Opinion

2014 SA elections: Guidance on voting

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ALEXANDERVENTER

By Alexander Venter — Vineyard pastor and author

[notice] See More articles in the ‘How should Christians vote?” category[/notice]

This year we celebrate 20 years of South Africa’s (SA) democracy. Remember the miracle of the 1994 elections? We go to the polls again on 7 May 2014. How should the church relate to the government – the ruling ANC party – at this time? How should we vote? 

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Historically there have been three general approaches to the Church/State relationship:

  1. Kingdom of God approach: Separation of Church and State; a critical partnership meaning constructive support on matters for the good of society and critical resistance on matters harmful to society (when Kingdom values and ethics are violated).
  2. Constantinian approach: Union of Church and State, called Christendom, from when Emporer Constantine (311AD) became a Christian. It’s an activist involvement either for the State (a State Church), or against the State (a Subversive Church). Traditional Churches still operate in this paradigm. The Anabaptists (in 1500s) were the first to break away from State-Church control, called Free Churches.
  3. Pietistic approach: Church withdrawal from the State – being a-political, meaning “don’t meddle with politics… it’s not the concern of the Church”. This “remain silent” approach is found in Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches (especially during the Apartheid years). In reality it means support for the status quo. 

In the Vineyard, we reject the latter two and practice the Kingdom approach. God’s Kingdom interrupted this age in Jesus, redeeming and uniting people from all races and nations creating “one new humanity” (Eph 2:14-16), a trans-national people under God’s government. Jesus taught that God’s Kingdom brings a separation of State and Church: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (recognise the State’s realm of authority, e.g. pay taxes), but “give to God what is God’s” (recognise God’s – via the Church – authority of worship/allegiance to God, Matt 22:15-22). Because the Kingdom is ‘already’ and ‘not yet’, Christians are both citizens of the Kingdom (the already) and of their national governments (the not yet) at the same time. But the Kingdom is our primary commitment and identity. In matters of belief, morality and conscience “we must obey God rather than man” (Acts 4:19). Be wary of patriotism and nationalism; only God is to be worshipped, only He can give us ultimate identity. Therefore we are witnesses to God’s Kingdom while seeking to be good citizens of our nation.

Government has a God-given responsibility to uphold justice in society, especially for the poor (see Psalms 72 & 82). It can use “the sword” against evil when needed (Rom 13:1-7). The Church submits to the State for the common good, and must pray for them (we use other “weapons” to fight evil in society, 1Pet 2:13-17, 1Tim 2:1-8, 2Cor 10:3-6, Eph 6:12f). The creative tension and critical partnership between Church and State plays its way out in various ways in a normal democratic political context – as in SA. But if the State becomes draconian (as in Rev 13; as in Apartheid) the Church resists the evil State by non-violent intervention and martyrdom – for justice sake, for the oppressed. Let us pray this may never again happen in our nation. We call all our people to pray for and participate in the forthcoming elections.

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Some key implications of the Kingdom approach for the forthcoming elections:

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  • The ‘Secular State’ is good for the Church: The State is a ‘this age’ phenomenon and is thus ‘secular’. We don’t believe in a ‘Christian Government’ in a ‘Christian Nation’ – only Jesus will do that when he comes to rule! Till then we are called to be the conscience of the State and society by living the Kingdom. So, an overt Christian political party is a Christendom relic – any failure by them reflects directly on the Church and Christianity as it was under Apartheid. Reverends or Bishops who become politicians should relinquish their titles and positions to not embarrass the Church.
  • The Church should not be party-political: distinguishing between the government of the day and the political party that rules, is important in our dealings with the State. The Church – via its pastors and leaders – should not publicly identify with any one political party. As citizens they vote for a party according to their conscience, but as Church leaders they teach their people the criteria of evaluation, freeing them to vote according to their conscience. Only in a clear morally polarised and unjust context can the Church say who to vote for. In a ‘normal’ context we pray for, pastor and support individual Christians who are called to work in (party) politics as witnesses to the Kingdom.
  • Evaluating political parties – who to vote for? Applying the criteria for evaluation in a normal political (morally mixed) context is not easy. Begin by informing yourself of each party’s leadership, policies and track-record – the three broad criteria of evaluation – and see the Biblical criteria (2Sam 23:3-4, Ps 72, 82, Rom 13):
    1) God: Do they fear and respect God? It doesn’t mean they have to be Christians.
    2) Character: The moral integrity and trustworthiness of their leaders, or lack thereof.
    3) Competence: Their competence and discipline on the job, or lack thereof.
    4) Policies: Their beliefs, policies and practices in terms of ethical values (e.g. care for the poor; upholding sanctity of life, rule of law, human rights; fighting corruption, etc).
    5) Track-record: Their fruit – how have they conducted themselves? What have they produced in society? Smaller parties also impact society and produce fruit.
  • Conviction vote or strategic vote? The above criteria will lead you to vote as per your convictions. But each political party is morally compromised. Often it’s a choice of the lesser of two or more evils, trading negatives in one party off against worse ones in others. Therefore, include other criteria in deciding: a ‘strategic vote’. E.g. we know the ANC will be returned to power, so which party will make the most effective opposition to keep it accountable? I.e. vote for a strong opposition to hold the government accountable.

