I’m not in London so I can’t comment on what it must be like to see your neighbourhood go up in flames. There’s no doubting the scale of the damage or the seriousness of the crimes but even so perspective must be kept. It’s not Mexico that saw 15000 drug related murders in 2010. It’s not Karachi which last week when it saw riots 300 people were killed. It’s not Afghanistan, Libya or Iraq which continues to see daily violence. It’s not Somalia the world’s most lawless state or the horn of Africa where hundreds of thousands of people risk death from starvation. And we don’t want it to be like Syria where the government uses the armed forces on it’s own people. It’s done less damage than a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or tsunami or mad attack such as the one recently in Oslo.
What’s happening in London is bad, really bad, but it’s not a warzone, it’s not the end of the world (probably) and London remains one of the wealthiest places to live and work and relatively safe. (more…)
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I also note his sense of humour, self-deprecation and commendation of those who work for him. Good leadership whatever you think of his politics.
John Chrysostom (Golden Voice) was one of the greatest preachers of the early church and who under severe pressure was made Bishop of Constantinople (c 398AD). There he initiated a whole series of reforms raising the moral standard of the clergy and knocking on the head some of the more dubious accounting practices of the priests. But it wasn’t just the clergy who were on the receiving end of John’s passionate sermons. Here’s how Chadwick describes it:
“John was ascetic, aloof, energetic and outspoken to the point of indiscretion, especially when he became excited in the pulpit. None of these qualities made him easy to live with in a sophisticated and affluent city. The rich resented as a personal affront his socialist sermons explaining that private property existed only as a result of Adam’s fall, or pillorying those who cared nothing for the beggars at their door and wanted only to own ten fine houses with hundreds of servants and lavatories of gold. He offended the men by repeatedly proclaiming that a woman had as much right to demand fidelity of her husband as a man had of his wife. His unsparing sarcasms about feminine luxuries, delivered in the scathing tradition of Juvenal or Seneca, were not relished by ladies of high fashion.”
I need to spice up my sermons and condemn a few more things I think.
I’m not a Conservative and I didn’t vote for them, but I was disappointed that Philippa Stroud wasn’t elected. I think despite the controversy (the Observer article is no longer available online) Britain failed to gain someone who would have made an excellent MP. The controversy certainly gained attention. I didn’t particularly comment on the main issue but instead focused on how far removed the charismatic Christian is from the thinking of the secular liberal media and what our reaction might be. Nothing remarkable really, so I was quite surprised to see this. 
It is by a country mile the most read thing I have written on this blog so far. This is both interesting and frustrating. Interesting in that controversy is both short, sharp and intense in its impact. Frustrating because I think I’ve written far more significant and important things which have gone relatively unnoticed. The ripples from the story continue and from time to time the spotlight will focus on Christians influence on politics.
The last few days have been remarkable and I’m encouraged by David Cameron’s leadership in these early stages. A secure leader can offer far more than an insecure one and I think this Con/Lib partnership will surprise many. I’m certainly more hopeful than I would have been if we’d had a simple Conservative majority. Whatever your views they are now the British government and we should pray that the govern with wisdom, justice and humility.
I had hoped to blog through 16 issues through the election campaign and in the end, managed a paltry three. I had intended to read the manifestos and failed utterly. Good intentions and all that but I plainly overestimated my ability to think and write during what was a busy time for me. Some engagement still plainly better than none at all.
One of the likely outcomes of this coalition will most likely be a change to the way we vote, or at least a referendum on whether we want that change. It won’t be proportional representation, the Jubilee Centre explain it here but Matt Hosier doesn’t like it. What is more likely is that we will see the introduction of the Alternative Vote system which Jeremy think is a step in the right direction.
I think reform is needed but social justice is needed more. A stable economy is vital but one based on a proper understanding of debt, would be better. These are interesting times and as Christians, more than ever we need to think through what it means to engage in society, politics and the media.
