The first problems that we encounter with a 'Christian' party are these:
i. 'Christian' means very different things to people and even when we might agree on what makes one Christian, attitudes within this brand name differ widely. Taking but one major issue such as:
Pro-life - Consider the views that exist among Christians regarding abortion, euthanasia, withdrawal of medical support, etc. To be sure that you had a party who supported all positions would be impossible and therefore rather than draw Christians together the potential for disunity is immense.
Perhaps you'd like to have a 'Christian' party who makes a stand over sexuality. Just as many problem - Pro? Anti? Tolerant? Support all choices?
The first, and possibly insurmountable issue is the reality that the cannot be a Christian party that speaks for all Christians, only a small element within it. The paucity of vote might make the Christian voice look rather sad and just a little impotent or pathetic. In real terms the appearance of such an option is therefore damaging to the Church rather than enhancing, which is the second point to be considered.
ii. Dividing and diminishing - As outlined above, unless the party is able to draw sizeable enough support what it does is influence the outcome such that a viable candidate from another party might fail to be elected because the Christians voted for their own flag. It would be tragedy to see someone whose views opposed Christian values and standards getting elected through having a Christian party.
It is also important to realise that we're not voting for Christ but for Christian values but the general public see this as an indication of falling and failing Christian influence and values.
I'll leave you with those couple of thoughts - and a prompt . .
A few years back a meeting I attended was told (by Ram Gidomal) that politics needed Christians to be present in the major parties to influence them and their attitudes. If we remove ourselves, withdrawing into our ghettos and hiding within our 'Christian' parties are we ceasing to be salt and light to the world and therefore failing in the commands God has given us?
1 comment:
Vic,
One of the major influences in the Conservative Policy Making is a Tim
Tim Montgomerie an Evangelical and founder of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. He with others of a like mind are credited with input to 70% of Tory policies.
So, where in the Tory agenda does this Christian influence show, remarkably little.
Ian Duncan Smith's (an RC) initiatives with social reform appear to be some of them, but I am unsure of the commitment of a radical conservative government to them.
So having prominent Christians in main stream parties does not mean a major influence on policy, rather a much watered down, filtered version.
Voting records on major issues are perhaps an indicator of underlying intent and the reality is that uniformly, the record of the leaders and members of all the main stream parties on issues such as Pro-Life are either to vote against or to abstain (a form of moral cowardice in my view).
Christian activists need to be more realistic in what they can achieve, as they are up against the vested interests of business, the rich list and the secular/atheist agenda, who will only be looking to please themselves or their shareholders.
I hope and pray that I am wrong - and that we can get a new government now that will do things in the interest of all, but the signs are not good for it.
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