Is your political hope misplaced?
Read time: 4 minutes
During election season, I had a thought-provoking conversation with my neighbour. He was passionately discussing his hopes for the next government, putting all his faith in our political system. He confided that, without spiritual faith like mine, he had no choice but to invest all his hope in this world and its leaders.
This conversation made me realise how easy it is to place our ultimate hopes in earthly systems. At Arise, we have people from all political backgrounds, but we share a common understanding: our deepest hope is in the Realm of Heaven and its King. This Kingdom isn't confined to the political sphere. It seeks to infuse every part of our world with divine love and justice. Jesus, living within us, challenges every political ideology, calling us to a higher standard.
Every month, church ministry leaders gather in Sheffield to pray for our city. Ahead of the election, we were inspired by these words from John Wesley. They ring true today as they did on October 6, 1774:
“There's a greater campaign at play…
…the campaign of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are called to pray for ‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done’ on earth as it is in Heaven.”
"I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them:
To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.
To speak no evil of the person they voted against.
To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
We are called to be involved and active in politics
As Christians, we're called to be involved and active in politics, but we must do so with a spirit of blessing and respect. We need to support our elected officials while being mindful of how we speak about them.
Our culture often treats politics like a form of entertainment, leading us to become detached consumers. But there's a greater campaign at play—the campaign of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are called to pray for "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done" on earth as it is in Heaven.
There is much to be grateful for…
Reflecting on the recent elections, there's much to be grateful for. We live in a country where different opinions can be peacefully expressed and resolved through a simple vote. This is a privilege that many around the world do not enjoy. It's essential for us to stay engaged in political conversations, especially as integrity and honesty seem to be increasingly rare in the political space.
Here are some reflections and actions we can take as a community:
Bless Our Leaders: Pray for and support our newly elected MPs. Speak about them with grace and respect, even when we disagree.
Reflect on Arise: How can we work together at Arise to engage our community in conversations about faith and the Kingdom? This Halloween we’ll be working together to bring light in the darkness.
Remember the Greater Campaign: While political systems have their place, our ultimate allegiance is to the Kingdom of Heaven. Let this perspective guide our actions and attitudes.