So what to make of it? Well to begin with we shouldn’t be surprised, firstly Philippa is director of the Centre for Social Justice that has been highly influential in forming Conservative party policy on many home affairs issues, the nearer the Conservatives get to office, the more intense the scrutiny (fair and otherwise). Secondly Philippa is a candidate for parliament in Sutton and Cheam and has been tipped for office, and she is fighting against the resurgent Liberal Democrats. This brings attention your way.
It should remind us of several important facts about our society. (more…)
A friend of mine has just arrived in Afghanistan for the third time, he’s there to fly helicopters in the RAF. On Sunday I met a lady who has worked for NATO in Afghanistan and there was me wondering what possible connection there could be between my life in the estates of north Shrewsbury and the big issues of war and peace. This is an issue, perhaps not as big as five years ago when anger about Iraq was still strong, but our military is still engaged in Afghanistan and our role as a military and nuclear power is still an issue. So how can a Christian think through the issues of Afghanistan and defence? (more…)
Interestingly all three parliamentary candidates had some form of Christian heritage, one went to Sunday School at my dad’s church, one is a Quaker and a Polish Catholic. We may not ‘do God’ but faith was certainly informing and influencing in different ways the lives of these three gentlemen.
We asked them questions on the economy, getting young people into work, immigration, homelessness, third world debt, war and peace, abortion and assisted suicide plus allowing them a little bit of time to say what they thought.
The two local councillors gave us insight into local issues such as policies on recycling and waste incineration and local regeneration projects.
It’s the first time I hosted an event like that and began to get into a bit, I was a bit too generous to begin but became a lot meaner towards the end, I’m still learning but I enjoyed it immensely.
I hope that the opportunity to see our would be politicians face to face, to talk to them, to see a little of their personality and character and to engage them on issues that mattered to us it helped us engage a little bit more. As a resource I handed out the flyer below which I put together and you’re welcome to use if its helpful. Make sure your church is informed and ensure you think carefully, pray thoughtfully and vote wisely.
I live in one of the least racially diverse towns in Britain, I think Shrewsbury is 98.5% white British and my guess is, on the whole, probably doesn’t take too kindly to immigrants (it is after all still legal to shoot a Welshman with a bow and arrow. You have to be on the right bridge and they have to be smuggling, but still…). So I’m not in the best of positions perhaps to comment on race relations and immigration
I feel fortunate to have travelled reasonably widely and that over the years our small church has had Americans, South Africans & Kenyans as well as the usual mix of Irish, Welsh, Scots and Brits. That’s a good thing, the more the merrier I say.
On the whole I would like to see a Britain that does a great job of welcoming, integrating and assisting genuine asylum seekers. Those who are fearful for their life because of their lifestyle, religious or political views should find a safe haven here. We should be generous in protecting and aiding them to contribute to our national life and an efficient, speedy and fair process would be great.
At the same time we live in an ageing population that would like to retire at 50 and live to a 100, there’s a need for economic immigration at all levels of society – ie those taking low paid jobs, as well as for the highly qualified. We should be proud of a society that people from around the world would want to live in and grateful of their contribution.We just need to work out to manage that so it is worked out fairly for all people and so that our nation benefits culturally and economically.
We have a long history of immigration from the Romans, Normans, Vikings, Jews, Huguenots, from across the old empire and Poles from the second world war. So let’s get rid of some pure British nation notion and tell the BNP to get lost. That’s my own personal view but what principles can a biblical perspective give us on this issue:
Principle 1: God is a God of the nations - God created the diversity of this world, God intervened in our diversity of culture, languages. God will welcome all tribes, tongues and nations. If that is God’s heart then ours should be the same.
Principle 2: Jesus died for the whole world - It’s a pretty simple point but Jesus died for the Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Afghani, Somali, Kiwi, Aussie, Romanian, Polish, Moroccan, Kenyan, Sudanese, Palestinian. I may not be able to preach the Gospel to them in their country so I welcome the opportunity to introduce to them to Jesus in mine.
