I don’t understand the logic of not voting in a democratic system, especially one that gives you a wide range of representative choices, including multiple parties that stand for nonviolence, compassion for the poor and refugees, accountable government, environmental sustainability and just about every other social/economic/environmental cause we might pursue in other contexts.

There is no reason why you cannot vote and continue to live the politics of Jesus in your daily life. This is not an either/or choice.

If you don’t vote, presumably you also should not advocate, lobby, petition or otherwise engage in the formal political process.

If you don’t do that, then don’t celebrate the abolition of slavery in the UK as part of your tradition. Don’t celebrate the democratic revolutions of Eastern Europe, South Africa, Philippines or South America as heralding the power of nonviolence. Don’t support efforts to ban landmines and cluster bombs and international small arms trade at the UN. Don’t ask for debt forgiveness for the world’s poorest countries, or an anti-poverty strategy at the highest level of national government. And don’t complain if your right to peaceful protest is taken away under the guide of anti-terror laws.

It was the pharisees that were trying to trick Jesus, they brought the Herodians with them in order to make it look like a dispute between the two. But ultimately Jesus was speaking to the ones that were trying to trick him. The context of that passage makes it very easy to understand.

rev

Actually I agree with you – we don’t have democracy here and never have. We have a limited method of appearing to participate in a process to select people who make decisions.

Jesus is asked the question about taxes by the Jewish traditionalists, who are basically calling all of Israel to follow the law perfectly so that God will send the Messiah. They intend to trap him. He then does what?

He asks for a coin, and asks who’s image is inscribed on the coin. Now every jew in Jerusalem would have known that the making of anything bearing an image was considered idolatry. Far from telling them to work alongside Caesar, Jesus was showing them that they were willingly participating in idolatry. Who’s image is on the coin? So if you are going to use the system, you will have to pay the price. If you are going to use the roads, and the money, you will have to pay the price. But in the end, Caesar demands your allegiance, and that can only be given to God.

Grendel,

I would agree a bit in America, though I would still not vote. But when voting is compulsory, not voting is a statement against the government, as you are willing to accept the punishment of non compliance. This is not about getting the right man, men, humans elected, or not, it is about stating that the kingdoms of the world are only interested in keeping themselves empowered and safe, and in order to do that they will kill, steal, oppress, lie and every other thing. Johno is doing a great job of that right now, trying to buy the right to stay in power, and saying you will not be a part of this process until it is a fair one.

Why do so many people praise democracy, but only practice a bastardization of it. Participatory democracy puts power in the hands of the people, where what they have in this country and my own is basically elect and elitist dictator.

rev

In it’s context, he was answering a question from a strange alliance trying to get Jesus arrested by the Romans. He gave that quote and in amazement they walked away.

They thought they would trap him by either getting him in trouble with the locals by having him endorse the pagan occupiers or with the Romans by having him say that they shouldn’t pay taxes.

With Jesus’ answer, he was teaching that paying taxes even to a pagan government is not a betrayal of God or His Kingdom. We can love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength AND pay taxes at the same time. We can support the people who are given authority to ensure that we can live quiet lives in peace, even when they don’t, and be full citizens of God’s Kingdom at the same time. It’s not either/or and Jesus provides a way to do this. We just need to be faithful in living in the way He provided.

Rev, non-participation in the electoral process effectively delivers the same result.

Participation and directing you support to an individual who you feel will truly represent your views endorses ONLY that individual representative and not those that may actually be in government. You remain free to continue dissenting against whoever gains power in the knowledge that you did you best to prevent that.

I consider the above arrangement appallingly less than ideal but non participation does not reduce the risk to my family, my neighbours and those I share the planet with, where participation just might. I’d rather a system where individuals acted with a community understanding that as their actions must have an impact on others then they should occur in consideration of others.

But silence, silence construes assent.

Look at that quote in context. Remember who Jesus was talking to. He was not saying what you think he was. Give unto caesar what is caesars was not endorsing tax paying, or government. Direct quote from Jesus, “you see the way the worlds leaders excercise authority “over other” it is not to be that way with you, but if someone would seek to be great he should be a servant of all”

Electing people to be a king over you is looked down upon by God, who said, “they have not rejected you, they have rejected me by asking for a king”

rev