Dave at Big News has critiqued Andy Moore's New Zealand Christian Vote blog - primarily his opening assertion that:
"The parties listed on the right are the five parties which the majority of Christians will consider as we approach Election day. The other parties are really not worth considering due to their anti-family or anti-Christian policies."
Andy includes in his list the Kiwi Party, the Family Party, ACT, National and United Future. Andy's analysis seems to be based on the assertion that christian faith and political conservatism are equivalent. It's most extreme commonly recognised form is the religious right in America, which is closely aligned with the Republican Party, particularly in recent years under George W Bush's leadership. My experience of christianity and politics tells me that this is a ridiculous assertion.
In my observation christians on the 'left' are aligning themselves more closely with the biblical theme of us being responsible for each other - the poor and vulnerable in particular. While christians on the 'right' are aligning themselves more closely with the biblical theme of personal responsibility for action - in both senses of 'responsibility'; reward and accountability.
My faith became personal in my late teens in the mid 1980s, under the tutelage of two contrasting pastors.
The first, my pastor during 1984, was Campbell Roberts who now leads the Salvation Army's social services programme in New Zealand and is also Director of the Salvation Army’s NZ Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. It is no secret that Campbell's view of the world is more left leaning. From Campbell I learned more about my responsiblity for others.
The second, my pastor during 1985-88, was David Major (since 1990 also my father-in-law!). David was a National Party candidate in 1996, and later Executive Director of the National party. So it is no secret he is more right leaning. From David I learned more about my personal responsibility for my own actions. David is now CEO of the Prison Chaplain Service.
I think you can reconcile and hold both christian views. As christians we are responsible for others, particularly the poor and the vulnerable. But where I part company with most on the left is their apparent assumption that the primary vehicle for this is collective action through the state. To me, the more commonly appropriate vehicle is that emphasised by those on the right - personal responsibility. It is why I am an active member of my local church, why I participate in ministries which minister to the poor and the vulnerable, and why I use my role as a leader within my church to influence us down paths that make our community a better place.
As I state in my 'About' page - "my interest in politics grows out of my interest in current affairs and the wider world, and is heavily influenced by my christian faith. I score centre (-0.12) and mildly libertarian (-2.05) on the Political Compass. I generally feel more right than left, so was a little surprised by that - but I probably came out more towards the centre due to my christianity induced feeling of responsibility for others, particularly the vulnerable. I am not currently a member of a political party."
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 11:55 PM 
I'm enjoying reading The High Calling of our Daily Work blog, which regularly reminds me of the dignity and holiness inherent in work.
