2025 marks the 45th federal election year. At the time of writing this article, before December 31, 2024, political instability has Canadians looking for an earlier election than the scheduled fall date. In Ontario, provincial party leaders are also preparing for a possible 2025 election.
The word election is only mentioned three times in the Bible: twice in the Epistle to the Romans and once in 2nd Peter. All of them refer to the authors’ calling on people to elect to follow Christ or encourage others to do so. There is no reference to elections in a democratic society.
Nevertheless, we are fortunate to live in a country where elections are free and transparent. Our neighbour to the south has tried to follow the same pattern. However, the results of citizen participation are not overwhelming.
In the 2024 presidential election in the U.S., despite all the publicity and the billions spent by candidates, about 65 per cent of those eligible to vote did so. In our last federal election in 2021, only about 63 per cent voted, while in 2019 it reached 69 per cent. In our last Ontario election, only 43.5 per cent of eligible voters bothered to turn out.
I submit that these turnouts are abysmal. They mean that one in three citizens in both Canada and the U.S. simply failed to vote. These turnouts present a challenge to us as Christians and society as a whole.
Christ called us to worship and love God. But Jesus also called us to love our neighbours as ourselves. In Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus reminds us of our obligations to others. There are many other examples such as Luke 6:27-36 and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 20-37).
These passages are symbolic of how Christ wants us to respond to the needs of our neighbors. I believe we need to be involved not only on a one-to-one basis but also to advocate for society that cares. I am therefore suggesting we all need to stay informed and get involved in making our elected officials reflect in their policies and procedures the kind of just and caring society that Christ should have us make.
This means we all need to heed the cry of our Lord to be involved and care about our world, our country, and our society. We need to stay informed and challenge our politicians to build a society that cares for everyone.
Above all, we need to vote in each and every election. We need to encourage our friends, neighbors, and indeed everyone, to exercise their sacred right to mark our ballots on election day.
Let me tell you a true story about why it is important to vote. Several years ago, Ft. Erie had a very hotly contested mayoral election. Shortly before the polls closed, the incumbent mayor’s campaign office got a request to take 4 people to a polling station. A car was sent, and the people were able to vote. That night the results indicated that the mayor had won by 2 votes. A recount raised the total to 6.
There are many other examples of very close elections and the importance of each and every vote. For those of us who are citizens, we have been given the right and ability to vote. For those of us who are permanent residents, you still have the right to make your voice and opinions known.
Christ calls us to work for a society in which our duty to our neighbor is sacred. Let us heed that call.
Elections and Our Duty
2025 marks the 45th federal election year. At the time of writing this article, before December 31, 2024, political instability has Canadians looking for an earlier election than the scheduled fall date. In Ontario, provincial party leaders are also preparing for a possible 2025 election.
The word election is only mentioned three times in the Bible: twice in the Epistle to the Romans and once in 2nd Peter. All of them refer to the authors’ calling on people to elect to follow Christ or encourage others to do so. There is no reference to elections in a democratic society.
Nevertheless, we are fortunate to live in a country where elections are free and transparent. Our neighbour to the south has tried to follow the same pattern. However, the results of citizen participation are not overwhelming.
In the 2024 presidential election in the U.S., despite all the publicity and the billions spent by candidates, about 65 per cent of those eligible to vote did so. In our last federal election in 2021, only about 63 per cent voted, while in 2019 it reached 69 per cent. In our last Ontario election, only 43.5 per cent of eligible voters bothered to turn out.
I submit that these turnouts are abysmal. They mean that one in three citizens in both Canada and the U.S. simply failed to vote. These turnouts present a challenge to us as Christians and society as a whole.
Christ called us to worship and love God. But Jesus also called us to love our neighbours as ourselves. In Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus reminds us of our obligations to others. There are many other examples such as Luke 6:27-36 and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 20-37).
These passages are symbolic of how Christ wants us to respond to the needs of our neighbors. I believe we need to be involved not only on a one-to-one basis but also to advocate for society that cares. I am therefore suggesting we all need to stay informed and get involved in making our elected officials reflect in their policies and procedures the kind of just and caring society that Christ should have us make.
This means we all need to heed the cry of our Lord to be involved and care about our world, our country, and our society. We need to stay informed and challenge our politicians to build a society that cares for everyone.
Above all, we need to vote in each and every election. We need to encourage our friends, neighbors, and indeed everyone, to exercise their sacred right to mark our ballots on election day.
Let me tell you a true story about why it is important to vote. Several years ago, Ft. Erie had a very hotly contested mayoral election. Shortly before the polls closed, the incumbent mayor’s campaign office got a request to take 4 people to a polling station. A car was sent, and the people were able to vote. That night the results indicated that the mayor had won by 2 votes. A recount raised the total to 6.
There are many other examples of very close elections and the importance of each and every vote. For those of us who are citizens, we have been given the right and ability to vote. For those of us who are permanent residents, you still have the right to make your voice and opinions known.
Christ calls us to work for a society in which our duty to our neighbor is sacred. Let us heed that call.
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