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The General Election Tony our vicar
I have just finished reading the Old Testament book of Micah and it reminded me forcibly both of President Jimmy Carter and our own General Election on May 6th. It reminded me of these things because I remember Jimmy Carter’s inaugural address was almost a sermon on Micah chapter 6 verse 8, ‘He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love (mercy) and walk humbly with your God’.Sadly Jimmy Carter did not make the best president of the United States, but at least he started with the best of intentions and motives.
I wish everyone who aspired to high office always held those values before their eyes; sadly they are ignored and even turned upside down. Instead of ‘doing justice’ it is rather, doing the best for myself, asking questions in parliament provided I get a free holiday to Gibraltar, or the Bahamas. When it comes to ‘loving (mercy)’ let’s just unpack that phrase a little. The word ‘mercy’ is sometimes translated ‘kindness’, at other times ‘love’ and at other times ‘loyalty’; it is that characteristic which God has toward us who deserve nothing but His wrath. So it is at the same time a love which reaches out to the unlovely and also a care which is for the poor, the weak and the helpless. So what does it mean to ‘Love mercy? It means first of all to respond to the mercy God has given to His world in Jesus, that is to believe in Jesus as Friend and Saviour. We know there are MPs of every political party who stand as Christians in Parliament and we should encourage them, pray for them and stand alongside them, even if we do not agree with their party politics. Secondly to ‘love mercy’ means to go on through faith to show the same character Jesus had for the weak and the poor and the marginalised. We ought to care for, and pray for those in need, whether from this country through organisations like Agape or from other countries through organisations like LASARS.How can these principles inform our voting in the General Election?
I will not tell you which party to vote for, in fact I, myself, am a ‘floating voter’, and have voted for each of the major political parties in my life time. I will, however, tell you as strongly as I possibly can, to vote, no matter which party you vote for, please vote. Men and woman have died in our country in the past and are dying today across the globe for the ability to put a cross on a piece of paper as we are doing on May 6th.Please bear in mind the text that Jimmy Carter applied to his presidential address and think which party you feel most closely adheres to those principles of honesty, humility, care for the weak and vulnerable and the upholding of justice. Whatever you do, please pray for the outcome of the General Election that it will bring a greater openness and transparency in politics and that the country will begin to work together for the greater good of all. I am sure that we all realise that there will need to be a ‘tightening of our belts’ because as with individuals, so with the country’s economy, we cannot live beyond our means. However let’s pray that it will not be the poorest and most vulnerable who are affected the most and that we all bear something of the burden.
If you have access to the internet and want to think more deeply about these issues, then here are a few web sites you might find helpful:http://www.christiansandcandidates.org/index.php This will give you a snapshot of how your previous MP voted on Christian issues
http://www.eauk.org/public-affairs/elections/index.cfm This is Evangelical Alliance’s introduction to the General Election
http://www.careinternational.org.uk/?lid=13294 EA and CARE International have brought out a ‘Manifesto’ for all candidates concerning global poverty issues. Find it here
.http://www.cofe.anglican.org/generalelection Here are some prayers, Bishop’s views etc from the CofE web site.
Yours in Jesus,
Revd Tony Butterworth
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