Our attitude towards politicians seems to veer between cynicism and adulation.
The cynic simply dismisses politicians as a bunch of self-interested chancers. They are only in it for themselves and we had better be rid of the lot of them. That may be a common view, but it is a cheap shot. Most local and national politicians are motivated by public service. They want to improve the lot of those who elected them to positions of power.
On occasion, adulation has been the order of the day, only for people to end up deeply disillusioned when the promised bright future fails to materialise. Politics, as has been said is ‘the art of the possible’. The government can’t deliver world class services if the electorate is reluctant to pay more tax to fund them. Sorting out Brexit is proving rather difficult, as our political leaders try to find a way of leaving the EU that takes back control, but not at the expense of the country’s economic prosperity. Tricky.
The Christian faith is not party political. It has no stance on Brexit, or many of the hot topics of our day. Although much good may be done by the wise use of political power, politicians cannot change the human heart. Only God can do that. He specialised in the art of the impossible. Jesus came not to give humanity a new set of rules and regulations to follow. He came to die for our sins that we might be forgiven and to give us new life by the power of his Spirit. One of the psalms urges us,
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Political ‘saviours’ may let us down, but Jesus never will.
Pastor: Guy Davies
Providence Baptist Church
