Coping with Election Fever
April 2010
You can call the run up to the election many things, but you would be hard pressed to describe it as dull! Every day brings a new twist to the story, and the opinion polls consistently point to it being a close run contest. You have to trudge back through many pages of British history to find a time when a hung parliament appeared a more likely outcome than it does today.
Too often elections are a foregone conclusion, but not this year! I am delighted to see major political issues being tackled with such passion. This has to be a very healthy thing. It’s an environment within which strong debate can thrive and one in which we need to take every opportunity to put forward our Christian views. I have never favoured the idea of there being a Christian party and I still don’t. We are called to be salt in the world and that involves getting alongside people of different opinions, bringing our considered Christian flavour to the debate. I welcome the fact that there are Christians involved in all the major parties and I pray for God’s blessing on each one as they seek to encourage their party to develop policies which promote justice, compassion and truth.
At the end of March I was privileged to be part of a delegation which took the Sanctuary Pledge to the Houses of Parliament. I love the thinking behind the campaign. It seeks to encourage a compassionate and positive attitude towards asylum seekers, and for that very reason commends the dropping of asylum language which has many unhelpful associations. Sanctuary is a well understood word which speaks of safety and security for those who need it. And be sure of this – our world has many people whose homeland has become a place of danger. This country has a wonderful history of providing sanctuary for people in need, and we need to ensure that that continues and that children are not subjected to the indignity of detention in the way that they are at the moment. The campaign is well worth supporting.
I mention this issue merely as an illustration of the way in which we need to get involved in the political process. For too long we have tended to stand back, tut-tutting from a safe distance. Now is the time to get involved for Christ’s sake. Let’s make sure that we spend time not merely listening to the politicians over the coming weeks, but praying through the issues that are raised. And when Election Day comes let’s make sure that we use our vote, thanking God for the privilege of doing so.
I have just seen an early copy of the DVD that we have prepared for this year. I think it’s a remarkable film. In a very moving way it explores the way in which we confront major political issues, and I hope that you and your church will find it both inspiring and deeply challenging. Every church will receive a copy during the next few weeks, so do look out for it. It’s entitled MAKING PEACE. Political engagement will never be easy or pain-free, but it is the inevitable consequence of being a missionary disciple, seeking to bring the Kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. So I dare to hope that you will not merely cope with election fever – but positively enjoy it!
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