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EDITORIAL
Shaping the future of our continent by voting
The European Parliament Elections 23-26 May 2019.
What will Europe look like in 5 years’ time? The European Parliament will help decide.
That is why the European Evangelical Alliance wants to encourage Christians across the European Union to vote in the elections in May prayerfully, and thoughtfully.
The European Parliament can seem a long way away from our daily lives but it makes decisions that affect us all. So this is our opportunity to influence, through our prayers, questions and vote. Let’s not miss this chance.
1 Timothy 2: 1-4 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
“All those in authority” includes those who run the European Union (EU) as well. Whether you generally like or dislike the EU is irrelevant. The EU exists, and we are asked to pray for it.
The founders of what was to become the European Union, Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer and Alcide De Gasperi, were motivated by Christianity to create this political entity to strengthen peace and cooperation between nations. They even held a prayer retreat the evening before the Treaty signing to create the European Coal and Steel Community. In the decades since, there have been moments where the Christian worldview has appeared to be more or less important within the EU institutions. The lowest point was perhaps when France vetoed the mentioning of God or Christianity in the preamble for a draft EU Constitution. But, there are of course many Christians working in the EU institutions, as well as others who have similar values and want to work for the common good. Let’s pray for them.
EEA has provided a package of short resources related to the European Parliament elections which you will find in this newsletter. They are designed to help Christians
- Understand the power of the European Parliament and its relevance to our lives.
- Consider their responsibility in this election season.
- Consider who they might vote for by reflecting on certain questions.
- Pray as individuals or in small groups and churches.
These elections are taking place during a period of uncertainty and division across our continent. If you would like to dig deeper and consider the big picture of what is happening politically across Europe, then we invite you to click here to find an overview paper or here to find the full set of papers under our “Issachar Project.” Its name comes from 1 Chronicles 12: 32 which says that “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what to do.”
May the Lord give us all wisdom to understand the times and know what to do, perceiving His perspective on our nations and continent and enabling us to be a blessing as we pray, think, vote and act.
