Would turkeys vote for Christmas?

‘Do turkeys vote for Christmas?’ A general election is not too far away and a letter in EN (August) asked provocatively whether we should vote for any political party if the result was Christians being marginalised and persecuted.

Well, as a Member of Parliament since 2005 and Parliamentary Chairman and co-founder of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, I was duly provoked to respond. Another time I would be pleased to answer specific concerns about party policy, and I am sure politicians from other parties will also have an opportunity in the run up to the general election to make their case if they want to in EN. For now, there is a question which goes deeper about why bother at all about party politics.

Little respect for government

During the middle of the storm over MPs’ expenses I attended a Premier Christian Radio event in Central Hall with a cross party group of politicians and church leaders. At the meeting a survey revealed that only 80% of Christians intended to vote. In September I spoke at a local church group in my constituency of Enfield Southgate. I asked those present to put up their hands if they had respect for the institution of government, then church, then marriage. One hand out of 80 went up for government while nearly everyone put up their hands for church and marriage.

Both the survey and show of hands dismayed but not surprised me. Dismayed because Romans 13 of course reminds us that government is an institution ordained by God to reflect his character, to be God’s servant and provide order in a disordered world. Yet respect for this God-ordained institution is rock bottom compared to those other institutions which are rightly affirmed by Christians.

Biblical obligation

I was not surprised because as a Christian involved in politics for around 23 years, I have seen how government / politics is the poor relation of God-ordained institutions and loses out on attention, involvement and prayer to church and marriage.

Given the low esteem in which politicians are currently held, the lack of respect and engagement even in voting is deserved from one point of view. The problem for Christians is that this point of view should be the preserve of a non-Christian world view. Respect for the institution of government, and by implication politicians, is not an optional extra for Christians. It is a biblical obligation. Let us not forget the Roman authorities, who Paul was urging his readers to submit to and recognise as God’s servant, were probably pagan and included persecutors of Christians.

No doubt Christians have a distinctive view affirming church and marriage from others. The problem is that it is often hard to distinguish the Christian response to government. The cynicism and pessimism which pervades the public view of politics has been aided and abetted by the actions of MPs with the expenses scandals. Christians are, of course, right to join in criticism and to challenge politicians over their behaviour and policies. However, I believe the response should not be left there, but should be looking for ways to both affirm God’s agent and ensure that God’s servant reflects his character.

Christians do not have the luxury to give up on politics because of the state of politicians’ expenses or even because of policies which may threaten Christian activity. We should be taking the lead to support engagement and not disengagement in politics.

Erosion of freedom

So, am I saying, ‘Turkeys, you have to vote’? Well, yes and no. Yes, you should at the very least vote, but I don’t think we have yet to become turkeys facing the inevitable consequences of Christmas. I agree with many of the concerns and fears expressed about the increasing pressures and restrictions upon freedoms for Christians from recent legislation and regulation. I also am profoundly concerned about the loss of trust and respect in public life. Yet my response to these challenges is to see the immense opportunities for Christians to be involved in politics. To all those who think they are turkeys, and those who do not, I say, ‘Get involved in party politics’.

Christians in politics

Nearly 20 years ago I founded the Conservative Christian Fellowship with a university friend Tim Montgomerie because together we felt the need to support Christians in politics, and more specifically within party politics. Christians can be good at commenting from the sidelines or supporting a single issue but bad at getting involved in the sometimes messy business of party politics. Do you know of any Christian local councillors or MPs near to you that would welcome your prayerful support and also your practical support to deliver some leaflets and knock on some doors?

You may not wish to put two feet into party politics immediately, so why not at least support and join Christians actively involved in our three main parties — Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF), Christian Socialist Movement (CSM) or Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF).

Get involved

Now is the time for those committed to the service of others, those who want to display Christ-like principles of humility, compassion, sacrifice, love and truth in public life, to step forward, rather than back into the trenches to throw grenades.

For over 450 years Parliament has begun each day with a prayer: ‘Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed. Amen.’

If Christians are not responding to this prayer and becoming involved with government, otherwise known by Paul as God’s servant, then who are? Plato said, ‘He who refuses to rule is liable to be ruled by one who is worse than himself’. I say, if Christians don’t get involved in politics, then we really are turkeys and can’t complain when Christmas comes!

David Burrowes,
Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate;
Parliamentary Chairman of Conservative Christian Fellowship
http://www.davidburrowes.com