The UK is to hold a General Election on July 4th to decide which party will be in government for the next five years. The parties have unveiled their manifestos, and the people are deciding who to vote for.
Who should Christians vote for?
If there was a political party that really stood for the things that Jesus Christ stood for, what would its manifesto look like? Let’s take some clues from some of his teaching:
“When we are in government:
- everyone will control their temper, and no one will insult anyone else (Matthew 5:22).
- no one will look with sexual lust at anyone to whom they are not married (v. 28).
- no one will retaliate when they are wronged (v. 39).
- everyone will love everyone else (v. 44)
- everyone will serve God (v. 48).”
You’re right, no one would stand any chance of getting elected with a manifesto like that. The teaching of Jesus Christ is completely out of step with the way people generally want to be governed. That’s why it will never be adopted, in a democracy or any other form of government in this age.
Jesus knew this. When he was standing trial before his death, the Roman governor Pilate asked him about his politics.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:36-37).
Jesus will be the king of the world (Revelation 11:15). This will not happen by democratic means nor any other political process, it will be imposed upon the world at his second coming (Psalm 2). When the Kingdom of God is established, all people will be taught its manifesto (Micah 4:1-4). That is how peace, security and prosperity will finally become a reality on the earth (Psalm 72).
Jesus never involved himself in the politics of the Jews, the Romans or anyone else. None of them stood for what he stood for. Instead, he preached the good news of the Kingdom to come (Luke 4:43). His followers should do the same.
Chris Parkin
Photo credit: iStock.com/Robert Shergold