Principle 3: God gave laws to protect the foreigner – When God instructed His chosen people on the wise ruling, governing and administration of their nation, He made specific laws to protect the sojourner’s rights and ensure they were free from oppression (Ex 23:9, Deut 10:18 for example). The prophets included oppression of the sojourner alongside that of widows and orphans in their warnings to Kings to act justly (Zec 7:10). Essentially because they are a sojourner they are more vulnerable so be careful how you treat them. Not every privilege of the citizen was available to them (you could charge them interest for example) but they were free to build their lives, raise families and do business in Israel and the law applied to them in equal manner. I don’t see any good reason to get rid of that principle.
Principle 4: Fear, greed, selfishness are poor motives – Often our attitudes to immigration are driven by fear of the different, fear of losing out, fear of others taking what should be ours, fear that they will get what we think we deserve. It’s not an attractive set of attitudes and can’t see how we can honour God like that. Travel has shown me a few things, one is that most people just want somewhere safe to work, earn enough bread to raise their family, give their kids a good education and mind their own business. I’m minded that that’s not an unreasonable ambition in God’s world (1 Thess 4:11) and hospitality is a better than hostility as an approach.
Granted their will be some who will try to take advantage of that but that’s just sin, something which us Briton excel in all by ourselves and that’s why we have law enforcement. Some management of the process is helpful and some clear thinking about what rights, benefits, privileges those who seek a life here can enjoy. Perhaps a sliding scale of access to them as certain targets of integration are met – rewarding the long rather than the short-term but let’s be open-hearted rather than close-minded to the world at our doorstep.
So maybe assess what people say in the light of some of these things as our leaders debate immigration.
The top issue in this election campaign (whether we like it or not) is going to be the economy. Who can we trust to run our nations finances and deal with the nations debt? The state of the economy decides what can be paid for and what must be borrowed for.
We’re emerging from a deep recession and everyone knows taxes will go up and government spending must be cut. No government in peacetime has ever borrowed money like the present one and now most people think that level of borrowing has to stop. What you won’t hear is much about how and when. This is the golden rule of elections – promises are made before the election and no matter who wins the pain will come after the election.
But there are some fundamental questions about the economy that should be considered. What are we aiming for? What do we hope for? What is the role of government in all of this? What do we mean by prosperity? What are the biblical principles that should be considered when thinking about the economy?
Principle 1: Stewardship – Fundamentally, those in charge of the nations finances must be good stewards of the nations resources and use those things wisely. Is the money well spent? Is it being wasted (everyone thinks it is but doesn’t agree about where it is being wasted)? Is it producing a return (think Parable of the Talents as applicable to government)?
Principle 2: Dealing with debt – When Solomon built his vast temple and his even more lavish palace he essentially co-opted the nations workforce and enslaved them, the people struggled as Solomon prospered. So when his son Rehoboam succeeds him he seeks advice on the way forward. The old men counsel him to relieve the people’s burden. The young men the opposite. Rehoboam didn’t choose wisely (1 Kings 12:1-11). Continually increasing the debt burden of a nation isn’t smart.
I’m not against credit or borrowing (I have a mortgage and have had loans) but the issue is always about the ability to repay and at what cost. Right now our national and personal borrowings are massive and we can repay. Just. But I’d always advice people to live within their means, to produce budgets based on balance not on deficit, to reduce debt not increase it and to be generous with the difference between what we need and what we have. I see little good reason why the principle should not be applied at a national level (although you don’t go from where we are to this in just a single step). Can we grow the economy without increasing debt? Yes we can, but you don’t get different results by doing things the same.
Principle 3: Work is good – God created work, work gives dignity to those so employed and is the means by which we carry out the image of God in us, to work as He worked. To nurture and tend the planet He created, to use the gifts and talents we have. Work is good but not all work is paid. Work is good but not working all the time. So I think government has a role to play in nurturing, creating, fostering an environment for job creation where people can work and then rest. Can we rediscover an economy where work is seen as a good and not a necessary evil, where those that contribute to the nations well-being like volunteers, carers, parents raising children full time are in some way rewarded for their work? Can we rediscover an economy that knows what it’s like to down tools, rest, play, recover (one of the great losses to our nation as a result of Sunday trading)? Work should also provide enough, if you work full time and still cannot afford to cover the basics of shelter, clothing and feeding your family then then there’s a problem.
