Calling all Reform Voters

In the press recently are reports of Reform voters (or would-be voters) and others with nationalist convictions or politically 'far right' views turning to the church. Some may even be making some steps to enquire about the Christian faith, or feel they are 'returning' to the faith of the parents / grand-parents. Articles like this one report on the dilemmas and apparent contradictions that this raises for church leaders.

 

Not surprisingly this has raised a few eyebrows, but from a mission perspective I would argue: 'business as usual'! The reality is that at any time people might start looking towards church and/or faith for a whole variety of reasons ... and they will bring their baggage with them. This is normal!

The challenge in working with anyone new or a person who randomly just turns up, is to offer welcome and Christ-like friendship. That will not mean simply appeasing them and their views, nor will it mean simply assimilating them into your church congregation or group ... because to be Christ-like is not to simply accumulate bums on seats. Instead it will mean journeying with them as best as you can, and will include listening to them along with their views. That listening will hopefully go deeper, discerning what for lies behind those views for this person.

In parallel with this activity, it will mean lovingly and confidently asserting the gospel of Jesus over and over, snippet by snippet. That will inevitably highlight sooner or later the way of Jesus with its summaries of 'Love God and Love your neighbour as yourself'. That way of course reveals God who has a bias to the poor, the underdog, the refugee, those at the margins ... regardless of race or country of origin.

Of course it is these very same gospel foundations that have led to the principles on which our 'Christian-based society' or 'Christian-based country' are founded! They underpin our laws and the freedoms that nationalists think they want to protect. And they underpin our historic welcome and sense of duty to asylum seekers, forming the basis of international treaties that our country helped author and signed up to.

Some might find that surprising ... and when spelt out they might even find it offensive. Paul writes that we are the aroma of Christ, but for some it is like a bad odour (see 2 Corinthians chapter 2)! But just because some will find it offensive, we should not shy away from or hold back the true gospel of Jesus - that ultimately Jesus is Lord and not our political leaders, that it is Jesus we follow and not the ideas of political leaders that we find appealing.

We need not assert these truths in an argumentative or forced fashion, but ultimately there are surely 'way-posts' along the journey with someone where we need to be clear on choices to be made. Those choices are essentially between opening hearts to let God transform our priorities and thinking (Paul writes this as 'renewing of our minds' in Romans 12), and the choice to continue with hard hearts with all its 'othering' of different people groups and the attitudes (and political policies) that arise from such a choice.

Traitors - Our Calling to Reality

Last week the final of Celebrity Traitors was aired on TV and drew large audiences not amassed for a long time in British TV. The clever dynamics of the game had many of us hooked, and it proved to be high drama with suspense right until the final reveal.

The winner Alan Carr did an excellent job of being a "wolf in sheep's clothing" until the very end!

In our culture today the question of discerning what is 'true' from that which is 'false' or fake becomes ever more pressing. But we also have to admit that we all wear masks or present an edited version of ourselves to people around us to varying degrees. We are longing for people we meet to be genuine and real, but that can often seem elusive.

As followers of Jesus, sent into the world to point to Jesus and His Kingdom, we are surely called to stand out in the crowd as genuine and real. Jesus said the light should not be hidden under a bucket, and lamented the possibility of salt no longer being salty. If we hide or obscure the reality of who we are in Christ, are we not hiding under a bucket or losing our salty distinctiveness?

The call to follow Jesus is a call to learn to be open about who we are in Him. Not in an insensitive overbearing way - but being up front about what motivates and drives us: our faith in the risen Lord Jesus.

The love of Christ compels us, because in Him is the ultimate Truth that enables all things ultimately to hang together. We therefore live clear and truthful lives now, showing the reality now of a life lived in Christ, knowing (and motivated by) a greater reality that is to come. Paul summed this up in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 where he writes extensively about the resurrection, and the reality of a physical / bodily resurrection for us all, as witnessed first in Christ. Paul is set and clear about this reality, and says (verse 19) that if this is wrong, then he and all other Christ followers are the 'most to be pitied' ... because in that case the final reveal will not turn out as he has been saying!

Traitors on TV is of course just a game. But everyday life for all of us brings the same complexities that the contestants faced - with each of us having to work out what (and who) is true. As Christ followers, help others discover the ultimate Truth by being open, genuine and real about your faith in Him.

Taking Our Country Back is Not Christian

Sadly the national narrative of dis-content is growing stronger, with strong voices of anti-immigration and nationalism behind a megaphone. Worryingly, among the demonstrations seems to be a politically-right leaning Christian nationalism that is also becoming louder and more prominent. Characterised by St George flags with Christian or Bible quotes added, or by demonstrators holding upright large wooden crosses, or other placards with Bible quotes, the message seems to be something like: "Take our country back to being Christian again".

Worse is when language such as 'conquer', or even worse (evoking the St George cross) language of 'crusade' seems to be re-emerging.

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed ...

As followers of Jesus trying our best to bear testimony to Jesus as Lord on a daily basis, I am convinced this rising tide of "Christian nationalism" is outright unhelpful. It harks back to a Christendom/conquer mindset ... which is NOT the Gospel. Jesus spoke of (and demonstrated) a completely different kind of Kingdom which, put simply, is not of this world, i.e. not about nation conquering, using any kind of earthly force or coercion. His Kingdom is characterised by righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17) emerging from the love of God and His forgiveness and restoration. It starts with a tiny seed, which slowly grows ...

With so much noise out there, we have to carefully yet clearly up our game ... pointing people to the true Jesus alternative that starts with welcoming the stranger, being hosted by people quite different to us, and explaining/demonstrating the true nature of Jesus and His Kingdom. Our work is cut out for us ... being quiet is not an option.

Personality Cults

Personality Cults are nothing new - history is littered with them. Their folly, associated tunnel vision, and inappropriate adulation are all well captured by the 'Emperor Has No Clothes' fable. In today's culture, with bigger physical platforms multiplied by online platforms, the problem is ever more acute.

Sadly the Christian faith has its own sordid litany of cults led by personalities who have done unimaginable harm to those caught into their spheres of influence.

But in our current day we have an additional development that should surely concern us: the apparent rise of the Western Political Personality Cult. Again political personality cults are not new - Roman Emperor's claimed 'God status' for themselves, as effectively does a leader today in a Far Eastern dynasty cult. What is surprising is the apparent emergence of such cults in Western countries that, until quite recently, were considered to be stable Western democracies.

The true ministry of the gospel is as far away from all this as the East is from the West. It is to clearly but calmly continue to preach Jesus is Lord. For that we do not need any kind of platform, or a well-oiled social media machine. Instead we just need to be faithful and clear in our witness to whoever we find in front of us.

Paul gave wisdom to Timothy when he wrote:

preach the word ... for the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear - turning away from truth to myths.

[2 Timothy 4: 2 - 4]

Whilst we might find them surprising, abhorrent, and truly concerning, our call is not to try to other-throw such cults (God has that on His job description ...). Instead it is to continue to preach Jesus ('preach the word'), with great patience and endurance. That is to discharge our duties of ministry (verse 5). These cults will rise and fall - perhaps the bigger the platform the bigger the crash! But meanwhile and whatever, we point to the True King.