EGN NEWS DESK
Much has occurred on the planet of politics in the previous couple of weeks, with nationwide elections occurring left, proper and centre. Firstly, a six-week marketing campaign right here within the UK that resulted in a landslide victory for the Labour party, a devastating loss for the Conservatives, and the most important variety of Lib Dems since Lloyd George’s time, over 100 years in the past!
Across the Channel in France, we have seen the stunning success of the left versus the far proper. And within the US, the sadly much less stunning continuation of political polarisation, ensuing within the horrific violence of this weekend.
You’ve in all probability seen the photograph. Former President Trump behind a huddle of Secret Service brokers, blood streaking down his face and his fist raised in a salute to the encircling 1000’s of people that attended the rally in Pennsylvania the place somebody tried to kill him. Though the bullet clipped his ear, Trump himself was comparatively unhurt. However, one supporter was killed, and two others had been injured.
It is a disturbing picture – the concept that is what ‘democracy’ has come to in one of the highly effective international locations on the planet. More disturbing is that this may not really feel stunning to many people. In reality, a few of us may need felt that one thing like this was solely a matter of time. Our first response to this occasion ought to be prayer for consolation for many who had been there, the victims and their family members and prayer that we’d not be desensitised to violence in opposition to anybody. No matter our political variations, everyone seems to be deeply cherished by Jesus and so ought to be deeply cherished by us.
For these accustomed to the Bible, the imagery would possibly recall the story of Peter attempting to defend Jesus throughout his arrest by slicing off the ear of the High Priest’s slave, Malchus. Jesus rebukes Peter, saying, ‘No extra of this!’ and instantly heals the harm. Even amid the occasions main as much as his crucifixion, Jesus ‘turns the opposite cheek’, not as an indication of weak point, however as a mark of his indiscriminate love for these persecuting him and his belief in God’s sovereign will.
We will not be known as to defend our beliefs utilizing what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 10, ‘the weapons of the world.’ Sometimes politics and democracy would possibly appear to be a heady swirl of dramatic claims and occasions surrounding just a few huge figures, and we will get caught up in it, complicated these figures and the beliefs they symbolize for a much bigger actuality. Like Peter, we would react impulsively, not essentially with violent motion, however in the best way we talk about these on the opposite facet of the political spectrum. It’s a lot simpler to generalise and dehumanise, to talk with out compassion, gentleness, or endurance, to not take the time to pay attention deeply for the tales behind the beliefs.
Listening is the true work for these of us partaking in politics. Over the election marketing campaign, I knocked on lots of of doorways and had the privilege of talking with whoever was behind them, those that ended up voting for me, and people who did not. In being elected, I’m being trusted with the experiences they shared so I can advocate properly on their behalf in Parliament.
It’s not about me. I have not been elected as some type of ‘saviour’, and I haven’t got and nor ought to I declare to have all of the solutions. Numerous Christian associates from the Conservatives misplaced their seats this time round, and with it their jobs and their employees’s jobs. Losing your job is one factor – however hardly ever is it misplaced so publicly and humiliatingly. If we’re on the lookout for political views or figures to avoid wasting us, then we have got it incorrect, and if we’re pointing in direction of different folks’s politics because the supply of all evil, then we have nonetheless received it incorrect. We can’t be saved in our personal energy, and that is simply one of many many explanation why violence won’t ever be the reply.
A fast plug: however this would be the theme of my lecture on the Keswick Convention this week when I’ll search to make the case for Christians to be folks of peace within the tradition struggle.
You see, we’ve got already been saved and redemption has been promised. Our accountability is to be Christ’s arms and toes, sharing this excellent news with everybody by our phrases and actions. So relatively than retreating additional into our personal political camps, ready for our chosen party or chief to return into energy and disparaging these we disagree with, let’s be proactive in reaching out to others, listening to their tales, and dealing collectively to fulfill the wants of the communities that God has positioned us in.
To be clear, this doesn’t imply mendacity down and compromising when there’s injustice, notably in opposition to the marginalised. After all, the gospel is nice information for ‘the poor, the sick, and the prisoner’. But once we converse up, we should ‘converse the reality in love’, and like Jesus, belief that God’s sovereign might be accomplished.
Let’s pray for repentance and therapeutic in our nations, for leaders that won’t stoke the flames of division and violence. Pray particularly for this new parliament, and particularly the massive new consumption, that the tradition of the place would markedly shift in direction of integrity in each facet of parliamentary life and enterprise. Pray for these Christians who’re nonetheless right here or have simply joined, that we’d be famous for our defiant gentleness and compassion, and that God would information our work.