Principle 4: Taxes should be fair - Here’s a big one. Fair to who? Well it seems to me that the poorest should at the very least not be paying a higher proportion of their income in tax than the rich. It’s reasonable to pay tax and that everyone should contribute to the nations purse because we after all expect something in return but not everyone should pay the same. Fair and tax will be themes of this election campaign, pay close attention.
Look out for the principles that lie behind the policies. Economics can be confusing but principles shouldn’t be. What principles would you apply to the economy?
h a confession, I like politics. I’m interested in it, I think it’s important. I read about it, pray about it, watch the news about it. I’ve probably daydreamed about being the Prime Minister. In 29 days we’ll have an election and I can’t wait. For the first time since 1997 at this election things could change. They might not but they could and no-one seems to know how. Close races are always the most exciting.
I’ve had previous attempts at thinking through political issues and in preparation for this election I’ve read this and this. I’ve produced this set of links as a resource. This Sunday at church we have our local parliamentary candidates coming for a Q&A. I will urge everyone at church to vote. I’m engaged with politics and I’ll soon be attempting to read manifestos but….
But I’ve not thought as much as I would have like about a whole bunch of issues and I think I should. So I’m setting myself a challenge to blog through 16 key issues (taken from the BBC) between now and May 6th.
So as predicted a general election has been called and we will have the chance to vote for a new government and our local representatives in less than a month. Soon manifestos will be published, the promises will be made, the debates and hustings will begin. This coming Sunday our church will welcome some of our local candidates for a Q&A.
Voting is a freedom and a privilege and a responsibility, don’t duck it due to busyness, apathy, lethargy or confusion. If I vote, there’s a chance I may not get my choice, if I don’t vote that chance becomes a guarantee. Personally, I don’t think there’s any excuse for not voting. It is after all the height of laziness not to bother doing something you only have to do once every 4 or 5 years.
Now is the time to do the reading and praying and thinking about who to vote for and why. Here are some resources to help you (updated):
General Resources
Christian Resources
Political Parties
Contrary to popular belief that there are just two (or 3) political parties that matter there are a myriad of smaller political parties. Voting for them is not a wasted vote because it represents your choice for something such as:
I’ve not included the nationalist parties of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales partly because I don’t live there and partly because I’ve also no idea about other local parties.
No spin, sleaze or scandal…Just Politics is a brand new title edited by Krish Kandiah of the Evangelical Alliance.
It’s an easy read with virtually no section being more than 3 or 4 pages long and lots of different contributors. The book opens with short messages from Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg but avoids vote-seeking or any political favouritism. It’s also insightful featuring several contributions from 3 Christians, each an MP in one of the three main parties, giving you a feel for the calling, pressures and prayers needed for those who represent us in Parliament.
It gives links and resources and tips to getting involved locally or nationally, in politics in general or on specific causes. I’ve sent a lot of campaigning postcards and emails and have wondered how effective they are, the answer from the MPs was helpful, ‘not very’! Letter writing on the other hand remains incredibly effective.
I found the sidebar quotes and the sections like ‘top 10 reasons to vote’ and ’10 ways a church can get involved’ helpful as I’ll reproduce them for my church come election time.
It’s a different read to Votewise Now (review here) which addresses different issues and gives some analysis as to the different party positions. It’s intention is to engage Christians in politics and would be especially useful for first time voters in the upcoming election but helpful also to the disengaged voter and the leader looking for short accessible information. Both should be read and used.
“In recent years, we have seen progress made towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and I welcome the commitment that your party has pledged to spend 0.7% of GNI on international development.
But with 1.4 billion people still living on less than $1.25 a day, more still needs to be done and it’s crucial that the world’s poorest are prioritised in your party’s forthcoming election manifesto.
