..ABOUT THE
GENERAL ELECTION?
My wife and I moved to Scotland three weeks before the
independence referendum last year. We couldn’t fail to notice something was
happening! There was an incredible level of political engagement, and on
referendum day itself almost 85 per cent of the electorate voted – the highest
turnout in any British election since every adult was given the right to vote in
1928. By contrast, only 65 per cent of the electorate voted in the 2010 UK general
election.
The high level of voting in Scotland was due to one
straightforward reason: there was a huge issue at stake, which had the
potential to change people’s lives dramatically. Perhaps there’s the clue to
why the voter turnout in the last general election was so low. Many people
believed there was nothing of importance at stake – that there was little to
choose between the parties, so why bother making a choice? It may not be true that
the choice was so narrow – but even if was, it is disappointing to think that a
significant proportion of the population did not take their civic
responsibility seriously.
God cares
It would be even more disappointing if Christians were among
that number, because, as well as being a civic responsibility, it is a
spiritual responsibility. Why so? First of all because we serve a God who is
concerned about every aspect of our lives. Archbishop Desmond Tutu asks if the
Bible says ‘that what happens in the market place, in the courtroom, or in
Parliament is of no particular religious significance, and that all that
matters to God is what is confined to the sacred sphere of the ecclesiastical?’
His answer, of course, is no! The Bible reveals a God who is passionately
concerned about every aspect of people’s lives. He seeks the welfare of people in
body, mind and soul – and so should we.
The common good
Political engagement, even at the most basic level of
casting a vote, is also important because God made us to live in communities.
The question we need to ask ourselves is: ‘what can I do to make my community
better?’ Even if we are keen to vote, it is all too easy to focus on our own
needs and interests. But Christians who take their responsibility seriously
will look to the common good. We will think about the moral and social issues,
and consider what kind of society God desires. This might also involve looking
beyond our national interest to see what our country can be and do in the
world.
Lessons from history
There are many inspiring historical examples of Christian
political engagement. One of the best known is that of William Wilberforce,
who, as a member of parliament led the campaign to abolish the slave trade in
the early nineteenth century. Another example is from our own Army history.
When the Army’s leaders became aware of the extent of human trafficking and
child prostitution, they took a leading role in highlighting the issue and
raised a storm in Victorian Britain. A petition with 393,000 signatures was
carried to Westminster by eight Salvation Army cadets and placed on the floor
of the House of Commons. Parliament responded. The age of consent was raised from
13 to 16 and various measures were put in place to tackle the issue.
What to do
Compared with such dramatic examples we might think our votes
don’t really matter. But as we’ve seen, it is a responsibility we must not take
lightly. So, how should we go about it?
·
Make sure you are registered to vote! The
process has changed this year. Whereas before one person could register for the
whole household, now each individual needs to do it. The deadline is TODAY!!! Go
to
www.gov.uk/yourvotematters
for more information.
·
Find out about your candidates, their parties
and their positions. You’re bound to get a leaflet though your door!
·
Inform yourself about the issues. Get to know
the facts, not just the headlines. You can do this by yourself, or there may be
a study group you can join. Not all Christians will agree on every issue. We are
influenced by our background, our experiences, our understanding of the Bible,
and even our personalities. But all of us need to apply our hearts and minds to
the matter of voting, and make a sincere response.
·
You could write to your candidates expressing
your views.
·
You might want to attend hustings to listen to
what the candidates have to say, and perhaps ask them a question.
·
Vote on the 7th of May!
·
Continue to pray for politicians and for our
country in the days beyond the election – and don’t forget the European and
some local elections on 22nd May.
Lieut-Colonel Jonathan
Roberts
Assistant to the
Secretary for Scotland
