As I watched the quick count on TV in my boarding room, I felt left out from my classmates who were flaunting their purple-inked pinkies. I was living in Yogya at that time, but my ID card was registered in West Java. I missed the chance to vote because I didn’t manage to transfer my documents in time.
That was 10 years ago, when I and the millennial generation (born 1981-1996) became first-time voters in the general elections. In 2024, there will be another simultaneous election. The voter demographics are quite fascinating, as the millennials like me, who were still quite young a decade ago, now make up the largest share of voters—32.3% or one third of the total. They are followed by generation X (1964-1980) with 28.3%, and generation Z (1997-2007) with 21.1%.
People from different generations have different preferences, but I think everyone wants a democratic election to produce a good government, which will progress this nation and state. But what is good? Isn’t it an ambiguous word to describe?
Indonesia’s history since its independence in 1945 has been full of challenges. The first election in 1955 was marred by separatist uprisings. In the subsequent years, we witnessed riots, corruption, and finally the Reformation. But it didn’t end there, elections in the digital era such as 2014 and 2019, instead of bringing people together, actually worsened the social divide.
If that’s the case, it seems that the song Sumbang by the singer Iwan Fals reflects some people’s view that politics is devoid of goodness. Here are the lyrics: Is politics always savage? Will it always be used to hurt? Or is that what has been conspired?
However, as Christians, we have a different perspective. We respect the political process and actively pursue better welfare. We may be ordinary citizens who don’t have access to make public policies, but we can improve our surroundings. In the context of a polarized democratic process, it is good for us to think about a concept called “politics of hospitality”.
The word “hospitality” can be simply understood as friendliness. The Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language defines “friendly” as “kind, appealing in language, sweet in speech and behavior, sociable and agreeable in company.” The term hospitality itself comes from two Latin words: “hostis” which means host and “hospice” which means a mutual relationship based on equality and giving. So, hospitality can be understood as a host’s kind and friendly attitude of welcoming guests, visitors, or strangers. The key words here are kindness and friendliness.
In the Christian faith, hospitality is more than just hosting friends and family, but the act of loving others as Jesus did and inviting them into our lives and God’s family (Matthew 25:40). This concept is based on God’s action of calling all His chosen people into His family through grace and the Holy Spirit (John 16:8; Ephesians 2:8-9). If this understanding is also applied to the political duties of God’s children as citizens, then in their political participation every believer is called to practice these duties in a spirit of kindness and friendliness.
This metaphor of hospitality is very useful to describe how a Christian acts in his political involvement in the public sphere. The reason is, first, the metaphor of hospitality shows the character of God. He is a good God (Psalm 25:8; 106:1), full of love (1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Second, God wants order. “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of order, courtesy and discipline, so it is fitting for every Christian to practice orderly life, both in daily life and in political activity.
From birth to death, Jesus Himself experienced the hospitality of others and His teachings stressed the importance of hospitality for all people (Matthew 22:39). When Jesus healed the centurion’s servant in Capernaum (Matthew 8:5-13), He was applying His teaching, that His followers should bless their “enemies” and pray for those who persecuted them (Matthew 5:43-48). Luke 14 also contains a series of stories that develop the teaching about hospitality to all people. These stories tell of Jesus’ experience in the house of a Pharisee, where Jesus teaches the importance of humility, not self-exaltation (Luke 14:1-14), as well as the parable of the great banquet (14:15-24) which describes a welcoming entrance into the Kingdom of God with a feast. A common theme in both stories is that hospitality is offered to the unworthy, including strangers.
In our current context, when each of us has a choice about which candidates to support, we are invited to perform our democratic duties in a hospitable way. But, how about when people who are close to us act unfriendly, for example in a WhatsApp group? Taking part in the attacks will only worsen the situation. This is where we are challenged to choose one of two attitudes: hospitality or hostility; friendliness or unfriendliness? Choosing to be hospitable or friendly means praying first for the person so that the Holy Spirit will touch their heart and calm their emotions. Then, by asking for His wisdom, we can remind each other so that differences in choices don’t turn into hatred that can cut off relationships in the real world. Trusting our choices is a good thing, but remember that differences in choices are also a good thing.
In welcoming the 2024 elections, every believer is invited to choose political parties, representatives, and candidates for national leadership according to their own conscience and rational considerations. Use this right to vote. If in the previous elections the use of negative issues or black campaigns was so common, then each of us should not participate in such practices.
Going back to the lyrics of the song Sumbang: Is politics always savage? Will it always be used to hurt? The answer: not always. As long as we practice the political art of hospitality. We can be involved in politics and have different political opinions, but we should do this without being rude, spreading negative news, or even fake news (hoaxes).
Let’s practice politics with kindness and friendliness, as Christ did, and as our Indonesian culture values.
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No matter who wins the election in Indonesia, we as Christians are called to show hospitality to our neighbors. This is how we can make a positive impact and witness God’s love in our society.
To learn more about how you can practice hospitality and kindness in your everyday life, please visit this website (in Indonesian):
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