My own view and appeal: I speak for myself, not for my Church (Following Jesus) or denomination (Vineyard). The level of arrogance and moral/financial corruption in the government (Jacob Zuma, his cabinet ministers & civil servants) has reached such alarming proportions that our nation is approaching the tipping point of going the way of Zimbabwe and other African nations. The Nkandlha Gate, Gupta Gate, and R31 billion unaccounted for in government spending by the Auditor General, is the tip of the iceburg. I believe corruption is so endemic in the ANC and SA in general, I am conscience-bound to make a prophetic stand to break the above “rules” and call on all South Africans NOT TO VOTE FOR Jacob Zuma and the ANC, but for a strong opposition to hold them accountable. The last time I did this – to meddle in ‘party politics’ – was under Apartheid in 1983: I preached on the evils of Apartheid and not to vote for the National Party. Needless to say, a number of people left our church immediately. Our corrupt government is THAT BAD in my view that we must do the same again: resist the evil gaining control of our politics and nation through the ANC! Do NOT vote ANC! Do not withhold your vote in protest! Rather vote for a strong opposition! Let us pray earnstly for the elections that will take place on 7 May. God have mercy on SA!

9 Comments

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  2. Hugh G Wetmore
    17 April 2014 at 20:38

    Alexander describes the three paradigms for Church-State relations very clearly. He also contributes well to our political education by highlighting the need for a strong, competent Opposition of Integrity that can hold the Government accountable. This factor is often overlooked. Too often we exercise our Vote only with “winning” the control of the Government. In view of the corruption so well described, the need for holding power accountable is extremely important. [Here too the media play a crucial role – but we can’t vote for our favourite newspaper!]

  3. Hanno
    17 April 2014 at 21:01

    Cultural diversity: The Lord has determined boundaries between nations and cultural groups, and He expects us to honour them (Acts 17:26). That is a continuation of the confusion of tongues which occurred during the building of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:5-8). It was wrong in the eyes of the Lord that the Babylonians were building a world state with only one official language, so He gave every group their own language. They consequently dispersed and each settled in their own territory under their own government. This was the beginning of different cultural groups among the nations. The recognition of cultural diversity is the only basis for healthy relations among nations. In our commission to evangelise the world we are sent to every tribe and tongue and people so that each group should (preferably) be evangelised in their own language. In the end-time, under the instigation of Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet, a world empire will be established with only one government, one religion and one economic system (Rev. 13:1-18). The emerging new world order expressed itself in favour of a system of global control. That will be a serious infringement of God’s order of independent and self-determining nations, and for that reason the Lord Jesus will, at His second coming, destroy the evil lifestyle, holistic social order and satanic empire of the Antichrist. http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engarticles/Fundamentalism.htm
    Social identity: As the Creator of human beings, God also laid down rules for social identity and the formation of groups to ensure the orderly functioning of society. The most important of these is the family unit which God has ordained to be the very bed-rock of ordered, disciplined, well-adjusted, happy, stable societies and nations. Satan relentlessly attacks these institutions in an effort to sow disorder and chaos.
    Cultural differences among various societies and nations are also minimised by superimposing universally acceptable trends and institutions on groups with a strong sense of identity – the aim being to erode their patriotism and transform their members into planetary citizens. These reforms, through which national and ethnic identity are discouraged, form the basis of the neo-Babylonian world society of the future. In that society, any ideology may be subscribed to, any religion may be practised, any type of marriage may be practised (e.g. same sex) or none, and no moral norms are enforced. When this stage has been reached in the demonic war against God’s standards for individuals, groups, and nations, Satan will have achieved his objective of creating cultural chaos and loss of identity among human beings. http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engbooks/Kingdom%20Of%20Satan/Satankingdom.2.htm

  4. samuel H Kennedy
    18 April 2014 at 11:18

    sadly the comments postulated by this Brother are-dangerous, heretical & whilst masquerading as Truth are far from Scripture.Suggesting that Christians should vote for the opposition to hold Govt accountable is-preprosterous. The DA is an anti Christ party that does all things anti Christ & anti Scripture. Read Scripture Brother. Our duty is to pray for Govt1Tim2. God will deal with them Not us! Amen.

  5. Hugh G Wetmore
    18 April 2014 at 18:17

    I note that brother Hanno often quotes Acts 17:26 “God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined alotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” to argue that “The Lord has determined boundaries between nations and cultural groups, and He expects us to honour them”. God sovereignly determines two variables: Times and Places. These are not fixed in concrete (as He has “fixed a day of judgement” v31) but are open to change throughout history. Nations migrate, win territory through conquest, are defeated by democratic processes, or rise and fall as civilisations (Daniel 4:34,35). We honour God, not historic processes. He controls history, and the changes we/governments make are not necessarily sinful but are always controlled by Him. If Hanno’s interpretation is true, then the Exodus, the Exile, the sacking of Jerusalem, colonisation ought never to have happened. We should pray for our governments, and use our vote to steer society in accordance with God’s declared principles in Jeremiah 9:23,24.