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By John H. Redekop
DURING this fall, given the confluence of Canadian and
American election campaigns, citizenship advice abounds. Christian counsel
saturates the media.
Here, then, are six guidelines which may be useful for
fellow pilgrims finding their way through the political maze.
Importance to God
The political realm is important to God. While we may
not all agree on the relative role of politics and government, the biblical
account gives prominence to politics.
Beginning with the declaration of ‘the mark of
Cain’ in Genesis 4:15, God established the importance of government.
The emphasis on politics, broadly defined, continues
through to the Book of Revelation. While some Christians consider earthly
government the antithesis of God’s plan of salvation, others see it
as one of two kingdoms used by God to achieve his ends.
With due respect for free choice, the kingdom of God,
not surprisingly, takes precedence. Earthly kingdoms, when true to their
God-given mandate, play a facilitative role.
Skill vs faith
When my car needs a brake job or a timing gear
adjustment, I look for expertise. Finding a fellow Christian who possesses
“all knowledge of the grace of God” will not, in itself, get
the job done.
Even more to the point, if my gall bladder has ruptured
and serious infection threatens, medical competence takes precedence.
Of course, if medical competence is matched by Christian expertise,
so much the better. But we must never let Christian maturity be a
substitute for professional accomplishment.
Similarly, in evaluating politicians, competence trumps
spirituality. If, however, professional ability is enhanced by godly
qualities, so much the better. But I would never allow a medically
unschooled saint to do brain surgery, any more than I would allow an
uninitiated theologian to evaluate my bladder.
New insights
Much of our pilgrimage on this earth deals with taking
advantage of new knowledge and new insights. Sometimes God grants special
knowledge and insight to fellow believers, sometimes not.
While it may be that God gives new knowledge and
insight to fellow Christians, he generally entrusts such insight, as in
politics, to those who have mastered the discipline.
In politics, as in education or dentistry, professional
accomplishment may be unrelated to spiritual accomplishment. Christians are
well advised to take advantage of the best minds at hand.
The fundamental point is this: we need rulers who are
open to new knowledge and insights. If they are also Christians, so much
the better.
The ‘single issue’ trap
Recently I received an email letter from a dear friend.
He has given much of his life to promoting righteousness and opposing evil.
Given the multiple slayings in Toronto recently, he
wrote that “today I would vote for any of the three main parties with
the courage to ban handguns and weapon-like knives, and impose the laws
necessary to make the legislation stick.”
I identify with my friend’s strong feelings. But
there are complications.
First, major lawbreakers are typically quite pleased to
endorse laws they intend to break. This serves to deflect suspicion.
Second, major lawbreakers are typically pleased to
identify with forces of law and order.
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Third, major lawbreakers are pleased to have forces for
righteousness focus on one particular kind of evil rather than the more
inclusive gamut of evil in society.
Judeo-Christian ethic
The genius of the Judeo-Christian ethic is that it
upholds equal treatment of all of God’s children.
As in the days when the Children of Israel clamoured
for a king, desiring what the other nations had, God respected their
choice. That’s the essence of God’s treatment of his human
creation, to whom he has entrusted wide-ranging moral judgment.
Of the world’s major faiths, only Judaism and
Christianity champion causes greater than their own.
These two religions uphold people’s right to make
choices – even wrong political choices which are displeasing to God.
They uphold and defend this right to make wise – as well as unwise
– choices.
With very limited constraints, as spelled out by God,
they place personal choice above collective decision, or God’s
preferred option. That’s a consequence of giving people moral and
political freedom, a divine grace which goes all the way back to Adam and
Eve in the Garden.
Supporters of other faiths, when they have political
power, often tend to act as if they are the voice of God, not the voice of
godly freedom.
These people feel compelled to coerce others to yield
to God’s will. This means, of course, that the citizens whom they
rule tend to be given only those political rights and privileges which the
rulers mete out. Government officials in such lands are committed not to
the search for truth, but to a version of truth endorsed by the rulers of
the day.
Not surprisingly, where a genuine commitment to basic
Christian values is denied, political freedom is suppressed.
Practical support
Practical support for biblical values is crucial. While
support for basic Christian values is not universally acknowledged, the
ethical claim deserves to be made.
Throughout the world, the greatest achievements of
freedom, equality, and human dignity are found where the Judeo-Christian
ethic prevails. Losers in totalitarian struggles flee to such lands.
Although we can recognize major exceptions, it seems
correct to say that support for stable families, respect for women, freedom
of expression, freedom of religious commitment, the existence of a free
press, freedom of political expression, freedom to vote or not to vote, and
freedom to criticize all other groups – again within broad
limitations – are associated with Judeo-Christian faith.
No other faith commitment has achieved such a
longstanding record. The evidence should not be too readily dismissed.
Test of time
These, then, are six reasons why I champion the
religious and political values rooted in Christianity. They have stood the
test of time. These values – and parties and candidates –
who embody them – deserve our support.
I urge my fellow citizens to vote for candidates and
political parties upholding these rights and privileges.
John Redekop is adjunct professor of political science
at Trinity Western University, and is the author of Politics Under God (Herald Press,
2007).
October 2008
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