This year there are apparently 60 elections around the globe involving up to 2 billion voters. Nearly half of these voters are in India, while some elections – think Russia or Iran – are a complete sham. In Britain this week, where voters turned on the 14-year Tory government, the campaign was far less toxic than we have seen in the United States for several years but it was still marred by unpleasantness and contempt for differing opinions.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer is Britain’s news Prime Minister. Credit: Getty Images Nor is Australia immune, as the furore over Senator Fatima Payman has shown this week. The prospect of a Muslim religious party disturbs many – though recent Christian precedents (Family First or the Fred Nile Party) have not been particularly influential.
A couple of weeks ago I helped Michael Jensen launch his book Subjects and Citizens , which outlines the responsibility of the Christian when it comes to politics. An exposition of Paul’s teaching in his letter to the Romans, the book points out that the core Christian belief should make a critical difference. That belief is that Jesus is Lord of all, above any government or political party, and it should have massive ramifications – as has been recognised by rulers from ancient Rome to modern China who find the concept impossible to tolerate.
They fear divided loyalties, and though Paul exhorts believers to value and obey state authorities, he recognises that there are times when they must .
