Casting votes

Today is General Election day in the UK.

If you are a Christian, your primary identity is within the kingdom of God, your primary allegiance is to the kingdom of God. This must inform how you vote, as a citizen of the United Kingdom.

Jesus’ manifesto is this:

to bring good news to the poor.*

*this will look like:

bringing release to those who’s experience of life is best described as being held in captivity, to, or by, others;

the recovery of sight to those who are blinded, who can see no hope or no way forward;

letting those who are oppressed by others go free, to experience the same freedom everyone else enjoys;

the writing-off of debt.

(Luke 4:18, 19)

moreover, it will look like:

feeding the hungry;

giving the thirsty something to drink;

welcoming the stranger;

clothing the naked;

taking care of the sick;

visiting [and, implied, meeting the needs of] prisoners.

(Matthew 25:31-46)

These things can be interpreted, and sought to be implemented, in different ways. No political party does so perfectly. Your responsibility is simply to give due consideration to the ways in which political manifestos would address these things, and then to contribute to society by allocating your vote as you see best.**

**and to remain personally and communally invested in these things, regardless of the outcome of the election.