General Election question time

As I write this edition of ‘Graham's Gossip’, the General Election campaign is getting into a higher gear and, already, there are comments being heard about boredom setting in among voters who are not impressed with the constant claims and counter-claims of the opposing parties (of course, by the time you get round to reading your copy of Church Chat, it might even be all over and the post-electoral dust may be settling!).
Each political party is trying to impress us with its vision of what it thinks would make this a better country and a better world to live in.  The parties are trying to persuade us to buy into that vision by appealing to our self-interest and getting us to use our vote to support them.  They all seem to have a vision for a nation with a better education system, a more efficient health service, safer communities, a stronger economy and prosperity for all. 
But does anyone stop to consider what God wants for his world?  Does anyone ask: 'What does God desire for his people?'  These are crucial questions which, I fear, we and our politicians overlook - not only at election time but for much of the rest of the time as well.
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he replied:  “The greatest commandment is this: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and your mind. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.”
The world that God desires is a world in which his name is honoured and his ways of truth and light are sought and followed - and that involves our mutual love for one another, irrespective of who and what they, and we, are.
This is probably the only reliable yardstick that we can use when we come to consider the visions and policies of our political parties.
We need to ask 'how far do their proposals contribute to the honouring of God and his ways of truth and justice - and respect his creation?' and 'how far do they actively ensure that we are able to love our neighbours as ourselves?'
The prophet Micah summed this up when he said 'This is what the Lord requires of you: to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God'. (Micah 6:8)
But we should not just measure our politicians against these standards.  We need to ask the same about our own lives and about our own behaviour and attitudes.  If we do not come up to scratch, then what right have we to condemn our politicians?

by Graham Clarke.