A Nationalist election view: God’s workmanship

In Ephesians 2:10, the apostle Paul tells us: ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ That is both encouraging and challenging!

Encouraging – because each of us has a specific task to do that is unique for us. Challenging – because we need to find what that task is and then follow it through. For me that has previously meant being an accountant with Operation Mobilisation in London; and later, with Interserve/United Mission to Nepal (UMN).

For the last 26 years, it has meant being in politics: first, as a local councillor, then as an MP and now as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). Many jobs are uncertain these days and politics is definitely one of them. I have seen myself pacing the floor when an election count seemed close… and then suddenly you are either in a job or out of one. No notice period, no mercy; the ballot box is harsh.

But then we can go back to that verse in Ephesians. God knows how long He wants us in a particular role and He has a plan for our future, even if our plans and hopes fall apart. So, for starters, it is good if we pray for Christian believers and others who are standing for Westminster on 4 July – that God will meet with them whatever the result.

More specifically on the matter of party politics, I do not believe God supports one particular party! I know Christians in all the main parties and they have been drawn there for different reasons. But, as we are meant to be salt and light, then it is good that we are spread out across the political spectrum – hopefully having an impact in each place.

For me personally, it was while working in Nepal that I came to think that if Nepal could be an independent country while having so little in the way of natural resources, then so could Scotland which has so much.

So I came home and joined the SNP. And if I was to choose a Scripture supporting nationalism, it would be the Tower of Babel where God split up the nations and encouraged decentralisation (others might disagree with that interpretation!).

Even within the political realm, we politicians all have different roles. Some, like my colleague Kate Forbes, will be a leading light in the governing party. Others will be in opposition parties, which perhaps gives a bit more freedom to challenge the government from different angles.

I was in opposition in Glasgow City Council and at Westminster, but now find myself as a backbencher in the governing party – the Scottish National Party (SNP) at Holyrood. That brings its own challenges: yes – loyalty to the party for which I was elected; but also responsibilities to the country as a whole and to Parliament as an institution.

And on top of that, making a stand on more issues of conscience such as abortion, assisted dying and gender recognition reform.