It's a Free Vote!

I started writing this article before the UK general election, expecting that, by the time it was read, the whole affair would be over and done with, and everyone could breathe a heavy sigh of relief.  Now, as it appears around the time of the opening of the US presidential campaign, it's once again a good time to read it.  The delay in forming the UK government in 2010, and the accompanying anxiety, prompted even deeper thought about freedom, choice and trust.  In this country, we can campaign publicly for almost any cause, whether it is inspired by our faith, concern for the public good, or simply to give vent to personal opinion.  In general, we’re quite free to attempt to influence others for good or ill, provided it doesn’t offend public decency or cause civil unrest.

And we can take part in elections.  Since 1872 we have enjoyed the privilege of voting in secret, allowing our choice of candidate to be known by no one but ourselves.  I never knew how my dad voted, for example, although a couple of clues to his views came to my mind in recent recollections.  Revealing though these memories might be, I never received any instruction about which way to vote.  This was, and always has been, my own decision, freely made with neither coercion nor censure.  And I feel that all of this reflects something about the nature of our Christian faith, too.

My knowledge of other faiths is limited, but I understand that many require their adherents to do ‘stuff’ to obtain blessings: in the manner that an oppressive nineteenth century employer might dictate, “You’ll vote the way I tell you or there’ll be no job for you next week!”  The Christian belief, on the other hand, is that blessings are already provided; Jesus’ death was “for all” (Rom. 6:10, 2 Cor. 5:14-15.)  The Bible readings I’ve followed this week have been based on Exodus 31 &32, and the choices the people made when Moses seemed to be taking a long while up the mountain.  They just didn’t trust that their future and well-being was safely in God’s hands.  In his summing up, the writer of the notes says, “Freedom implies having a choice ... when we use our choice to pursue what God wants ... he promises so many benefits.”  We are free to accept or reject the salvation available to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.  If we accept it, then our grateful response should be to behave in certain ways, or do good works to help others.  Jesus himself spoke of people hearing His words and choosing to follow them or not (Matt. 7:24-27), and James wrote of one who didn’t react to God’s love that he was “like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.” (Jas 1:23.) 

While the outward appearance is the same between one who responds in this way, and one who hopes to earn his salvation, the motives and thought processes involved are vastly different.  We can’t be saved through our own efforts.  St Paul ticked off the Galatians for trying this (Gal. 3:1-3.)  We should be careful to remember why it is we are doing good things, and always to give thanks for our freedom to choose.