Leading in love at the voting polls

A few thoughts and questions (okay maybe more than a few!) to contemplate as kingdom of God people, with local elections around the corner in South Africa, 2026. (and in many other places in the world.)

For a few months already I have been ruminating on the phrases we hear when Christians around the country call people to pray for their country. Normally somewhere in there we speak about taking or making a stand. Words like reset or arise are often used. Don’t get me wrong, we absolutely need to pray for our country. What concerns me is what does taking/making a stand mean as far as what the kingdom of God stands for?

What are our talking points? What is being upheld? What is being protected? What is being promoted? Are power, rights and institutions/systems being centered as more important than people and their needs? Or are kingdom of God principles front and center? Is the ‘truth’ being stood for or defended lining up with our kingdom of God responsibilities? Some of which are; looking after the poor, widowed people, hungry people, children and protecting the marginalised. Are we offering up ‘half truths’ that make us complicit in non-kingdom of God ways? Are we silencing people? Are we name calling? Are we offering up threats? Are we covering up anything? Are we basing our actions on fear? Are we following Jesus in his ways or in our safe and preferred ways? Are we open and standing in the light? Are we loving and worshipping the church as an institution or Jesus and his church? Are we being threatened by anything? How are we responding to this?

Not so easy, but necessary questions to ponder as we look to go to the polls in the next few weeks.

Are we looking towards mutual flourishing for all or protecting our own safety? Are we holding those in power accountable where they infringe on kingdom of God principles? Are we being honest and truthful? What are we basing our talking points on? Are we open to manipulation? Are we being manipulative? Do we think we are more righteous, above reproach and that we are on the right or good side?

All political parties are all a part of the system of this world. And yes, of course we need to vote and pray, but we also need to continue to live out the kingdom of God principles no matter the outcome.

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”
He commanded, “Love your neighbour as yourself and love and pray for your enemies/those who persecute you.”
He reminded us that we will be known and recognisable by our love.
There are no exceptions. That’s the kingdom of God. Are we upholding this in our speech and actions when we make or take a stand?

Are we being judgmental based on race, religion, sex or gender? Are we looking at character and actions as foundational to good leadership? Do we excuse conduct on our side that we condemn on the other side?

No political party will ever have a monopoly on morality.

Who is being lifted up? Are we following a charismatic leader and getting caught up in all the promises that make us feel safe? Who is being protected? Who is being harmed by their policies? Who is being left behind, left out or not considered? Are we after justice or just us with quiet peace? God’s throne is built on justice and righteousness. Peace follows because of justice and making wrong things right again. Do we question the people demanding our loyalty? Do they cause us to fear others? To feel threatened by others? Do we hold all leaders accountable and open to scrutiny, or do we protect them at all costs? Do we defend them when people ask honest questions about them? Have we been captured into believing that they are the ultimate saviour for our area?

When fear enters the picture, problems arise. When we feel threatened, we tend to justify harm and cruelty to others. A target to blame and scapegoat. Our example to uphold is always Jesus and never a political party. Are we looking to be servants in the political journey? Do we see the image of God in every person? Do we honor this and remember what we do for them; we do for Christ? Does injustice bother us enough to stand against it? Is corruption our only focus? Is good governance and fixed potholes, water and electricity our only focus for ourselves and our families? Is safety for everyone a priority, or only safety for ourselves?

Do we remember that Jesus was fully human/a human body? Does that cause us to make sure that every human body matters and needs to be considered? Do other bodies experiencing suffering cause us to rise and act to end their suffering? Is our faith private, personal and protective of self, or public, active and protective of all?

Do we care for others’ physical realities? Those suffering from hunger, rejection, starvation, war, abuse, pain or harm?

God so loved the world that through Jesus he is redeeming it. We get to participate in the kingdom that is fully established in our hearts and the future kingdom that is not here yet but will be fully established at the end of the age. We get to bring it to earth by how we conduct ourselves through life, speech and action. Through how we embody Jesus when we take a stand.

Proverbs 31:8 says speak up for those who have no voice or are being silenced. Does this matter to us? Do we look around to see who is in the room, who is not in the room and who is able to freely participate in the room and who is not?

Should we not rather be bringing kingdom of God principles into full focus in our stand rather than defending and protecting our faith and ourselves? Do we know what we stand for, or do people only ever hear what we stand against?

Do we feel entitled or better than someone else or another party or religion? Entitlement generally leads to discrimination, harm and hatred. These are not kingdom of God principles. Do we believe our comfort is more important than other people’s rights? Are our political values congruent to how we live as kingdom of God representatives?

“Do we amplify opinion and policy of political leaders or do we critique them? In doing that, do we offer the hope of an alternative vision and to follow the way of Jesus even in the difficulties and practicalities of a world already at war?” Danielle Strickland

“If we want to take any nation back for Jesus, we need to ditch the irony. If taking back for Jesus aligns with power, might and superiority, then it’s got nothing to do with his kingdom. Is there room for Jesus when the nation is taken back for him?” Dan Sadlier

Are we loving and caring and concerned for all our neighbours, not just in our neighbourhood? Do we see those who are unhoused and homeless as our neighbours and just as important as image bearers of Christ? Are we keeping our eyes open to spot the bad treatment of foreigners? Are we silencing certain people? Are we further marginalising the already marginalised?

“Jesus repeatedly directed people’s attention toward those society overlooked.” Julie Tru

Are we looking to the city, town, Province, Country flourishing for all? Are we seeking the good of every place? Do we believe gender equality means equal treatment of all? Do we question why such high walls are needed for safety? Do we look at other options? Do we interrogate stories and narratives that spark, flame and cause division in the country? Do we follow the money to find out what is up and if there is meddling from people who would rather see the downfall of the country or who have another agenda for the country that is not inclusive of all? Do we follow the safe route and shout down those calling for the freedom of others who are being trapped and oppressed?

Can we sit with discomfort and hold the tension while we figure things out together?

Do we become ambivalent in things that should horrify us because there might be huge political stuff at play that makes us fear the consequences? Do we lose our humanity and compassion just because it’s political? Jesus certainly never did that. If it was something that did not align with him, his character and his kingdom, he challenged it. Always, without exception. He calls us to follow him and become more like him. Yes, it might be scary and risky. It was risky for him too. The authorities eventually had enough of their power and might being challenged. Eventually some of the people he came to save and live among also called for his crucifixion. Are we also doing that all over again when we don’t challenge narratives that are not of his kingdom?

Are we taking the big topics on the table seriously and are we looking for wider solutions to end poverty, food insecurity, rising fuel costs, better education and healthcare for all, crime, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and unemployment?

Are we keeping ourselves in check with regards to dehumanising others or thinking that superiority or violence in any form is okay?

“Are we disconnected from the realities of the wider world? What does it mean to re-embody a faith that actually means something to a fractured world?” James Andrew Harris

The kingdom of God is the reigning presence and sovereign rule of God over all creation. It breaks into the present through Jesus Christ; his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection and his ascension. We carry the kingdom of God within us. We live it out and pull it down from heaven by following Jesus and his ways. We look to his will being perfectly done and his authority willingly submitted to. We remind ourselves of all of Jesus’s teaching on earth because he told us all about what the kingdom of God is like and about. A place where it functions upside down compared to worldly values. It subverts worldly systems by elevating humility over pride, generosity over greed and sacrificial love over power. This is the kingdom we get to live out daily even within worldly and political realms.