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Since becoming a political Campaign Organiser in October, I have spoken to hundreds of people whilst canvassing, and so many are saying the same thing. They’re fed up. There’s a huge distrust of politicians and people have no idea who to vote for. 

The Independent recently shared an article stating that “Britain is heading for the lowest general election turnout in modern history, pollsters have warned, with the main parties and their leaders leaving many voters ‘politically homeless’.”

I’d like to reflect a little on this… 

A democratic country

Here in the UK, we’re supposed to be one of the more politically stable countries. We’ve had a consistent democratic system for a very long time, and currently have the freedom to express ourselves through protests and free speech. 

The Freedom House has given the UK a “freedom score” of 93/100. This is in comparison to North Korea scoring 3, Russia scoring 13, and Nigeria scoring 44. 

When we compare ourselves to other countries in the world, we have a pretty good system – yet, it still consists of corruption and lies. 

Although we have the democratic right to vote and apparent political freedom, none of our national political leaders seem worthy to vote for. It feels as though there is something seriously wrong for this to be the case. 

The root of the problem

Humanly speaking, there never has been and never will be a perfect government. Our world is too broken. 

We fight for freedom, justice and equality, and yet too often human nature takes over and a good intention soon becomes a hunger for power. Society struggles to agree on an issue because we have pride, greed and envy. Even when we’re fighting for what we think is right, it often comes from a selfish cause. 

Why is this?

Well, I believe that we have been created in God’s image – this is where our thirst for justice and righteousness comes from. We feel angry when we see corruption. We feel sorrow when we see poverty. We feel frustration when we see inequality. We feel these things because that is how God feels when He sees corruption, poverty and inequality.  

However, humankind also adopted a sinful nature. This means that even when we have the best intentions, we often put ourselves first. God created humans to be equal and to worship Him as King, but we often steal His crown, reject His ways and put ourselves above others. God created the world with order and purpose but more and more often, we fight against it.

I think that this is the root to the disruption we find ourselves in. The more our society celebrates individualism and self, the more unrest and disagreement there seems to be – it spreads from our every day living all the way to the politicians sitting in Parliament. 

And yet, there is hope

When I look around, I’m tempted to fall into despair. When everything seems such a mess, what can we do? The more we try to fix things as humans, the worse things seem to get. 

But before I reach despair, I look to my Bible for the promises within. 

The Bible gives an overview of all of time, and even looks forward to what is to come. At the end of the Bible, it points to a time when Jesus will return and reign forever: 

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

But it doesn’t only talk about it at the end, this promise was also given 700 years before Jesus was even born! Isaiah describes what this promised reign will look like:

“He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore.” (Isaiah 9:7)

This points to the perfect governance that we long for, one of justice and righteousness. But it is important to see that this governance lies in Jesus, it lies in being reunited with the image that we were created to mirror. 

So really, what I’m trying to say is:

1) When all seems doom and gloom, and we feel anger and frustration at the political state of this country – that is understandable. There is something in all of us that feels the brokenness of this world and it is within our DNA to want better.

2) Recognise that it is a privilege to live in a country that allows us to vote and have political freedom. Research your local politicians and what they stand for. We need more politicians with integrity, and if those with integrity give up on voting, we’re only going to get more political corruption. 

3) Most importantly of all, keep your eyes up and remember the reason why things feel broken. Work on having a relationship with the One that you were made to mirror, so that you too can look forward to the perfect governance that is to come. 

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)