5 points on why christians can vote left

Surely if anyone is holding a philosophy that varies from the current economic rationalism that pervades our politics it is the follower of Jesus. 5 points why Christians should hold differing views to that peddled by the major conservative parties.

1. Christians understand their relationship to the environment. Although separate in role, they are one with the world as they know they are created products of an almighty God. They have a respect for, and mandate to care for, the earth both living and non-living. Knowing that the they are dependant on the earth for life as a direct gift from God they keep a reverent fear of it’s balance and beauty.
They understand that the desire to control the creation, expressed in Adam’s sin, has lead to a curse between humans and the ground itself (a forced separation if you will). They see the manifestation this conflict in many ways. In particular, in Australia, this is seen by creating as much distance from the soil as possible – food is grown in mechanised monopolies ‘out in the country’ or imported by a third party from distance. People deal with the curse by forgetting their reliance on the ground.
Christians know that this curse means humans will fail to care for the land well or sustainably. Those who know the designer of the ecosystems are looking towards a new earth by responsible environmental actions now for they know that Jesus himself would die to redeem this one. It would be insulting to the designer and the redeemer to imaging that their actions regarding the environment are unimportant.
What they do not understand is how anyone with an atheistic evolutionary worldview could justify a continued concern for the environment in the long term.

2. They don’t see true wealth in monetary terms. They understand that Jesus says that they should be investing, spending giving their time effort thoughts and money to something called the Kingdom of God (or the plans of God) rather than to financial investment. They know that the man they call God has a favourite hobby horse about this issue in particular. That he infact promises that someone who is caught up in economic growth will in fact not make it to the new earth promised. They understand that they are called to use their money for two things – to care for others and then to be overtly generous in the example of the God they are following. Whilst not hating riches or prosperity, they view it as a dangerous burden that could easily produce a false faith.

3. Forgiveness is central to their thinking. Christians believe ultimate truth in the universe is expressed in a relationship of love. And the clearest expression of love they have is a wronged father forgiving his children by bearing their punishment. For this reason Christians believe humans historically have done wrong, currently do wong and will continue to do so. They therefore have no problems accepting wrongs of the past. Saying that early European cultures in Australia were wrong and we need to repent and seek forgiveness from the indigenous people? Yes! This has been explained in various church statements as shown by various church statements.

4. Justice for the stranger. These Jesus followers believe that is what they are. Lost people adopted from the nations of the world to the family of a loving God. The words of God state that others should be counted as better than themselves. How should they treat lost people of the word who turn up in Australia? With love, fairness and overt hospitality. People who have been forced into a position where hey wil leave their family, country, language and friends must be treated with special care and love.

5. Freedom of choice. Biblical Christians do not believe that rules guide their lives but rather informed choice. They should not hold to a spokesperson who will talk on their behalf. Each Christian has a brain and a mind received from God to weigh up issues and decide what actions to take. Jesus commands his followers to get beyond rules and consider how each decision reflects on what God himself would be pleased with (from our understanding of the bible) and then how others can be treated with true love. Jesus’ famous saying come in here – “do to others as you would have them do to you”. Therefore jesus followers will not always reach the same point on some issues. They have true freedom to question anyone – including their own teachers - as they believe that no one has all the answers except God ad more importantly god himself is interested in what the heart of a person rather than whether they will correctly, and perfectly follow set rules.

For this reason – Christians love to read the bible and search to understand him better. Their hearts are keen to do things he loves.

Well, there are 5 reasons – I just picked 5 as a starting point. There are plenty more. So whats the point of this? Especially now that I have finished writing the election is over. Basically I am trying to lay out the reasoning why I think it that Christianity is a viable option for those in the alternate camp. I am so repulsed by the the sinfulness of the economic drive that as come out of politics on all sides lately. I dream and yearn for something more than trying to evaluate truth, health, love, rainforests and immigrants by giving them a dollar figure and relying on the assumption that any reduction in our current consumer prosperity is an absolute sin.