By the time you read this Anglicans will be observing the season of Advent. Given the momentous events in the USA and the decisions that await our own General Synod in the New Year, I suspect this will be an Advent season in which we will be caused to think deeply upon the issue of governance.
Many of us, reading a lesson at a Carol Service, will have struggled with the challenge of getting our mouths around the words ‘Augustus’, ‘census’, ‘Quirinius’ and ‘Syria’ all in the same sentence. But it is a verse that in fact reminds us that thinking deeply on issues of governance at the time of Jesus’ birth is nothing new.
In Luke chapter 2 we are told that our Almighty God used the Caesar Augustus’ census to ensure that, in fulfilment of the divine promise, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
We should remember that Caesar Augustus was not born Caesar Augustus, he was born Gaius Octavius, but after Octavius defeated Mark Anthony in 27BC the Senate honoured him for bringing about peace and an end to civil war with the title ‘Augustus’ which means ‘majestic’. He was ‘Majestic Caesar’.
Yet the angel of Luke 2.11 proclaims ‘a Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord’.
Two contrasting rulers
There are two ‘great’ rulers in Luke chapter 2 and the contrast between them could not be more obvious: the tyrant and the servant; palace luxury and primitive manger; a Roman army and an army of the Heavenly Host; a self-described world-ruler and a necessary world redeemer; one merely bringing the Pax Romana, the other peace to all whom God is pleased to call his own (v.14); Augustus serves the interests of himself and Imperial Rome, but the angels tell us that Jesus is good news for all.
With the benefit of hindsight, anyone in the first century who thought Caesar Augustus was ultimately in charge would be a demonstrable fool. But we know that we are not so different – it is so easy for us to look at the present temporal rulers and forget that our Lord reigns.
As we as Anglicans approach Christmas and the New Year it will be our task not to be fooled by the immediate, but to be blinded by the radiance of the King of Glory. If we are fooled by earthly power we might be tempted to put our trust in structures or human deals – to settle for a temporary, respectable kind of peace.
Humility in leadership
David Baker wrote last month of the humility he had glimpsed amongst the leaders at ReNew; we saw a similar humility in Cairo last month, as the leaders of GAFCON and the Global South discovered a fresh determination to stand together for biblical orthodoxy, whatever the cost. Likewise, what you will read on page seven, in the World Wide Anglican Update column from Archbishop Okoh, properly represents the view of the gospel held by the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide. These things are a wonderful encouragement and remind me that our rescuing and redeeming God remains faithful to his church. Please pray that we will remain faithful to him.
‘Power is a powerful drug and the detox process is hard’
One of the most insightful speeches at the Church of England's General Synod in July came from The Revd Lindsay …