The latest 'Eternity' magazine (October 2012, Number 30) had a special feature titled, "Can Christians Vote Greens?"
This style of question can lead to interesting discussion. Just replace 'vote Greens' with whatever you like and enjoy the conversation that will ensue. I have found that the common answer is, 'yes……but…..'
For the question 'can Christians vote Greens?' Eternity had a contributor stating 'yes', 'never' and 'his pen hovers'.
All highlighted the good points of the Greens. They do have good points and if they would stick to these points then they would be more votable.
Arguing 'yes' was Darren Cronshaw, a Baptist pastor of Auburn Life Church in Melbourne. He liked to point to the Greens' views on social justice issues such as asylum seekers and climate change as their redeemable feature.
He has jumped right on the emotional bandwagon like many social justice supporters. A vote for the Greens on social justice issues is to deal with them on a superficial level and not think through each issue or its ramifications. Then, when ramifications occur they seek band-aid solutions. All this while continuously tugging at the heart strings.
For the asylum seeker issue the Greens would advocate no detention at all. They would neglect the issue of where to accommodate them and how they would be integrated into Australian society. They would suggest that we have plenty of room, infrastructure and resources in Australia. When in actual fact they are sorely lacking. It's ironic that resources are something about which I thought the Greens cared so much.
As well as this, there is the problem of not knowing who they are. Some refugee advocates would state we have a bigger problem with holiday makers overstaying their visa. If this is the case then they need to be dealt with too. But this is no justification for allowing a flow of 'asylum seekers' without appropriate checks and limitations.
Now, if there's ever an emotive issue it's climate change. 'Think about future generations' is the repeated bleat of some. Yes, we ought to look after God's creation. We are called to do it through the words of Genesis 1:26. But the Greens don't have God and the creation story in mind when they advocate for the environment. They are 'earth worshipers', apologising to the planet for raping it of its beauty and integrity merely by existing. This pushes God out of the picture whilst they consume their time appeasing 'mother earth', the god of the green planet. The Greens' view of creation and our place in it is very different to the Christian worldview.
Cronshaw does acknowledge that some Christians have "moral reasons" for not voting Greens. This acknowledgement seems to trivialise these moral concerns, which are pivotal to Christian living.
These moral concerns are major, not trivial, according to Roslyn Phillips, researcher for Family Voice. She wrote the 'never' answer to the headline question. In her role she went to the Greens with some fundamental questions, such as
This style of question can lead to interesting discussion. Just replace 'vote Greens' with whatever you like and enjoy the conversation that will ensue. I have found that the common answer is, 'yes……but…..'
For the question 'can Christians vote Greens?' Eternity had a contributor stating 'yes', 'never' and 'his pen hovers'.
All highlighted the good points of the Greens. They do have good points and if they would stick to these points then they would be more votable.
Arguing 'yes' was Darren Cronshaw, a Baptist pastor of Auburn Life Church in Melbourne. He liked to point to the Greens' views on social justice issues such as asylum seekers and climate change as their redeemable feature.
He has jumped right on the emotional bandwagon like many social justice supporters. A vote for the Greens on social justice issues is to deal with them on a superficial level and not think through each issue or its ramifications. Then, when ramifications occur they seek band-aid solutions. All this while continuously tugging at the heart strings.
For the asylum seeker issue the Greens would advocate no detention at all. They would neglect the issue of where to accommodate them and how they would be integrated into Australian society. They would suggest that we have plenty of room, infrastructure and resources in Australia. When in actual fact they are sorely lacking. It's ironic that resources are something about which I thought the Greens cared so much.
As well as this, there is the problem of not knowing who they are. Some refugee advocates would state we have a bigger problem with holiday makers overstaying their visa. If this is the case then they need to be dealt with too. But this is no justification for allowing a flow of 'asylum seekers' without appropriate checks and limitations.
Now, if there's ever an emotive issue it's climate change. 'Think about future generations' is the repeated bleat of some. Yes, we ought to look after God's creation. We are called to do it through the words of Genesis 1:26. But the Greens don't have God and the creation story in mind when they advocate for the environment. They are 'earth worshipers', apologising to the planet for raping it of its beauty and integrity merely by existing. This pushes God out of the picture whilst they consume their time appeasing 'mother earth', the god of the green planet. The Greens' view of creation and our place in it is very different to the Christian worldview.
