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Why are elections important? We tend to forget that every election in a country’s history is a very significant event and process. Citizens underestimate the consequence of any election. Elections have an immense effect on the course of a country’s history as well as the every day lives of each citizen. An election is essentially not about a electing a leader that can make us all feel warm and safe. New leadership will take their place in many levels of the political arena. These people are instrumental in bringing about new direction, new legislation and policies that influence us in almost every way. So when citizens go to the polls to vote in April the choices they will be making, will indeed affect our country profoundly. It is said that bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
If we do not vote we can not complain about poor service at any government department, public hospital or even the police.
Our votes may ultimately even influence the appointment of officials like judges, which will have an effect on the tendency of court decisions.
If only 50% of eligible voters actually go and vote and 50% of those vote for the ruling party it means that government has the support of only 25% of the people. So the government actually considers themselves accountable to only 25% of the people.
Why the 2009 elections are so important? People think this election is important because the governing party may or may not obtain a two thirds majority. The significance is rather that our democracy is at a very vulnerable and critical point of its existence. This election will either take our young democracy in a positive direction and make it part of the leading democracies of the world or it can take us in a negative direction and add us to the gallery of unstable democracies like many others on the African continent. There is much more at stake than just who will win and how far. After 15 years of democracy the honeymoon is now over. The momentum of 1994 has taken us up to this point but now voters will have to go to the polls in their masses and express their informed votes. We can expect a government that takes note of the needs and wishes of the citizens, we can expect a stable government with a good spread of power but that can only happen if we, as the citizens go and vote.
How should Christians think about elections? Perhaps we must start to look at the way Christians very often view elections. They often say : “I am disillusioned about politicians and politics and therefore I cannot be part of this dirty game.” “Politicians are only in it for themselves and not for the benefit of the voters.” The integrity of the political process is under suspicion and Christians are cynical about participation. People have lost their confidence in democracy and the power of a single vote.
But is this how Christians should be reacting? If you should ask me why it is a Christian’s duty to vote, we could firstly look at the Bible for the answer. In the Old Testament it is explained in detail which were good and which were bad governments. The Lord himself instructs his people in setting up a representative structure of government, He teaches them that leaders must be responsible and that they are accountable. In the New Testament, it is said that all governments were put in place by God. The Bible teaches that we have to obey our governments and pray for them. If God puts governments in place and in our country it is done by an election where the people vote for that government, we are his delegates and the voice of the Christians must be heard. If Christians do not come out and vote in mass, we can not expect that our voice will be taken seriously anywhere else in the sphere of decision making in our country.
If we as Christians want our values concerning politics, voting and the democracy to be put back into the picture, the only way to start is to vote.
There is no way a Christian can ever abdicate and refrain from voting. If we pray, let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we can not sit back and think and say: Well, God You are on Your own with this one. So what should Christians be saying? “ I am putting my Christian values back into the picture by voting” “Change starts with ME and nowhere else” “As a Christian my commitment to proclaim this country as God’s kingdom starts with voting”
Democracy is not an action, it’s an attitude So what can Christians do to fulfill their responsibility during the coming elections?
Go and vote, turn your vote into five more votes by encouraging other people to join you in voting. Take up the challenge to bring someone from your neighbourhood, someone from your church, someone from work, someone from your family and someone who has never voted along to vote with you on the 22nd April. A power point presentation is available from Nerene Grobler at VOTESA, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Brought to you by the National Initiative for Reformation of South Africa (NIRSA) - a Christian coalition for national renewal and integrity. Contact NIRSA on +27-12-343-9488/9 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |