In the ‘first-past-the-post’ system for Westminster elections you vote for a particular candidate. So there are two key factors we all must consider when deciding who to vote for. We must consider both our local candidates and the parties they represent.
Ten years ago, the owners of Ashers Baking Company in Belfast were surprised to receive a letter from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) threatening legal action. A few weeks before, they had refused customer Gareth Lee’s order when he had requested a cake decorated with a pro- same-sex marriage slogan.
The new Parliament elected on 4 July 2024 could vote on laws affecting religious liberty, freedom of speech, transgenderism, abortion, assisted suicide, drugs legalisation and gambling.
Candidates or their canvassers may come to your door, call by telephone or stop you in the street to ask how you intend to vote. This presents an ideal opportunity to find out where the candidate stands on key moral issues. His or her opinions on these issues can be quite different from the position of their party.
When it comes to matters of public policy, Christians have to assess biblical priorities. We can distinguish those political issues on which the Bible is absolutely clear from those on which it is not.
The state is a means of God’s common grace. The Bible is very clear that the governing authorities act on God’s behalf to restrain evil and promote what is good (Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2). This benefits all people in this world, not just Christians.
