By the time you read this, I will have voted in the municipal elections in my home country, South Africa. But at the time of writing it, I am still a few hours away from that. So how did I choose who to vote for?
It has been a difficult decision. While friends had been posting all over the social medias that they have been bombarded by text messages, visits, and even Mmusi Maimane personal phone calls, my phone had remained ominously silent.
Until this morning – the Democratic Alliance (DA) sent me a text message telling me we could save the world together or something.
HIDE AND GO SEEK
But more difficult to locate than a rare Vaporeon on Pokemon GO (my wife plays, no really!) has been the quest for information on the people we are trying to vote into local power for the next couple of years.
I imagine this will differ from region to region and depending on the people (if you’re in Maimane’s ward you get a phone call?) but in Diep River in Cape Town it has been surprisingly silent. A few boards line the roads and the ones I remember most are for the Freedom Front and DA.
In some ways it has felt like an adult game of hide and go seek. My wife and I spent a few hours online last night trying to figure out who was running for our local ward and some information but it was really difficult to pin it down. And they clearly have not been making an effort to be visible or let us know they would like us to vote for them.
THOUGHTS FROM THE OUTSIDE
So how then do I vote? Well, my friend Sindile Vabaza (who is not a Christian) had this to say to Christians on Facebook:
I’ve thought a lot about this because I’ve been pondering writing a piece specifically aimed at Christians (because you guys constitute an important bloc in this country). I will distill some of my thoughts in a very SIMPLISTIC manner.
1) There is no clear voting choice for a Christian. Like everyone else Christians have to see themselves in relation to the greater good, because God himself we are told blesses and loves the good and the bad (insert that verse from Matthew since I know you people love prooftexting).
2. You pray that good elements within all parties flourish and by that I mean people who are honest and hardworking and have integrity, not people who agree with your selfish principles, because Christians have a narcissistic tendency to conflate their opinions and beliefs with “what God thinks”.
3. Do your own bit and according to conscience pick a party that represents you best in relation to the greater good. Christians exist in all social classes. There is nothing wrong with wanting paved roads, good public spaces and timeous public services especially if you’re PAYING for them through your taxes. The corollary of this is that you challenge your city and regional and party leadership when they don’t deliver services needed by other people who aren’t in the same social class ie the poor, because God we are told has a special heart for those on the underside of the system.
4. Trust that the God who is sovereign will work it out in partnership with you as believers. It probably will be messy, but like bringing a child into the world is messy and bloody it is still ultimately a blessing. In short: You’re asking the wrong question. It’s not what Jesus would vote, but what happens when we (in whatever station of life) vote with the same heart as Jesus?
SO HOW WILL I VOTE?
As a follower of Jesus, I tried to look to Him for advice. He was always about the poor and marginalised and those pushed to the side of society. Would Jesus vote? I don’t know. But if He did I have to believe it would be to put a mark next to the party that was doing the most for the poor and vulnerable among us.
In the confusion of who to vote for and who is trustworthy and not, who caters for simply the rich or the power, and who is authentically trying to make a difference to those on the sidelines, that thought is likely to be the overwhelming factor in who gets my vote later today.
Now that you have voted though, what are the next steps we can do in being the change we want to see in our land? If you are not a South African, how do bring about change in your own country?