An evangelical professor of philosophy has called on Christians in Romania to discern wisely as they prepare to vote in the nation’s delayed presidential election later this year.
Independent far-right candidate Calin Georgescu (see photo) looked to be on course for a possible victory in the first round of voting last year, before the constitutional court remarkably intervened to determine the results null and void, citing possible Russian interference. This delayed the first round of ballots until May.
About 90% of Romania’s 20 million population is thought to be Christian, albeit that far less are considered to be evangelical, and Professor Daniel Fărcaș, a member of the Evangelical Institute for Religious Studies in Oradea told Evangelical Focus that Romanians must think carefully about who they should vote for in the re-run.
Fărcaș called on Christians to pray for wisdom for Romanian believers as they make a difficult choice between the more progressive Elena Lasconi and Calin Georgescu, who appeals to many traditional Christians through a brand of nationalism. He insisted that believers must not ignore the political process, especially at a time which sees politics closely linked to theology and spirituality. He said: ‘Lasconi’s support for the LGBT agenda is a sensitive topic and both the church and Christian ethicists are expected to react.
‘Georgescu proposes a political theology incompatible with the New Testament revelation, as the gospel suggests that the Kingdom of God is not from this world, but a heavenly one. Suggesting that, if elected, Georgescu will act as the saviour of Romania equates him with a Messiah (or a Christ). This is a topic Christians should reflect on.
‘Because of the theological topics and ethical values involved in the electoral debate, evangelicals are very interested in what the two candidates propose. But this interest results in a conflict in the churches between those who identify Georgescu as the anointed one and those who see in him a possible fake Christ (or anti-Christ), made from a genuine Romanian raw material, based on a Russian political strategy of disinformation.’
