They are committed.

Jesus says that there is “one flock and one shepherd” the implication is plain. We are all responsible for one another. We must all care for one another. We cannot opt out with impunity. And that brings me to the General Election.

John 6:30-40
“What's in it for me?” asks the voter? Ask those who follow because of the bread (Jn6). We expect those who lead us to benefit us. But our membership of a community also has responsibilities. We cannot opt out. You can't have the bread of heaven without following the Son. This is true for us in our society. We must play our part rather than bemoan its failings from the spiritual sidelines. 

Why?

1. Voting publicly recognises that we submit to the authority of the political system in our nation as established by God. (Romans 13:1-7)

2. Voting recognises the equality of all people and their right to speak and be heard. (Deuteronomy 10:17-19) OPOV was a hard won battle.

3. It is one way that we can obey God's command to seek the good of those around us and our nation as a whole. (Jeremiah 29:5-6)

4. It shows that we care deeply about who our leaders are as we are urged to offer prayer and intercession on their behalf. (1 Timothy 2:1,2)

5. It is a simple yet significant way we can do something about politics in our nation. 'All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing', Edmund Burke. (Psalms 34:14)

6. It makes a difference the way a grain of salt makes a difference, and that is how we are to influence our society for good. (Matthew 5:13)

7. It is a privilege not to be taken for granted. Those of us who reap the benefits of living in a democracy should play a part in upholding democracy.

8. Not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We need to take responsibility for our actions, as well as our lack of actions. (Luke 10:25-37) If we do not vote we are tacitly accepting responsibility for the actions of those who are elected.

9. Voting has biblical precedence for example Acts 14:23 describes that the early Christians elected elders by voting.

10. Voting is part of our stewardship to use all the resources we have been given in ways that honour God; to waste a vote is to squander a gift.

The House of Bishops of the Church of England writes this:-

“At this election, we can sow the seeds of a new politics. We encourage voters to support candidates and policies which demonstrate the following key values:

• Halting and reversing the accumulation of power and wealth in fewer and fewer hands, whether those of the state, corporations or individuals.

• Involving people at a deeper level in the decisions that affect them most.

• Recognising the distinctive communities, whether defined by geography, religion or culture, which make up the nation and enabling all to thrive and participate together.

• Treating the electorate as people with roots, commitments and traditions and addressing us all in terms of the common good and not just as self-interested consumers.

• Demonstrating that the weak, the dependent, the sick, the aged and the vulnerable are persons of equal value to everybody else.

• Offering the electorate a grown up debate about Britain’s place in the world order and the possibilities and obligations that entails.”

You may want to add some other core values yourself?

This requires us to do more thinking and praying than simply saying “Don't vote for BNP” or “All Christians should vote Green”. Obviously they will all depend on your reading of scripture and your understanding of God will.

Like me you probably have parties with whom you broadly agree but who have one or two policies with which you cannot agree: Same Sex marriage, EU membership issues, Education controls, Immigration, outsourcing of parenting, Social housing policies etc. We have to balance the importance of those issues against the “good” policies we perceive and not let them stop us from making our contribution.

Above all: Listen – Think – Pray – Vote.