I don’t enjoy politics at the best of times.  This is not because I am ignorant or uncaring about the state and affairs of our country, but because I loathe and detest (strong words from me) the divisive implications of labeling oneself “a conservative”, “a labourite” (new word there for the sake of making this sentence work) or “a liberal democrat” (or anything else political).  I have sat in many conversations where people have adopted their political leaning as their identity, speaking as if it gives them some kind of authority, belittling those of other parties as if they have no status, intelligence, worth or value.

Now if people are not Christians then I can totally cope with the fact that their political leaning might be their identity, because their identity has got to come from somewhere.  However, I had a conversation with a Christian recently who said “everything I hate about Cheltenham is summed up in the conservative party.”  I nearly knocked him out.  He votes Labour, but I couldn’t care less, I tried to challenge him on what he had just said, resulting in my confession that I do not swear allegiance to one political party.

he scoffed at this, saying that ultimately I would have to otherwise I was not performing my moral duty to my country.  I’m sorry but I object.  First and foremost I am a Christian.  All authority in heaven and on earth comes from God, says the Bible.  I don’t believe it is right to ally yourself with one particular party otherwise we say to God that we vote for the person he wants us to vote for, so long as they are the most recently elected leader of party “x” because that fits with the social standing that we have taken for ourselves in life.  If you give your life to God, then your life is not your own.  When are we going to learn to ask God whom He has chosen to lead the country and then vote for that person.  God uses people regardless of their ‘party’.  He used people from tax collection parties, prostitution parties, poverty parties etc.  I;’m sure the logical people of the time would have said “why don’t you choose from the temple party, they have the most Christian values” and Jesus may have replied yes, but they are also the most conceited, arrogant un-teachable bunch of people going, so I choose this person because I find in them a humble heart.  His ways are not our ways and we’ll never get it.  I felt like saying to this person that God had given them x years in Cheltenham for a result of hatred.   What a shame that this person could never be a light to that town because their focus was political instead of godly.

I am sick to the back teeth of reading blog entries which boast about politics, belittling others and  airing political insight and so-called wisdom.  I appreciate that people find politics interesting, but if we could put as much passion, insight and boasting in about God, then surely the world would be going in a better direction.  Rant over - I hold my breath in anticipation of all the furious responses I am now likely to receive, but I felt I should write this (perhaps I should have been more gracious, apologies if it feels as though I haven’t), all I would ask is that any response is carefully considered.