My morning study included these words:
2024 has been described as ‘the ultimate election year’ by Time Magazine because at least 64 countries will vote, including the USA, UK, Russia (already taken place with an illegal result), South Africa, and Brazil. In such a year, faith in Jesus may easily be confused and co-opted by nationalism, just as it was by Judas and the Jews who wanted Jesus to fulfil their own personal political ambitions. Pete Greig, Lectio365
Well said Pete. As Christians, we can too easily divert our gaze from the eternal to the present, applying God given prophetic scriptures to short term political causes.
It’s not that we shouldn’t vote – we absolutely should. We can appreciate the democratic freedoms in our nations by doing so.
But it becomes a problem when we start trying to say ‘God says vote for…’ fill in the blanks!
This seems to be more of an issue in the United Sates than the UK. Too many Christians will get caught up in the right-wing propaganda and fake news emanating from a politician that treats his opponents with vilification, lies and contempt. But because some Christian values seem better represented in his party, many will gather around him in a modern form of nationalism with a Christian veneer.
I hope that in a reflection of democracy, Christians will vote for a wide range of parties and politicians, reflecting their views and those of the ones elected, on a myriad of issues.
I’m concerned that some politicians (from all sides of the debate) may deliberately use fake news and AI to misrepresent the truth.
As Pete Greig said in today’s Bible study:
In this ‘ultimate election year’ I pray for
Christians to lift the name of Jesus high above the names of political leaders,
to defy nationalism as citizens of heaven, and to continue speaking truth to
power.
