The article below is of course specific to Australian conditions. Nevertheless for other countries which operate under different systems of government, the underlying principles of Christian conscience and response will remain effectively the same.

THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
In Australia we live under a system of government known as Democracy.

This is traditionally defined as :-
- Government of the people,
- By the people,
- For the people.

This means that the people of the nation rule over themselves.

Decisions are taken by a vote in which all citizens are required to participate. When a vote is taken the will of the majority prevails and the constitution requires the minority to submit to and support that decision.

On most matters the people are required to delegate their vote to Parliament which consists of a number of representatives, appointed from among the people, to speak and act on their behalf.

For the appointment of these representatives, the nation is divided into a number of areas, called electorates, each of which elects its representative, from time to time, by a system of preferential voting. All citizens are required to participate in this process.

Occasionally, a particular issue is considered of sufficient importance for all citizens to exercise an individual vote in a Referendum, at which the will of the majority prevails.

The system is complicated by a system of party politics, in which groups of people join together to promote particular policies in Parliament.

When elections are held the party with the most members elected to Parliament holds the balance of power and the mandate to implement their policies.

Sometimes independent candidates, who do not belong to any political party, are elected on the basis of particular policies which suit the mood of their electorate. However, few independents have any real power to influence policy unless it also happens to suit the party in power.

THE MAJORITY.
It is often not realised that, in a democratic system, all who participate in the voting process are committed to accept the majority decision.

Participation in arriving at the majority decision, implies responsibility for abiding by and implementing that decision.

PREFERENTIAL VOTING.
In a preferential voting system, even the candidate least preferred by any minority, may be favoured by the majority, and thus become the representative to whom ALL, including the minority, must delegate the power to speak and act on their behalf in Parliament.

This means that ALL who vote, share responsibility for the actions of their elected delegate and, ultimately, the combined decisions of Parliament.

CHRISTIANS IN PARLIAMENT.
Christians elected to Parliament, either as members of a political party, or as independents, are in a minority situation where they unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2 Cor 6:14-16).

They will also find themselves with divided loyalties and a conflict of interest, serving two masters and two kingdoms, with different values and goals.

Parliament exists to do the will of the people who elected the representatives.

Christians live to do the will of God.

Christians who wish to enter Parliament as members of one of the major political parties must first sell their soul, their conscience and their undivided allegiance to the party in order to gain the necessary preselection nomination from the party. No Christian can do this without, in some way, denying Jesus before men.

Christians who wish to enter Parliament as independents must first win the popular vote of the unbelieving majority in their electorate.

This inevitably requires "ear tickling" and compromise. (2 Timothy 4:3)

DEMOCRACY AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
God's kingdom is not a democracy. It does not run on the popular vote of unbelievers. His kingdom is a theocracy in which there is only one will, one opinion, one vote.

Christians who delegate their authority to representatives, elected by an unbelieving majority, will one day have to answer to God for their part in giving power to a Parliament which has legislated in favour of such things as:-
- Abortion
- Prostitution
- Homosexuality
- Gambling
- Easy divorce and remarriage

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS.
Three times Jesus refused to become ruler of an earthly kingdom.

1. He refused to bow down to Satan in order to gain the throne.(Luke 4:6-8).

Christians who sell their souls to a political party, compromise their position, or tickle the ears of unbelievers, in order to win the vote, have bowed down to Satan to receive a throne.

Christians who participate in the democratic process, have assumed a part in rulership of an earthly kingdom which, in so many ways, is in rebellion against God.

2. He refused to be made ruler by the popular choice of the people. (John 6:15). For those who follow Jesus and share in his kingdom, this excludes any thought of seeking power by democratic process.

3. He refused to allow his servants to fight to establish an earthly kingdom by force. (John 18:33-36).

His kingdom is not of this world. In his kingdom the only power to rule, is that of love. He does not impose his will by legislation or the force of numbers, but says simply, "If you love me you will keep my commandments". (John 14-15).

His servants will not choose any other way.

GOD RULES IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN
In His sovereign will and for reasons not always revealed to men, God often allows men to come to power whose actions could not be endorsed by any follower of Jesus. (Daniel 4:17,32,35).

Too often, Christians who claim they have prayed to find God's will, before voting for a particular political party, are found to have given their first preference against the one that, for His own reasons, God raises to power.

Too often, other Christians find their first preference in power, and acting in rebellion against God.

There is a sober warning in this.

HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN STAND OUTSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM?
- By refusing to seek earthly answers for problems which require heavenly answers. (This world needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not a better parliament!)
- By not taking part in the rulership of the people, by the people, in a kingdom "of this world".
- BY NOT VOTING AT ALL!

BUT ISN'T VOTING COMPULSORY?
Yes ...... Voting is compulsory unless you have a valid excuse.

To refrain from voting on the grounds of conscience, arising from religious conviction, is regarded by the authorities as a valid excuse.

However, the onus is on the individual to establish that he does have a valid reason for not voting.

Usually this excuse is requested in writing. If the excuse is not offered or accepted, a fine can be imposed. In any case, when conflict arises, the Christian is called to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

WHAT ABOUT VOTING INFORMALLY IN SECRET?
This is not really an option for a Christian.

Firstly, it is against the law to deliberately vote informally.

Secondly, such an action, taken in secret, is hardly the way to confess Jesus before men. (Matthew 10:32-33)

THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
The role of the Christian in our society is to call sinners to genuine repentance. The more effectively this is done, the more likely it is that the democratic majority and minority, both, will reject us as readily as they did our Lord.

Any Christian who finds himself elevated to power through the favour of the unbelieving world needs to search his heart in the light of the warning issued by our Lord:-

"Woe unto you when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26).