Please stand up for justice and commit to the following:
1. Urgent action on climate change to secure a fair, ambitious and binding global deal in 2010, at least a 42% cut in UK carbon emissions by 2020, and the UK’s fair share of $200bn a year in climate finance that developing countries need, in addition to overseas development assistance.
2. Strong leadership to drive forward progress on the Millennium Development Goals, especially those which are most off-track. In particular, Tearfund is calling for all political parties to support the new global “Sanitation and Water for All” initiative aimed at increasing access to these vital services.
3. Renewed action to tackle HIV, including support for greater participation by pharmaceutical companies in the UNITAID patent pool, to help achieve universal access to treatment in countries who cannot currently afford the drugs.
4. Tackling corruption, by developing a new cross-Whitehall strategy to address the underlying factors which fuel corruption and stifle development
5. A pledge to enshrine in law the cross-party commitment of spending 0.7% of GNI on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 2013 and active support for innovative mechanisms to raise additional finance for aid and climate change adaptation, such as the Financial Transaction Tax.”
And I received this reply
“Thank you for contacting Oliver Letwin ahead of the General Election, asking about the Conservative Party’s policy on international development. He has asked me to respond on his behalf.
Our Green Paper on International Development, One World Conservatism, sets out in detail the approach that a Conservative government would take to international development. The paper is available online at www.conservatives.com/oneworld.
As you will see, the Green Paper goes into detail on many of the points that you make and indeed chimes very closely with your concerns about global poverty and, in particular, addressing water and sanitation, climate change, corruption and HIV/AIDS. I do hope you find this useful as an in-depth explanation of the Conservative Party’s firm commitment to tackling deprivation around the world.
Best wishes,
Martha Varney
Office of Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP”
In the next five months Britain will most likely have a general election and as Christians we can’t afford to be ignorant or apathetic. Votewise Now from The Jubilee Centre and edited by Rose Lynas is a collection of essays designed to inform and help Christians make an informed selection at the ballot box and reminds us that we vote as Christians not simply what is best for us but for what is best for others.
Ten chapters deal with national and international issues, each written by a Christian with expertise in that field that gives a biblical perspective and an overview of the current challenges. The book ends with three short chapters from an MP of each of the three main political parties giving a short plea as to why you should vote for them.
The topics covered are; the economy, criminal justice, health care, education, the environment, international order, nationhood and immigration, tax and benefits, employment, and finally housing. Each chapter is short and to the point, with helpful suggestions for further reading. Obviously each author has their own perspective but I found them all balanced and even handed – not pushing you left or right. However a little bit more analysis of stated policies would have been helpful when rhetoric all sounds very similar.
I’ve been trying to inform myself politically (see my posts on foreign policy and social justice) and I found this short book immensely helpful, opening up some avenues that I hadn’t considered before and I’d highly recommend that every Christian concerned about making an informed choice next year should read this.
Generally, we talk a better game than we deliver something that’s true of most governments I suppose. But it wold be nice to think we will deliver sometimes as well. And if we were to deliver, here would be my shopping list.
“Dear Minister
Almost two years after EPA talks were due to conclude, negotiations are far from over. More than half of the ACP countries have not reached any form of agreement because of their deep concern with the proposed deals.
Following the 2007 deadline for wrapping up EPAs, the European Commission promised to be more flexible. Instead it has:
• continued to push countries into liberalising further and faster than is wanted or appropriate for these economies
• insisted that countries sign Interim EPAs, without removing ‘contentious issues’, despite regular requests from ACP countries for these to be renegotiated
• persisted in pressuring countries to take on new obligations that go beyond what is required under World Trade Organisation rules.The EU’s approach to EPAs has failed to provide a basis for development-friendly agreements and has set back regional integration. This is unacceptable – a new approach must be taken.
Please urge the Commission to:
• unconditionally renegotiate contentious issues in Interim EPAs
• stop pushing to extend the agreements beyond trade in goods
• fully support any requests from ACP countries for alternative solutions.Yours sincerely”
They replied
“Thank you for your e-mail to the Minister. Thank you for your emailed correspondence about Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Trade has a vital role to play in economic and human development. That is why the UK Government is committed to concluding development-friendly Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
The UK Government has consistently pressed the European Commission to be flexible in negotiating EPAs and believes that ACP countries should decide upon the content, scope and timing of their respective EPAs, within the limits of compatibility with the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). As stated in our recent White Paper, “Eliminating World Poverty: Building our Common Future,” we have used our influence to shape EPAs, ensuring that they provide ACP countries with:
- Duty and quota free access to EU markets.
- Long transition periods for developing countries to open up their markets.
- Safeguards that allow countries to protect vital products.
While we continue to urge maximum flexibility from the Commission on EPAs negotiations, we do not believe that it is in the best interest of any party to re-open the negotiations on interim EPAs. We need to conclude these agreements by signing them to prevent WTO legal challenges. Otherwise ACP countries risk serious trade disruption by losing preferential access to EU markets. However, we have secured a commitment from the European Commission to review any provisions that ACP countries may wish to reconsider in the context of moving from interim to full regional EPAs and are supporting ACP countries to undertake their own analysis to further the negotiations.
Although we believe that the inclusion of deeper integration issues such as services, investment and competition in EPAs can be of benefit to ACP countries, we have consistently encouraged the Commission to ensure that such issues are only included in EPAs if and when specifically requested by the ACP countries concerned. For example, while the Caribbean counties requested the inclusion of services and investment in the EU-CARIFORUM EPA, the West African region has chosen instead to pursue a regional goods-only EPA, negotiations for which are actively under way. We welcome the way in which the Commission has respected the different decisions of the two regions.
Regional integration is vitally important for development and we will continue to urge the Commission to fully support the development of regional integration mechanisms. EPAs can stimulate cross-border trade within the region by reducing barriers to trade between ACP countries in the regional EPAs, creating conditions for greater competition, business and job opportunities. This is why we consider it a priority to continue to negotiate full regional EPAs with each EPA region. The UK is also working with regional trade groups to ensure ACP countries benefit from the growth and regional integration opportunities that EPAs offer, through support for infrastructure, private sector development and improving trade across borders.Looking forward, it will be essential to have appropriate mechanisms in place to monitor the development impact of EPAs and to assess their impact on poverty alleviation. We will continue to work with the European Commission and ACP countries to ensure that EPAs deliver real development benefits to poor countries.
Thank you for your interest in these matters.
Kind regards,
David
BIS Ministerial Correspondence and Enquiry Unit“
I am in favour of reducing our nuclear weapons to zero. Only this isn’t what the PM appears to be proposing, he’s just proposing we have less submarines. We’ll still have 160 nuclear warheads. So far the Lib Dems (and I think Greens) are for a reduction in our nuclear deterrent capacity, which is in their favour. So time for a new poll, should the UK have nuclear weapons or not?
*If you’re reading this in a reader, click through to the site to vote*
I want a government (and by extension political party) that prioritises care for the poor, that thinks seriously about domestic and international poverty.
I’d want a clear commitment to reach the UN target of 0.7% GDP being given in international aid not sometime in the near or distant future but tomorrow and that’s a minimum.
I’d want to see some clear thinking on urban poverty that doesn’t just chuck money at it, but addresses low aspirations, unemployment, poor parenting, broken families, drugs, crime, ill health, poor schools and depressing housing conditions.
I’d like to see some genuine commitment to closing the inequality gap, it’s not good enough for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer or only marginally better off.
I’d like to see some genuinely impressive funding of NGOs work amongst the poor in the UK as well as overseas. I couldn’t be a member of a party that didn’t genuinely connect policies and people with the needs of the poor.
I’d like to see some intelligence on immigration where we can change our attitudes to those that seek to live here. The Bible challenges us to treat the foreigner, sojourner and alien amongst us well. We can and must do better here.
My guess is that all the parties will claim to be doing all of these things in one way or another, the hard thing will be too work out who makes sense and why. I’ll evaluate each of the parties in turn on this one.
