Get out there, believer...

A general election is on the horizon. The electoral machine is starting to whir into a frenzy that won’t stop until whenever polling day lands.

Elections mean more than just a reshuffling of politicians or technical adjustments to the nation’s bank account. New governments shape the future. From the big commitments, like tackling the climate crisis, to the small, like promising to save the village post office. Elections are a moment for parties to set out their vision.

So much history has happened since the last in 2019, and years of scandal and crisis have left many voters feeling demoralised and disenfranchised.

In the seven by-elections held since the beginning of this year, many safe Conservative seats have been lost to opposition parties. This can stir hope for some, and dread in others.

For those giddy at the thought of a change of government, we should be sober and realistic at the prospect. Promises will be broken. Plans will fail. Budgets will run out. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan allegedly said the greatest challenges for statesmen are ‘Events, dear boy, events’. Ultimately, events will happen!

Passing laws is a constant churn of debating, amending, and compromising, until a law emerges that might pass and do some good. We should take this incredibly seriously as a means to love our neighbours and to seek good government of our nation.

But good legislation won’t save us. We’ll never be able to solve every deep-rooted problem in this broken world.

So, as Christians, how can we even begin to engage in this continuous cycle of change in politics? I believe we are not called to shy away from the challenge, but to enter in to the brokenness of the world. 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows us how: ‘if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’

Firstly, we are God’s people! Elections, more than any other event, threaten to divide the church. Before we are members of political parties, before we are even our nationalities, God calls us His children if we follow Him. If we are faithful, that will remain our identity beyond any division stirred up in the culture wars and strong emotions of an election campaign.

We need humility. Politics is not going to save the world. Knowing this takes a weight off our shoulders and frees us for good works. When we realise that the ultimate redemption of the world is safe in the hands of God, we release ourselves to our actual purpose. To partner with God in His redeeming work, loving and serving our neighbours, putting right what is wrong, and caring for creation.

Prayer is the most powerful tool at our disposal. We should pray for wisdom, compassion, and servant-hearted leadership for everyone involved. For current politicians, for policy makers, and for the next batch of winners. Pray that, as the country prepares for an election, the most vulnerable are not forgotten in the heat of the battle, and that the ‘last shall be first’.

Finally, the verse calls us to turn from our ‘wicked ways’. Rather than just changing our beliefs, true repentance compels us to actively take action to restore what has been broken. The UK church is recognised for meeting needs well in a crisis. But what about tackling the roots of problems, the sinful systems that drive inequality and injustice?

As the election slowly rolls around then, consider the challenge, and act. I’m stirred by this quote from our friends across the pond in the AND* campaign:

‘So get out there, believer… Go to your national party. Go vote… Go protest injustice or advocate on behalf of the vulnerable… Go create policies or support policymakers. Go run for elected office or go hold elected officials accountable. Go do whatever God puts on your heart to do in our civic and political world. And whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’

* The US-based AND campaign ‘exists to educate and organize Christians for faithful civic and cultural engagement’ in a Biblical, non-partisan way. Its book, Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement, was published in 2020. The name ‘AND’ reflects the ampersand (&) in brackets in the book title.

Tim Farron has been the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005. He is the author of A Mucky Business: Why Christians Should Get Involved in Politics

● Christians in politics contribute as believers not party politicians. en does not endorse any one particular party.