Choosing whom to vote for in our elections is a complicated process and creates more questions the more we try to decide. We are coming out of a period where the level of suspicion about political leadership is growing and the sense of frustration is, and has been, growing. There are issues of words versus actual performance, accountability and transparency and other issues that affect not just one party but all. In The Bahamas there are questions on all sides and there are clear violations of trust on all sides.
The first issue that comes up is that all of the candidates have flaws. There is no perfect candidate. There is no perfect pastor, police commissioner, priest, businessman or even a perfect individual. The issue is not finding a perfect candidate -- the issue is finding the candidate and/or party that is most closely aligned to what we believe is right for the country at this time, with an emphasis on the words -- at this time. It is also what is right according to what God's word says.
As was mentioned before, Christians should absolutely be involved in the political process simply because it is the one opportunity that we have to influence the outcome of who will govern the country and who will make and implement laws that affect our livelihood, behavior, culture and economic stability. If we do not participate, we essentially turn the country over to persons we may have lost confidence in, leaving us in a fatalistic position, which I do not believe is what God would expect of us. There is a verse of scripture that says, "Having done all, stand", which indicates that once you have done your part you leave the rest to God. I believe we must do all within our power and then leave the rest up to God.
Some have opined that we should not vote at all because there are so many flawed candidates and parties that our vote essentially becomes useless. And they have put forth the idea that this is a form of protest that speaks as loud as a vote. The issue I have with that perspective is when do we return to voting, and if we feel that nothing will change regardless of our vote, what is the end game? What is the planned outcome of this exercise? If it is just a vote for fatalism and has no future impact on either the voting process or governance, I am not sure what is being achieved and how this makes us better as a people. I will vote, and I encourage every Christian to vote.
With that said, let us return to the issue of how to make a voting decision from a Christian or Kingdom perspective. The important thing from the Kingdom perspective is that our goal at the end of the day is righteous governance, and governance that is the most closely aligned to the cause of advancing the Kingdom, which at the end of the day automatically makes life better for us all and moves the country forward. As the Bible says, "When the righteous are in power the people rejoice."
I believe we begin by determining which candidates and parties are most closely aligned with righteous and just governance. Which candidates and parties are most likely to put forward a righteous agenda. This means examining candidates and parties and testing their positions versus our positions derived from alignment and allegiance to the Kingdom of God first and foremost -- and issues of justice, peace, distribution and societal well-being after. Our first allegiance is to God, so there can be no party or personality that trumps God, His Kingdom or His laws.
The issues of alignment to God's Word and mandate include integrity (when words line up with actions); character (being able to trust the current and future behavior both in private and public of our leaders); and alignment with core principles and values that are enshrined in the Bible are essential. They include traditional family values, the concept of what is sin and what is righteous behavior and governance. Our voting decisions should take into account alignment with basic biblical concepts that are consistent with what God's laws imply.
So we must vote and we must vote in alignment with the Kingdom perspective. This is true and correct, but leads to a thorny consideration that also needs to be examined. We also have to determine if we vote for a fringe party candidate if this will in effect become a vote against the possibility of change because the fringe party is unlikely to succeed. The fringe party may have the best candidate, but may have little chance of succeeding. Do we still vote for them? This is a thorny issue and one that is not easily resolved, but it is a question that must be asked. The answer may not be easy or clear, but what is clear is that in making voting decisions and determining who to vote for, it must begin with the pursuit of righteous government or government that is the closest to the righteous agenda. Exercise your right to vote and vote according to who is most likely to produce a righteous Kingdom agenda, policies and laws.
o Pastor Dave Burrows is senior pastor at Bahamas Faith Ministries International. Feel free to email me your comments whether you agree or disagree at pastordaveburrows@ hotmail.com. I appreciate your input and dialog. We become better when we discuss, examine and exchange.
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