So maybe The West Wing is to blame for inspiring me again that politics can possibly, sometimes, in its better moments actually make a difference but I’ve decided to join a party, only at the moment I’m not sure who. I’m going to commit myself to researching each of the parties, their values and aims and their Christian sub-groups before making a choice.
Here’s my political background so far. I grew up in a Conservative home, but as I grew up I began to care about the poor and that was something in the 80s and 90s that the Tories weren’t very good at. Not sure they still are but I do respect some of what The Centre for Social Justice has to say. I’ve had trouble relating myself to a bunch of posh people but that’s prejudice, its policies that matter.
So I’ve voted in three elections in 1997, 2001, 2005 and have voted Labour each time. I’m unlikely to do so next time even if I choose to join their party. I think our country needs a change.
But before then I decide I need to become clear about the things that matter most to me, so I can evaluate each of the parties (including the Greens and excluding the BNP) on merit before we have all the hullabaloo of a general election next year. Let me know your thoughts
Don’t be lazy, vote!
Certainly a few things to think about there on a Monday morning.
Good questions aren’t they? Answers on a comment please…
Two mistakes are easily made. One is to think the other lot will somehow be by nature, different. That’s what people thought in 1997 as Tony Blair strode into Downing Street amidst scenes of euphoria. It’s what Americans did with Obama in November 2008. We all come to a more realistic point of view sooner or later. They aren’t perfect, they will make mistakes.
The second mistake is to think that the opposition will be exactly the same, and so why bother? The end of that road is where many find themselves cynical, and in self imposed democratic exile. They live but do not participate in a democracy because they see no point. Well maybe, maybe. But the way to shape a democracy is not by disengagement but by more active engagement.
Christians should neither be victims to despair or disillusionment because our hope was never in government in the first place. We support good, just and moral governance and we oppose lazy, self-indulgent, unfair government wherever we find it and whatever colour or shade it comes in.
It also makes me wonder about the effectiveness of disciple-making in Africa. No question there’s some great work going on by some great organisations (I support Great Lakes Outreach and Tearfund) but there’s also no doubt in my mind that corruption exists. One of the biggest problems I encountered nearly ten years in Burundi was staff stealing from aid agencies.
But here’s my question, 51.5% of Africa are in some way aligned to Christianity with more than 380 million Christians, yet corruption has neither been stemmed or dealt with. The implication should be fairly obvious. But how do you live in a society where corruption is endemic? It’s not easy at all.
A couple of observations: firstly we mustn’t be as arrogant to think that corruption is their problem. No question that corruption exists in the UK, it’s just better hidden and higher up and we’re still rated pretty poorly at doing anything about it. No place to be proud of being British when it comes to corruption I’m afraid.
Secondly, as churches we must take seriously the issue because if we can demonstrate that Churches in Africa are leading the fight against corruption and genuinely have higher standards of integrity then truly they could become salt and light.
This man is perhaps now the most famous man in the world and by January 20th will be the most powerful. His election was gripping and now the blogosphere is full of comment. Most of the secular media predicted an Obama victory and they were right and most of what I read is overwhelmingly positive about this development. Probably to sum up their view is that almost anyone would be an improvement on the current president but also admiration for a country that 40 years ago could legislate cruelty against black people could then 40 years later vote for one to be their leader. It is truly remarkable.
The Christian blogs I read are far more divided, most of the American blogs are nervous and worried that the deal breaking issue for them – making abortion illegal – is going to be set back a generation or more. I’m always impressed by the patriotism of the US, because almost unfailingly those who are disappointed by the election are urging others to pray for and honour and their new president elect. We should follow that example.
My own view is that those who fear the worst and those who hope for miracles will both be disappointed but overall I think this clever, thoughtful, eloquent man will be as good a leader as any since I’ve been alive (Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and George W Bush).
Here are some of the best of the blogs I’ve been reading:
US
UK
I believe Jesus when he said 'life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions'. I believe he offers something better. This blog is mostly about that search.
I'm also a husband, a father, church planter, keen runner, reader, and motorcyclist. These and a few other things make guest appearances from time to time.
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