Christians should do good in the world. One of the most effective ways we can make changes for good is by participating in politics—that’s what it’s there for! So why don’t Christadelphians vote?
Here are five reasons:
1. We should not put our trust in human politicians, but in God (Psalm 146:3–5).
2. Followers of Christ should not divide their allegiance—they should be devoted to Christ, and strive to follow him in every aspect of their lives (Matthew 16:24). There are no politicians in the world who actually stand for what Christ stands for, so giving someone your support would be to compromise your allegiance to him.
3. God rules in the kingdoms of the world, and sets up whichever government He wants (Daniel 4:17, Romans 13:1–3). So in a democratic election, for example, whichever political party will further God’s purpose will win. This does not mean that the best party or leader will win, but the party that will further God’s purpose at the time. We don’t know which party that is, so if we vote we may be voting against God’s will.
4. The accounts in the Bible make it clear that Jesus and his followers took no part in the politics of their day. Their world was full of injustice and there were many who were trying to put it right. For example, the Jewish zealots were involved in attempts to gain freedom and independence for Judea from the detested Romans. People tried to draw Jesus into the political struggle, but he refused to be drawn (Matthew 22:14–21). The world’s politics didn’t matter to him. One of his disciples was a Roman collaborator (Matthew 9:9) and another was probably a Jewish zealot (Luke 6:15), but he made them live together in harmony. He summarised his political position in his interview with the Roman governor Pilate: ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ (John 18:36).
5. Although we have citizenship in countries in this world, followers of Christ don’t really belong here. They’re citizens of the Kingdom of God, that’s where they belong. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ‘ (Philippians 3:20). So for example I am a UK citizen, but if I was to vote in a British election, it would be like my voting in a French election. British politics are not my business, any more than French politics. When God’s Kingdom is established, His people will be full and active participants in it, but until then they are described as ‘strangers and exiles on the earth’
(Hebrews 11:13).