Can a Christian Vote for those “Godless Greens?

Can a Christian vote for the Greens? Many Christians argue that the Greens are anti-God and anti-religion, with policies that conflict at a deep level with Christian values. Usually singled out are Green’s policies on homosexuality; religious exemption from anti-discrimination laws; decriminalisation of drugs; support for the safe schools program, and their advocacy for euthanasia.

The Greens support is not driven by hatred for God but empathy for the wounded

Sure there may be some militant atheists who have hitched themselves to the Greens but that no more makes the Greens anti-God than the Christians who are allied to the party mean it is a Christian party.

I know many people who support the Greens, both Christian and not. None of them hate Christians or Christianity or any other religion. They are attracted to the Greens because of their progressive social policy. Their vision is not a society where religion has been eliminated but one where the environment is protected, where vulnerable groups are not subject to humiliation and exclusion; where drug addicts receive treatment not imprisonment; where children whose sexuality is not straight are not bullied; and where those who are at the end stages of life are able to die with dignity. I agree with the sentiment behind all of these, even though I don’t agree that every Greens policy will achieve what they desire. And some policies, such as the attitude to exemption from anti-discrimination laws concern me, but it is sheer nonsense to argue that the Greens are somehow committed to the dismantling of religion.

All Political Parties Fall Short of the Will of God

On comparison with the teaching of Jesus all political parties fall short. Why is it the Greens’s policies on sexuality and euthanasia are singled out as making them anti-God, where the major party policies on refugees, environment, and foreign aid are not? When we observe the Coalition’s uncompromised commitment to economic growth why do we not name it as the idolatry of greed, something the Bible sees as wicked?

Neither the Coalition, nor the ALP, nor the Greens should be characterised as pro-God or anti-God. The Constitution, common law and the liberal tradition mean they have no power to legislate for or against religion, so they can never be anti-God in the way that totalitarian regimes that persecute people for religious faith have been. They all have policies that are far removed from the vision of Jesus and policies that fit with the vision of Jesus. It is an act of futile moral calculus to say that the Greens’s stance on anti-discrimination laws is more or less godless than the Coalition’s stand on refugees, or that the Greens’s stance on euthanasia is more godless than the crass materialism that stands at the centre of the ALP and Coalition policy making, let alone try to weigh up the combined basket of policies of each party.

So let’s put an end to this nonsense that the Greens are somehow more opposed to Christian values than the other parties. As one might expect in a fallen world, all the parties have policies that foster living that is strongly at odds with the teaching of Jesus and policies that are compatible with the teaching of Jesus. Let’s rather have a sane and measured discussion around which set of policies will best further justice & the common good.

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Mary Fisher
Mary Fisher
8 years ago

Brilliant

Andreas Bimba
Andreas Bimba
8 years ago

Quote “When we observe the Coalition’s uncompromised commitment to economic growth” Sorry this statement is wrong. The Coalition may have a mantra of growth “jobs n growf” but that’s all it is. Their macroeconomic policy is to move to balanced budgets and even surpluses, the ALP are the same. Balanced budgets and worse still surpluses are inherently contractionary, lead to higher unemployment and business failures as well as serious social costs and even reduced tax revenue. Why, because the LNP/ALP puppet masters want this for their plutocratic purposes (no exaggeration). The Greens approach of a period of Keynesian stimulus will… Read more »

Elizabeth Margaret
8 years ago

I would and will vote Greens ahead of the many so called Christian parties that are just full of Bigots. It is very UnChristian to be full of Hate for a fellow Human Being.

Andris Heks
Andris Heks
8 years ago

Once again excellent Scott!

Excellent, Scott!
A breath of fresh air.
Keep it up.
Cheers
Andris

Tony Ryan
Tony Ryan
8 years ago

Amazing how so called Christians can support the marriage of same sex people. I know I will be labelled homophobic, but I can handle that.

