On 11 September a group of Christian leaders from the Affinity network met in Central London with the Rt Hon. Tim Farron MP, former leader of the Liberal Democrats and David Landrum of the Evangelical Alliance.
The meeting, chaired by Affinity’s Director, Graham Nicholls, explored the role of churches and individual Christians in public and political life where it seems that the Christian voice is increasingly shut out.
Candid admission
Mr Farron spoke warmly and winsomely, giving his own testimony of coming to faith and addressing some of the challenges and opportunities he has faced in the frontline of UK politics. Farron spoke candidly of mistakes he made and how his misrepresentation of the gospel and compromise in some situations led to his resignation from Lib Dem leadership last year. Speaking of his own church family, Farron said they were firm but loving in dealing with him. Farron’s pastor importantly reminded him that ‘sin spoils our relationship with God, but it doesn’t end it.’
With all the pressures from being in public life, Christians may be tempted to shy away from politics. Both Farron and David Landrum gave a robust biblical case as to why this need not and should not be so. Farron pointed to the example of Daniel who took his political service in Babylon seriously while never forgetting God. Linking to today, he said: ‘Every single kingdom, every single republic on the planet is Babylon.’ Landrum reminded attendees of the biblical nature of government as defined in Romans 13. Asserting that ‘we have to do politics to achieve government’, he attacked the myth of secular neutrality and called on Christian leaders to propose and seek to enact a vision for politics that is good for everyone. ‘It is in the blood of evangelicals to be social activists,’ Landrum said.
While Farron helpfully reflected on the importance of wisely considering the words we use in engaging our increasingly secularised society, many may have questioned how Farron personally applies this principle.
Legislation
While Farron professes that God’s ways are best for mankind, he does not see the point in legislating in such a way that reflects this. Farron quoted ‘All the laws against the godless never saved a single soul’. While catchy to say, biblically and politically laws are not about salvation. Rather, they set a standard as to what is good, right and true for the flourishing of a healthy society. God’s laws are righteous and healthy and are present in human conscience, let alone the Scriptures. If ‘righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people’, as the Bible says, then surely Christians in political realms should be supporting legislation that is itself righteous for the sake of society.
David Landrum was right to say ‘In a secular culture we want the good stuff, but we don’t want the God stuff.’ It is down to Christians to engage society – both in and outside the political arena – in a way that shows that the good stuff is the God stuff.
