Bishop's letters: April 05 +Graham
Our Country – as God Might See It.
An election is not far away. Those in faith communities would particularly want to ask; ‘What does God think about our nation?’ For Christians an obvious source is the biblical prophets who directed many of their words to their nation. They spoke for God the Creator who seeks justice and righteousness in his world. What God has to say to our nation today is likely to be in the same vein.
Here are the principle targets of the prophet’s criticism:
• Lack of truth and dishonest dealing
• Widespread stealing and murder and bloodshed
• Oppression of the poor by the wealthy
• Lack of care for the weak: the widows, orphans and foreigners are singled out
• The rich buying more land and houses making it more difficult for the poor to buy.
• Taking new marital and sexual partners –marital infidelity; sexual promiscuity
• Pleasure seeking: wine and luxury in place of good deeds
Government potentially has a role in controlling some of these things. We must consider our vote not in the light of our own preferences but in the light of God’s agenda for a healthy society. For completeness, we need to add other targets of prophetic criticism:
• Forgetting and forsaking God: rebelling against his laws
• Putting idols in God’s place – empty and worthless things to trust in
• Meaningless religion carried out by those who are ignoring God
• Religious leaders who ignore God’s searching judgment and just speak ‘peace’
Our government has a very good record in concern for the poorest nations. Its Social Inclusion Unit and New Deal have aimed at getting back to work those who have dropped out of contributing to our society. If we want to ensure that good education and health are made available to all, we might consider paying more tax – that is, of course, if the way the money is spent is sound.
The treatment of the alien is less obviously good. Government support for marriage is poor. The problem of the wealthy buying up housing has not been tackled either nationally or in Cumbria where it is a serious issue.
We cannot expect the government to promote God. That is the task of the Church. However, where the government promotes the choices of the irreligious majority, it compounds the serious problems which some of those life styles are bringing into our society. There are signs of a growing illiberal libertarianism which brooks no views contrary to its agenda and brushes aside views rooted in faith in God, our Creator.
(Those who would like to read the prophets are referred to Jeremiah chapters 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 9 and 11; Isaiah chapters 1, 3, 5; Amos chapters 2, 4, 5)
Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle
