Christians have two votes – make sure you use them both

By admin
April 20, 2015
Signs of the times

General Election 2015 – Poll Tracker

Christians have dual citizenship – we live in the world, but we are not of it. Our citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven (Phil 3.20), where we have access to the Jesus, the head of all rule, power and authority (Eph 1.21). The government sits on His shoulder (Is 9.6). Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that we are to be subject to Government, ‘for there is no authority except God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God’. (13.1). We are commanded to ‘pray first…for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity‘.

So the Bible is clear from whence Government proceeds, and also that Christians have a God-given responsibility to pray. As we approach the 2015 UK Election, I sense a huge, dark cloud building over our land. Politics is a divided, tangled mess of self-interest and naked ambition, with few candidates seeming to want what is best for the British people. I was overwhelmed by this until the Lord showed me that His vote is final and decisive, and He will decide, but that His children can and must pray.

In praying, let us not be too polite (too English ?!) about it, but let us be clear about what we want. So what are the certainties? I have no doubt that a Labour/SNP alliance would be disastrous for us. Only you can decide who you want, but pray you must. It may be you pray for what you consider to be the ‘least/worst’ option, rather than someone you have complete support for.

Believers in Christ have a major advantage, we get to vote twice – once on the ballot paper, and again in the heavenlies. Please make sure you use both, and do everything in your power to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same.

A final thought: God sometimes gives us a government out of his mercy. Winston Churchill’s Coalition during the war years was such. However, God can also give a nation a government out of His anger. Pray therefore that the Lord will remember mercy in His wrath towards the UK at this time (Hab 3.2).