Archives: May 2010

Should I bother to vote?

By Jo Herbert & Liza Hoeksma

The election has been called, Parliament has been dissolved and right now people are trying to decide who they should vote for. You might be reading this and wondering whether or not you should even vote at all. For one thing, it’s all so complicated and if you don’t know who to vote for or why, maybe it’s better not to vote at all, right? Or maybe politics feels like a messy, dirty business and as a Christian you don’t want any part of it.

If that’s the case it’s time to have a serious think about these issues because it is absolutely crucial that Christians do vote, and here are just a few reasons why:

1. As Christians we have a responsibility to contribute positively to society, to be salt and light, and to be Jesus’ hands and feet. It is Christian involvement in politics that has helped to bring about hospitals, free education, systems of justice, equal opportunities for women in society, the abolition of slavery, and much more! Voting gives us the opportunity to make a stand for godly values within our nation’s decision making. Using our vote is part of being good stewards of God’s world.

2. Because scripture tells us to. Proverbs 31:8 challenges us to ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.’ So often it is poor people who are forgotten by those in power, and by voting and engaging in politics we are able to turn up the volume of the cries of people living in poverty, ensuring that they are not ignored, but are heard by those who can bring change.

3. Because if we don’t vote, we reject our opportunity to have our say and keep politicians accountable. We must refuse to stay silent while people are still downtrodden in our society and while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. If we vote then we have added our voice to the debate.

4. Because other people will! The BNP (who are widely acknowledged to stir racial hatred) managed to win two European Parliamentary seats last year because of a low turn out of votes. When people feel disillusioned with politicians it might feel like not voting for anyone is making your voice heard but in fact it can make the wrong voices get heard.