Most things are uncertain about the New Year. But the fact that there is going to be a General Election is not one of them! Like it or not, the election will be held at some point in the next few months and the news is going to be dominated by that one subject.

So how are we going to approach the election? We could easily become cynical and negative like the majority of people. Indeed, listening to news programmes it’s hard to imagine that there is any other way of looking at it. But I want to suggest that, as Christians, we need to find a completely different approach – one which takes account of the fact that God loves the United Kingdom (as he loves every country in the world) and longs for us to order this land in a way that reflects his love, grace and mercy. How dare we capitulate to the prevailing cynicism of our day? We can do better than that!

I would like to suggest some positive things that we can do, as our contribution to the Election.

WE CAN PRAY FOR POLITICIANS – The expenses scandal was a great disappointment to everyone, but some of the reactions to it were absurd – as if it hadn’t occurred to us that politicians were sinners, just like the rest of us. That’s not to excuse their shortcomings, but rather to suggest that we should look at them with the same mercy and grace that we would like to receive ourselves. Politicians work extremely hard and they need our prayers. Why not write to your parliamentary candidates now and assure them of your church’s prayers in the next few months?

WE CAN PRAY FOR OUR VOTE – All the main political parties have Christians in their membership. So when you choose which party to support you are not making a decision between light and darkness. A friend of mine who is an MP said to me that he supports his party in the full knowledge that some of its policies are right and need supporting and others are wrong and need to be challenged – and the only place to do that is from the inside. I fear that some Christians criticise political parties from the outside, as if they hoping to discover the perfect Christian party one day! I suggest that you need to stop waiting, and get involved.

WE CAN LISTEN TO POLITICIANS – The media doesn’t help us to listen. The sound bite approach to news can make it very difficult to listen with care and attention to the thoughtful opinions of politicians. The fact is that most politicians are involved in politics out of deep convictions about what is right and wrong, and are passionate about making this world a better place. We need to listen to them. It is a wonderful tribute to our churches that most pre-election meetings with all the candidates are held in churches. Let’s support those meetings with our presence and our prayers.

Cynicism will be a tempting approach to the next few months. But there is a better way – and I pray that we will find it.