With the recent General Election beginning to fade into distant memory, and with a new government adjusting from being in opposition where it was free to criticize to now having to be judged on the decisions it takes, what does this mean for people of faith? This blog is based on the sermon I gave on the Sunday after July 04th as the country came to terms with its decision to grant Kier Starmer’s party an opportunity to re-shape the country’s future in a way not seen since the heady days of Tony Blair. The readings were Psalm 123, 2 Corinthians: 2-10 and Mark 6: 1-13.
As we said earlier, it’s been quite a week with a new Government elected by a landslide majority, although it is fair to say more out of wanting to rid ourselves of the previous one rather than for any great endorsement for the new one.
Interestingly, when you look at the margin of victory in quite a few of the constituencies that changed hands and even allowing for the influence of Reform and the Independent candidates, the winning majority was under five thousand votes, with some even smaller than that. In terms of our electoral cycle, assuming the government serves its full term of office, that is actually quite small, and could change again over the course of this parliament.
As Christians we should whatever our own personal political leanings, wish the new government well as they tackle many of the social and economic problems we face which I’m sure will be covered off in the prayers of intercession a little later. But how do we respond to what appears to be an unassailable majority and a government which could in theory, do as it pleases whatever we might think?
As people of faith, like many of our non-Christian friends, we are being increasingly battered by the forces of secularism and what commentators like to call progressivism. Talking to many of my inter-faith colleagues, they too are mindful of the challenges to their beliefs by a range of issues such as transgenderism, the appropriateness or not of what is being taught in our schools, legalization of assisted suicide, removal of abortion restrictions, immigration, housing and homelessness, low pay, the rise in crime particularly knife crime and the attack on the sanctity of the nuclear family etc, etc
All of these and more are issues which successive governments have tried and largely failed to deal with. It is up to people of faith like us, to be the voice which should be speaking truth to power with the message of love and compassion which Jesus did, and reminding them of the need to ensure social justice for the many, not just the wealthy few.
Our readings today were all in the lectionary, so I didn’t have to look very far for bible readings which would be relevant to deliver a message of how within our weaknesses, we gain our strength through faith in God’s mercy and grace to challenge those who would abuse the power and responsibility they have been given.
Our first reading from psalm 123 emphasises and acknowledges our dependence on God. It is a lament for that time when the people of Israel were regarded with contempt by those that ruled over them and their doubt that Yaweh would hear them. V4 reference to the “Proud” describes those who consider themselves greater than the community which only God can declare.
We see too often how the arrogance and self-entitlement of the powerful manifests itself on the poor and marginalised. We see how a vocal minority can monopolise the public debate on current issues creating with it at times, a climate of fear, so people are afraid raise their voices for fear of the labels which get attached to them however unjustly.
Sadly too many of those in leadership positions today, including within some of our churches, have lost the sense of what it takes to promote the Gospel of Christ within our current reality. To stand up to those who would seek to impose their own cultural and political agenda on the rest of us however harmful it may turn out to be. To be more concerned about being considered relevant or even trendy!
In second Corinthians chapter 12, Paul is responding to the challenges of those within the Corinthian church who oppose him and his position as an Apostle, selected by the Lord to take the Holy Gospel to the wider gentile world. Paul describes himself in v2 as the person in Christ who fourteen years earlier was in his phrase, taken into a third heaven, describing his conversion following the vision on the road to Damascus. He declares that such is his faith in the gospel, that he will gladly boast about what he has received from the Lord and not be thought as foolish for he seeks nothing less than acceptance by the Corinthians of his words and deeds.
In v.9 we see that despite his afflictions – variously thought to be blindness, skin complaint, epilepsy, Paul will happily as a servant of Christ endure all hardships, for the prayer he made to relieve these afflictions, was granted by God not as he hoped in the physical sense, but in the form of grace making these weaknesses more powerful so that Christ may dwell in him. This means he is able to endure all the insults, persecutions and calamities or misfortunes for Christ’s sake making him strong in his human weakness. That in many ways is a message to us in the world we inhabit today.
When we pray to God, our prayers may not always be answered in the way we would like, but answered they will be in the way that God feels we need. Sometimes we do find this hard to understand, and in doing so our faith and belief in his mercy will be challenged, sometimes severely, perhaps like Paul’s was at times. Yet in these moments of weakness if we allow God’s power to shine through, we can find ourselves being able to withstand the pain and if necessary being willing and able, to challenge the injustices we see, and to be able to respond with grace and humility while remaining true to our Christian principles, especially to those who seek to rule over us.
In Mark’s Gospel chapter 6, we see the rejection of Jesus in his hometown where he is treated as an upstart, a social climber who despite his spreading fame is regarded with indifference because they fail to understand the source and purpose of his message. “What deeds of power are being done by his hands?”, the crowd ask.
In v4 it says. “Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house” is Jesus’ way of expressing his amazement at their lack of faith. Why should this be the case? Surely his growing fame and authority from God would have at least been enough for a fair hearing?
It’s probably because we all have certain expectations or opinions about those we interact with. When our expectations are challenged, we become defensive or cynical. How often do we see politicians, especially in recent weeks, or others in the public eye come onto our tv screens and our first reaction is, “Not them again” or “Oh do be quiet” or words to that effect. Even though their actual message may actually be relevant and worth listening to, we put up the barriers to listening to the words, focusing on our attitude to the speaker or sometimes the writer as in Paul’s case. This was part of the problem then and remains our problem today. How do we get Christ’s message across in the face of so much animosity?
In the second part of this reading vv 7-13, Jesus sends out the twelve in twos by giving them authority over unclean spirits or sinners. The actual message is not revealed but he tells them to travel with the bare minimum and accept the hospitality of the local area, just like missionaries ever since. If they are not welcomed, to shake the dust of their feet as they leave, not as a sign of contempt but perhaps to make those who rejected them and their message to think about their actions and to repent their behavior and perhaps seek grace and reconciliation.
Here lies the crux of the issue. We have a new government with potentially unbridled power to bring about social, economic and cultural changes which may not sit well with those of us who profess a religious faith. As Christians we may seem to be a minority whose views and opinions can be safely ignored by those in power or the proud, as it says in psalm 123.
But our system of democracy, however imperfect at times, does provide freedom of religious expression. We do have a voice: and we have every right to raise it in protest, if we dislike what the government or parliament are doing supposedly in our name.
In the run up to the General Election politicians of all stripes were quick to praise the social action of the churches. Our new Prime Minister declared that churches – and other faith groups – have a role to play in addressing many of the problems we face as we have done for centuries while politicians bicker and argue among themselves. Now is the time we hold them to their word. To hold them to account by challenging, respectfully, where we feel they have got it wrong.
My message today my friends is this:
Our perceived weaknesses are an actual strength: if we are prepared to let God shine through and show us how to be the beacon of hope for the many who lack it, by declaring our faith in Christ and wanting to live the Holy Gospel in our lives.
This closing prayer was taken from 365 Days of Prayer for Men and asks God to be our guide in this our changing world.
A Season
Lord, I ask you to fill me with the contentment I need to be flexible in any situation I face. You have said that my circumstances may be very fluid, at times enjoying peace and relative prosperity and at times suffering hunger and poverty. Give me what I need so I will not become attached to the good things I enjoy, knowing that the blessings of the next life are far better.
In this life, the seasons turn, and at times wicked rulers follow good ones, and poor circumstances follow good ones. I need the help of your Holy Spirit to know when to standby and when to seek refuge, when to speak out and when to hold my peace. You orchestrate the circumstances of the world to bring about your desired effects. Help me to act appropriately in every season, for you will initiate the season of full restoration.
Amen