I was brought up Catholic, but made a real commitment to Christ when
I was 17. Since then, as a Christian woman, I have been a citizen of three
countries—of India, of the US (a citizenship I retain) and of the United
Kingdom—we were sworn in last month, and are now dual citizens of the US and
the UK. That’s appropriate—my thinking is mid-Atlantic; the English I write is
mid-Atlantic; and the English I speak, oops, is a melange of words, usages, expressions
and pronunciations I’ve picked up from both nations I retain citizenship of.
This is pathetically simplistic perhaps, but I have always supported
political parties on one basis—and that is not gay rights or abortion rights.
The question I ask is: Whose policies will be best for the poor? The
poor of their own nation, and the global poor, for as Christians, we do have to
realize that we are on this earth for a few decades more at best, and then will, we hope, gain citizenship in heaven with those of every race, and tongue and people
and language, and so
must begin acting as citizens of that everlasting kingdom.
How have we treated the least of these?: That is the great question
we will be asked on the last day (Matt
25:31-46).
And that should surely be a major issue as we gather to bestow
earthly political power.
Politics, like sex or money, is, of course, an intensely personal
matter. In England, in particular, it is impolite to mention them socially,
leave alone in a blog!!
But, how about you? Are you a
single-issue voter? Does your faith affect your voting practices? Should it?
If so, what do you look for in a politician or political party?
Thank you! I SO agree with you. Actually, I say I'm for those who care for all God's children but I think that's about the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I am a single-issue voter, and the issue is whether the politician's principles line up with Christ's teachings. My interpretation is not in line with many of my Bible Belt friends, but I've grown to accept that. We will be judged by how we treat the least among us, and I believe that extends to how we behave as a nation. That many in the US claim we are a "Christian" nation makes it that much more important to take care of those in need.
ReplyDeleteWho is more "the least of these" than the unborn?
ReplyDeleteAnd what has done more to help the poor in this world that the free enterprise system?
And which American political party attempts to do a better job of trying to protect the unborn and the free enterprise system than the Republican party?
If you really care about the poor and the "least of these", and if you are well acquainted with the facts of economic development, then you will support the Republican party over the Democratic party.
Thanks, Jane and Single and Sane:-).
ReplyDeleteAnon, I am afraid I think the poor of the world would laugh to read, "And what has done more to help the poor in this world that the free enterprise system?" That's hilarious!!
Anita, one thing I continually do not understand are people, Christians, who tell me that I should leave my religion at the door when I vote. That I should vote on the issues and not bring my religion into my government.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't recall Jesus ever saying that we should be His followers except when... or we should be mindful of His teachings except... I don't remember any exceptions. To me, "whole heart, whole body, whole mind" means exactly that.
I recently got horribly flamed on another blog for saying that. "Religion has no place in politics" was a common reply. What part of "whole being" was unclear? We must give everything to Christ, the good, the bad, and the politics. I don't see how I can be a Christian at every other point in my life except in the voting booth (ok, just dating myself, we haven't had voting booths here for eons).
One of the people on this other blog quoted the part about "give Caesar what is due Caesar". I believe that is a call to follow the rules of man whenever they don't conflict with God's, not permission to forget about Jesus in our politics.
Does that mean I believe we should have a religious state? Absolutely not! We've seen where that gets us. But I believe that we should be mindful of our Christian teachings while deciding how to vote. That we cannot put our politics in a vacuum without Christ.
My one issue is peace...I know, sounds trite...like I'm a contestant in some beauty pageant saying "world peace" in a sing-song, yet sexy voice.
But it's something that I pray for, that I yearn for. People are poor because we don't have peace...and not just people-not-shooting-at-other-people peace. But true peace. Peace of heart, peace of mind, peace with who we are individually and corporately, peace in God's hands. When we have achieved peace, we no longer have individuals oppressing others for their own advantage (where a lot of poverty stems from), we don't have folks killing one another in competition over land, food or resource. With peace, we have a true sharing of what this big blue island home has to offer. Peace. My one issue.
LA, Abraham Kuyper has this lovely sentence, Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'
ReplyDeletehttp://dreamingbeneaththespires.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/christ-cries-mine.html
I think following Christ should eventually permeate all our lives, including our behaviour in voting booths.
Obviously that doesn't mean voting for the person with the soundest theology, but, perhaps, a person who can govern a nation so that it bears some resemblance to the kingdom of our God, and of his Christ...