Cronshaw does acknowledge that some Christians have "moral reasons" for not voting Greens. This acknowledgement seems to trivialise these moral concerns, which are pivotal to Christian living.
These moral concerns are major, not trivial, according to Roslyn Phillips, researcher for Family Voice. She wrote the 'never' answer to the headline question. In her role she went to the Greens with some fundamental questions, such as
- Would you retain Christian prayers being recited in parliament?
- Would you preserve the Current definition of marriage?
- Do you oppose creation of children as a commodity for same sex couples?
- Do you oppose euthanasia?
All answers came back to Mrs Phillips as an emphatic NO! What's more, the Greens have also shown their disapproval of Scripture in schools, Chaplains in schools and Christian schools being able to hire teachers based on their faith, as well as their ability. They appear to be no friend to the average Christian.
David Hastie, an education commentator, answered the headline question with 'his pen hovers'. There was some balance to the points he made. He stated that, "for everything I agree with….there is an equal and opposite reaction". As in, for every policy position of the Greens he liked there is another that ruins their chances of gaining his vote. Hastie believes that the Greens are a "far cry from the core business of environmentalism". If they were just about the environment then maybe they would make some sense.
Roslyn Phillips told about how her elderly aunt voted Greens once, after becoming dissatisfied with the two main parties. She was most distraught when informed of the principles for which they stand. She's not alone on this.
But the wool is being pulled from peoples' eyes. The Greens true nature is increasingly on display.
So, can Christians vote Greens? Of course. But we can be deceived as easily as anyone else. To vote Greens as a Christian there is much to consider.
On top of everything Roslyn Phillips and David Hastie mentioned, the Greens are basically atheist, but more than that they are Anti-Christian. They support so many policies that oppose fundamental Christian doctrine e.g. pro abortion and pro euthanasia (i.e. pro murder). They aim to eradicate the church at every chance they get.
No friend of the Christian indeed. Be aware of the wolf in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15)
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1 comment:
Voting always involves compromise. The only time it would not is when voting for Jesus himself. But when he comes to rule, no one gets to vote. He is the rightful heir – it is literally his God-given right to rule the world.
Everything short of that is a compromise, for the very reason that it falls short. So how does the Christian best compromise? This is a fraught question, with no simple answer. I cannot see how any Christian could agree with the Labor Party on many issues, much less the Greens. But does that mean we should only vote for the Coalition? What if they suddenly advocated same sex marriage?
A Christian must vote according to his own principles, informed by the word of God. My own approach is to vote for the party I believe will govern in the most effective and right manner. This is not necessarily the one that will deliver better prosperity, but rather the one that will discharge its responsibilities before God in the most straightforward fashion. According to the bible, governments wield the sword for purposes of justice and security. Governments protect the rights of the vulnerable and powerless, but without showing them favour. Governments represent the nation. If the Labor Party shows me they are going to do this better than the Coalition, I will vote for them. Voting for any minor party will work against the government’s ability to discharge its responsibilities, regardless of who is in power. For that reason, I believe it is always a bad idea to vote Green, but also to vote Christian Democrat.
The rare exception is the case where neither major party seems willing to do the right thing, and a minor party will demand it of them in an upper house. The Shooters and Fishers Party have historically done this in the NSW upper house, however their recent tendency to block good government for the sake of petty increases in shooters’ liberties is in danger of tarnishing their record.
The Greens stand for dereliction of duty in all areas of government responsibility in the eyes of God. They oppose the use of force for national security, and want the state to step back from its responsibility to scrutinise sojourners. They oppose punishment for crime, and advocate for the legalisation of many vices. They seek to remove the legal protection of the lives of the most vulnerable and powerless, namely the unborn and the frail elderly. They want to legislate to punish the wealthy in favour of the poor, which the bible explicitly says is unjust. A Christian cannot vote Green on that basis. And we have not even begun to discuss the environment.
LB
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