Gutter politics & attack ads

The countdown has already begun for the next general election, as can be seen by the new wave of heated political rhetoric, gutter politics and attack ads.

In this climate, I often struggle to feel comfortable in the political sphere to which God has called me. And yet I recognise that it is when politics is at its darkest that Christians can raise their voices and values to enable the barrier-breaking unconditional love of God to shine most brightly. The beaming picture of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak alongside the allegation that he is personally responsible for the lack of prison time for those who sexually assault children has definitely brought headlines for the Labour Party over the past few weeks. It has also reminded the country of the Conservative Party’s equally low blow a few years ago when Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused Sir Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile.

I find it hard to associate myself with politics when it turns into what Christian MP Tim Farron describes as ‘mucky business’. I don’t feel at home in either of the two main parties. I sometimes struggle to know how to navigate politics as a Christian. Often, I find myself wondering if I am making any difference whatsoever.

To renew my motivation and moral North Star in my work with government, I find myself returning to Jesus’ teaching on the two greatest commandments. He summarises the complexity of over 600 Old Testament laws with just two: love God and love your neighbour.

Our ultimate allegiance is always to God. He is to be the defining centre of our lives and the object of our affection and attention. Our place of belonging, our sense of identity and our security are all to be found in Him. Our purpose for living and calling to be salt in the world comes from Him. When we are tempted to be pulled to one side or another in the latest political feud, this is when we need to remind ourselves of what it means to really love God, with all our mind, body, soul, strength – and politics.

When we are tempted to run in the opposite direction and isolate ourselves from the political maelstrom, that is when we need to remind ourselves of the second of the two greatest commandments. Loving our neighbour means we cannot abdicate or retreat from our social and civic responsibilities. As holistic as our love is to be for God, so equally holistic is to be our neighbourly love. We should be concerned for the spiritual, social, economic and psychological wellbeing of those around us, practically as well as theoretically.

Martin Luther King made the connection with politics like this: ‘We are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.’

This restructuring of edifices, or in other words, politics, needs all of us who love God and love neighbour to speak up for truth, pray for and engage with our leaders in love, and stand up for the rights and needs of the vulnerable. It doesn’t need to be partisan. It doesn’t have to involve mudslinging. It doesn’t need to be in Westminster. But it does have to be infused with love for God and for neighbour.