Sam
Sam
8 years ago
Reply to  Scott

“Amazing how so called Christians can support the slashing of the aid budget” What’s unchristian about slashing foreign aid budget in order to reduce the national debt, to ensuring our nation can continue to look after the less fortunate in our society well into the future? Money doesn’t grow on trees you know – and there is a limit to how much the RBA can issue bonds to help other countries. “Amazing how so called Christians can support the rabid greed that demands continual economic growth.” What’s unchristian about ensuring more jobs and income will continue to be created, so… Read more »

Sam
Sam
8 years ago
Reply to  Scott

Your mistake is, you are talking about GDP as if all the incomes earned in the economy goes to the government. We have a fairly high taxation rate, but a lot of that goes to welfare spending for the common good – a robust health care system, for one. Why is it our government’s onus to solve other countries’ problem? For one, it’s such a socialist attitude, expecting the government to solve every problem out there – we know how countries like Venezuela turned out as a result. And for another, foreign aids are typically used not just for humanitarian… Read more »

Dick Clarke
Dick Clarke
8 years ago

Thanks Scott, in addition to which, if I understand the history correctly, three of the original Tasmanian Greens founders were Christian.

Rod
Rod
8 years ago
Reply to  Dick Clarke

One was an ordained minister.

Andris Heks
Andris Heks
8 years ago

AUSTRALIA’S AUSCHWITZ: NAURU AND MANUS ISLAND Andris Heks 19.06.2016 Is the above title exaggerated? Maybe not, after viewing CHASING ASYLUM, from Academy Award winner Australian documentary maker, Eva Orner. It is a must see for Howard, Turnbull, Abbott, Dutton, J. Bishop and Rudd, every one of whom refused to be interviewed for this documentary. It is a film the Australian government does not want you to see. Just a small sample of facts from the film, secretly shot on locations: Running the Manus detention centre cost $1.2 billion, that is $500.000 per refugee. What do the refugees get for this… Read more »

Joanne Elliott
8 years ago

As always Scott, your writing & arguments are amazingly sound. The Greens do present as being much more compassionate than the two major parties. I am a member of the Greens party.

Andris Heks
Andris Heks
8 years ago
Reply to  Joanne Elliott

Good on you Jo
Blessings,
Andris

Merryn
Merryn
8 years ago

I appreciate your views however, the Greens aren’t so progressive when it comes to ramming amoral teachings and resources down kids’ throats in so called “Safe” schools. No opt out and no parental consent needed because it is embedded in every area of the curriculum. How is that progressive? Sounds communist to me! We don’t need a program to teach our kids to love and respect all people. The Bible teaches that- so for those who want to learn about the unconditional love and forgiveness of Jesus, bring back the Bible into society! John 3:16

Russell Steyne
8 years ago

No, a Christian can’t vote for the Greens. Because sins of sexuality and the sin of euthanasia are sins directly against the person who is made in the image of God. God does not say that ‘greed’ is an abomination, but who does say that the act of homosexuality is an abomination, and to take the life of someone made in the image of God is certainly worse than taking their money.

Helen
Helen
8 years ago

I think the question is more: “should” a Christian vote for the Greens? And my answer is “no”. There are far better options for a Christian’s vote. I can’t see Jesus voting for a party with ungodly values such as the Greens, so I can’t see how a follower of Jesus could do so. My first criteria is whether a party protects unborn children from death (abortion), and the Greens have failed that test (among many more). As you can see from the following link, the Greens are at the bottom when it comes to representing Christian (God’s) values: http://www.christianvalues.org.au/images/checklists/acvi2016-check-federal-cdp-2jul16-rgb-double-hr-12.pdf… Read more »

Peter
Peter
8 years ago

I agree that the Greens main policy should be a natural fit for Christians concerned about the environment and refugees, if only their voting record in parliament were not so aggressively and predominantly hostile to Christianity and Christian institutions, instead of focusing on their supposed policies, I might be able to buy this line.

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