Who are you voting for?
I don't know about you, but we've had loads of leaflets through our door over the last couple of weeks asking us to vote in the European elections on the 4th of June. Everyone seems to claim that they can make the world a better place so which party should Christians vote for?
The first question I'd like to ask is, "Should Christians vote"?
If you read the statement made by the Archbishops of Canterbury & York (24th May 2009) they leave you in no doubt that Christians should exercise their vote in making this a better country to live in. They say, "We hope that electors will use their vote on June 4th to renew the vision of a community united by the common good, public service and the pursuit of justice".
What does the Bible say?
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes" Psalm 118 v 8-9.
Throughout history men & women have demonstrated that they are unable to solve the problems of this world, because for all of the people who try and do good there are many many more who want to take advantage of their fellow humans for their own benefit. Look at 1 John 2 v 15-17:
"Do not love the world, or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
The Bible teaches that only God has the power to completely change this world for the better and this will be done through his son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that Jesus will return to establish God's kingdom on earth. Think about the Lord's prayer, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on the earth as it is done in heaven". That certainly isn't happening now!
Until this Kingdom does come then the Bible tells us that it is God that puts Kings and Prime Ministers in place as part of his plan and purpose for the world:
"Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings" Daniel 2 v 20-21
You may ask, "Why does God allow such corrupt politicians to have power? Why does God allow evil and sadistic dictators to inflict suffering and misery on so many people?"
God wants men and women to put their trust in him. To "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6 v 33). It could be that it is through persecution that people come to a knowledge of God. Think about John 3 v 16: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life". No matter how difficult the situation people are not without hope in the world if they turn to God and his positive word.
We may not like who is voted into power but the Bible teaches us that we must obey the laws of the land as long as they do not conflict with the laws of God. (Mark 12 v 13-17). For a Christian the teachings of God must come first. We cannot serve two masters, (Matthew 6 v 24).
But having chosen to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, Christians should not expect to always live lives that are without persecution. Jesus was crucified for the things he believed in! However we are told to pray for our rulers and leaders so that we can have the freedom to worship God (1 Timothy 2 v 1-3)
If God chooses which people are placed in power we should not vote because we could be putting ourselves in opposition to the will of God.
If we vote for a party then we are identifying ourselves with them and the things that they stand for, they could be standing for things that are against the teachings of God.
Rather than vote for men & women God asks us to put our trust in him and his son. We do this through being baptised and trying to live lives that reflect our belief and trust.
A Christian makes their vote at their baptism and their trust and hope is in the Lord. His manifesto is there for us all to read in the Bible, a true hope for a hopeless world.
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With the media in full cry, denouncing MPs and MEPs for their expenses claims, and telling us every day that Gordon Brown has no moral authority, it's worth remembering two things.
The First point is that in these last days, just before the Second Coming of Jesus, it was predicted long ago that the world would become ungovernable. However clever, astute, able or well-meaning politicians are in these difficult times (and there must be some of those about), they will not be able to get mankind out of the mess it is now in. Only Jesus will be able to resolve the otherwise irresolvable.
The Second point to remember is that Christians, as Paul has explained in his helpful piece, are not part of this world and its pursuits. We belong to God's society, which is now being formed on earth and which will be revealed when Jesus returns to take over world government. As the apostle Paul said: "Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20,21).
Thanks Paul! There is a real issue of trust and confidence in politicians at the moment, so much so that it could be that many people abstain from voting. For me, the issue is one of where I can place my trust, and recent events prove that we cannot trust men and women to rule the nations fairly and justly. If we cannot trust human rulership, who can we trust? In the words of the apostle Peter to Jesus: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69 ESV)