Elections arising

This Saturday in Victoria we have the opportunity to Vote, actually we have the responsibility to vote. This is more than a Legal obligation, Jesus told the priests to render unto Caesar what was due to Caesar. Paul was even more explicit, he told believers to “pray for our leaders” and more to “submit to authority as unto God”.
If we accept these comments there is little opportunity, as a follower of Jesus, to get involved in “Civil Disobedience”. I know that there are unjust and wicked laws around, but to refuse to obey them is in direct conflict with the statements of Jesus and Paul listed above. That said, we are not stuck with the politicians that currently serve us, there is an alternative.
Elections are an opportunity to influence the direction that the legal government we live under moves. Laws can be repealed or revised if there is enough opposition to them. People who initiate bills that are contrary to the rule of God can be voted out of office by voters taking a stand on these laws.
This is only one way that we, as members of the electorate, can affect the pursuit of law making. It is the most direct means, however it is only one vote. That vote can be multiplied exponentially through the means of the court of public opinion. We have the responsibility to oppose unjust and oppressive legislation and can do this during elections by exposing the truth of these laws. If, as a result of our bringing these unjust laws to the light of day, we can convince others of the rightness of our complaint then the single vote is multiplied.
Jesus did not hold back on issues of injustice or religious irregularity. As Jesus followers we need to be conscientious in our awareness of laws that oppress and to speak out against them. This is when we have power to influence the government of the state through the ballot box. With power comes responsibility. We need to be fully informed on the issues that we believe to be unjust especially if we are going to attempt to influence others.
As hard as it can be, to change existing laws, there is really only one way to influence the instigation of law. This is to oppose bills that seem to be contrary to God’s law, before they are even voted upon; simply by making our politicians aware of the feeling on the issue we can affect the outcome of the vote on it.
We are called to be light to the world which means that we are also to pierce the gloom of hidden authority to bring the wrongs of legislation into public scrutiny. I know this sounds corny but What Would Jesus Do may inform the question of what our attitude to being Jesus envoy on any point of law. Get informed about any planned law and where it may be headed and then make your point with any politician who you can contact by whatever means.