Pray for those in authority

My 14 year old Daniel is interested in politics!  Listening to his comments this week as we receive different flyers for the upcoming provincial elections was amazing, how NDP while promising to save money went all out to print a magazine size advertisement, and PC conserved paper and money by printing just small flyers.  Seeing a familiar face, one of our church members, Mars Marcellin, running for an office with the Liberal party in our riding district, may bias some votes for friendship sakeJ.  Political pundits have no certain predictions of the possible outcome, anything can happen, comes June 12.  How should we as Christians relate to this?  Should we care, get involved, or even vote?

I did not have time to watch candidates debate, but reviewing few comments online words “attack strategy” were frequently used.  Just last month Adventist news networks shared about the dialogue that happened in Germany between two branches of Adventist reform movement and the official leadership of our church.  The cause of split was political stand and involvement in Germany 100 years ago.  Our pioneers lived through political turmoil of the Civil War, and many other unrests. 

Adventist review had an article in 2008 entitled “How would Ellen White vote?” sharing interesting insights.  In the 1860 James White wrote: “The political excitement . . . will probably run as high as it has for many years, and we would warn our brethren not to be drawn into it. We are not prepared to prove from the Bible that it would be wrong for a believer in the third [angel’s] message to go in a manner becoming his profession, and cast his vote. We do not recommend this, neither do we oppose. If a brother chooses to vote, we cannot condemn him, and we want the same liberty if we do not.”  A few years later, in 1865 the General Conference voted that “the act of voting when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but that the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife.” Up to 1880 the advice was to stay away from the voting, voting was considered unholy alignment.  An opinion would be best expressed by this comment “If I enter the lists as a voter, I do in fact endorse this government as worthy of fellowship. If my name is entered upon the poll-book I then become a part of the body-politic, and must suffer with the body-politic in all its penalties.”

In many parts of the world Adventists hold highest political offices.  How should we reconcile this?  We look at righteous Daniel, God’s prophet who served in the political arena, and many others. Our pioneers took a stand that we must be involved in social life and make a difference in this world, by being involved in ‘issue’ politics as opposed to ‘party’ or ‘candidate politics.’  We do not stand under the banner of any political party, and pray for all government authorities to experience God’s will.  We have the ability to help shape society through their votes and political participation. It’s up to each of us to follow our consciences—and to pray for more than human wisdom in making our electoral choices.