Our democratic imperative

Posted by admin on Sep 30, 2008 in Volume 14 Issue 1 | 0 comments

The upcoming election stirs the air. Yet it, and politics in general, is being met with a shocking amount of apathy. People do not seem to see politics as relevant to their lives. Now is the time: here is why it is essential that young Christians with a liberal arts education vote.

Whether you realize or not, politics affects everything. It affects all education. If you’re in the sciences, it affects what studies are supported. If you are in humanities, it affects how things you study are portrayed. If you’re in the fine arts it affects your funding. Perhaps most importantly, politics shapes the ethics that inform our society. Politics affects us all, whether we want a part in it or not. Thus, we are faced with a choice: either we can take a fatalistic viewpoint and allow our society to go morally bankrupt, or we can take charge and decide what is going to affect our lives. For Christians, it is especially important to understand and get involved in politics, even if that simply means casting a vote on Election Day.

Christians need to be aware of the philosophical underpinnings of our political systems to avoid unwittingly engaging in politics that are opposed to the gospel or to biblical norms. If we are to engage and shape the world we live in as Christians, it is essential that we take time to understand and appreciate what we are dealing with in the political landscape.

Politics is a constant struggle of ideas and values. We must be aware of the current ideas that shape society, so that we are in a better place to debate and shape them. The more we understand, the more we are able to influence politics for the Kingdom.

Involvement in politics is part of a Christian mandate. When God created humanity, He commanded us to govern the world we live in. Thus, we have a responsibility to get involved in politics, because this is what shapes the world He created. While being a Christian does mean waiting for the Kingdom, it does not give us an excuse to ignore the temporal world we live in. It is our duty to help God in His redemption of this world. This includes redeeming the political and governmental structures of the world. We are to be salt and light not just in our neighbourhoods, but also in the places of governmental power. We are still in need of a temporal, moral order to govern this life. All humankind can benefit from the temporal peace and temporal justice that good governance in this temporal reality can bring.

Before Election Day, take half an hour to find out what the parties represent. Find the party that speaks to you and represents your moral beliefs. On Election Day take a stand for your ethical beliefs and vote. As Christians, we have a responsibility to care for what God created, and we can choose to stop the moral decline of our society by getting involved in the political realm.