Robyn Bloomfield is on the Baptist Women New Zealand board and is a Carey pastoral leadership student. She is a member of Avonhead Baptist Church, and is currently on placement at Riccarton Baptist Church, in Christchurch.
Our National Leader, Chris Chamberlain, has asked me to reflect on some specific passages in the Bible, and consider how they shape the way I vote in the upcoming elections. One of the passages is Luke 4:16-21. In verse 18, Jesus announces that God has given him the task of bringing “good news to the poor.” Who are “the poor”? We may think of the economically poor, or perhaps the spiritually poor. But here, the word poor includes anyone of low status – the outsiders, anyone who was disadvantaged for various reasons. In Jesus’ time, this included women, children, the sick and disabled, and people of other cultures.
Jesus came to bring good news to these people. Jesus announced the good news of the kingdom of God.[1] But this didn’t just mean telling people, “One day, you will be in heaven with God.” He didn’t just come to tell the people about God, and that they should believe in him. Jesus IS the good news! The good news isn’t only what he said, but also what he did. His coming made a very real difference in people’s everyday lives. He spoke to women and included them among his disciples.[2] He blessed children.[3] He healed people, enabling them to rejoin society.[4] He included minorities, for example by healing a centurion’s servant and a Samaritan.[5] Throughout the gospels, Jesus demonstrated what good news means. It is good news for all people.
When Jesus went back up to heaven, he gave us, his church, his mission to carry on with. We are people of his kingdom. This doesn’t mean sitting around, waiting for Jesus to come back, so he can make everything right. We are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is someone who represents their country. We represent Jesus. Therefore, we should follow the example of Jesus. Jesus brought good news by making a positive difference in the lives of the people around him. How can we, too, make a positive difference in people’s lives? There are obviously many practical ways that Christians are working to help people, but I don’t need to list those ways here. But one part of our lives that can also be focused on helping people, is by the way we vote.
When I vote, I consider the policies of the parties, and their actions over the last few years. How will their policies affect the poor, and people who are disadvantaged in our society? Which parties are honouring women, for example, by paying them fairly? Which parties are doing what is best for children, by creating an education system that listens to teachers and follows best practice? Which parties are listening to disabled people and their carers, valuing them, and aiming to provide them with what they need to have good lives? Which parties are planning to improve our health system, so all people can access the care they need? Which parties are honouring Māori, and valuing their culture and language?
Of course, we look forward to a day when “mourning and crying and pain will be no more” (Revelation 21:4). But we can work towards that reality now. The policies of government affect people’s lives. Our votes are a way that we get to participate in what kind of government our country has. Do we want a government that increases pain for people who are suffering, or one that works to reduce that pain? When you vote this November, vote for people and parties who are working to improve the lives of the poor and disadvantaged.
Read others in this series:
Endnotes
[1] Luke 4:43.
[2] See e.g. Luke 8:1-3; 23:49; John 4:4-30.
[3] Luke 18:15-17.
[4] See e.g. Luke 4:38-40; 5:12-15; 6:6-10; 14:2-4; 17:11-19.
[5] Luke 7:1-10; 17:11-19.
