Brexit pursued by a bear?

The House of Commons became a bear pit.

The Prime Minister’s proroguing of Parliament was deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court at the end of September. Mayhem ensued as MPs were recalled. Boris Johnson wants a General Election. The opposition parties do not want one until a no-deal separation from the European Union is avoided. But it was the incandescent rage and abuse voiced by both sides in the chamber which caused alarm. The country is already divided and such staggering levels of unbridled fury can only make things worse – as this winter’s tale of bruising politics unfolds.

Sadly a bear-like Brexit anger can express itself among believers. I know of one Christian who experienced a lengthy meaningful silence followed by accusations of imbecility by another church member when he revealed which way he had voted in the Referendum. Evidently such is the magnitude of Brexit that we can afford to ignore the apostolic command to ‘make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph. 4:3).

Divided country

The country has known deep divisions before. Back at the end of the 18th century the American War of Independence sent shock waves through Britain and Christians were swept up in angry political agitation both for and against.

At that time John Newton, the great Anglican evangelical and writer of Amazing Grace, was in correspondence with the Baptist pastor, John Ryland. His letter touching on handling the acrimonious political divisions of his day repays careful reading. First, he expresses his determination not to fall out with fellow Christians over such matters. ‘You and I will not differ about politics.’ These things, momentous as they may appear, are secondary. ‘If our Lord’s kingdom was of this world, then I think His servants would have as good a right as others to take the lead in political disputes; at present I believe they will do as well to let the dead bury the dead, to mourn what they cannot help, and to ply the throne of grace as the best and most effective method of serving their country.’

Second, he believed that when there are forces tending to split or unravel a country, it is an expression of God’s displeasure with that nation. ‘The sins of Britain and America have too much prevailed, and a wrong spirit and wrong measures have taken place on both sides because the Lord has left us to ourselves.’

Third, with God’s judgement in mind, he comments on the lack of wisdom in the great men of the day in the situation. ‘As a minister and a Christian I think it is better to lay all the blame upon sin. Instead of telling the people Lord North blunders, I tell them the Lord of hosts is angry. If God has a controversy with us, I can expect no other than that wisdom should be hidden from the wise … I believe neither part foresaw or expected the consequences which so rapidly follow from small beginnings.’

Lets not join the bears

Fourth, Newton called his church to special prayer in the crisis. ‘We have a prayer meeting on the account of our present commotions on Tuesday mornings at 5 o’clock. It is well attended, as has been from the time we set it up which was immediately we heard of the commencement of hostilities … It seems to me one of the darkest signs of the times, that so many of the Lord’s professing people act as if He was withdrawn from the earth, and amuse themselves and each other, with declamations against instruments and second causes and indulge in unsanctified passions instead of taking that part which was assigned to them. I believe if instead of unavailing clamours against men and measures they would all unite in earnest prayer, we might hope for better times, otherwise I fear bad will be worse. Thus you have the substance of my political creed.’ Our first duty is to pray for those in government (1 Tim. 2:2).

But Newton concludes on this subject with encouragement to Christians who might be finding the public unrest a source of fear. ‘I should add further that I believe the Lord reigns, that He is carrying on His great purposes in a straight line, that His wall will be built in troublous times, and that He will be a sure sanctuary to them that fear Him … (Ps. 46).’