Dear en,
I was encouraged to read in the November edition about the ‘Day of Prayer for Britain: Brexit, Unity and Reformation’…until I came to the concluding remarks: ‘Brexit was likened to the Children of Israel leaving Egypt. Moses persisted. It was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Finally, everyone was set free.’
My heart sank. Once again, Scripture is being used (that is, abused) on behalf of a particular political agenda. If this parallel between Brexit and Exodus is correct, it casts me and many thousands of other Christians who voted ‘Remain’ in the role of recalci-trants who want to return to Egypt!
It also implies Britain is a sort of Promised Land. As I look at the legislative and administrative record of British central and local government over the last 50 years (e.g. in the areas of abortion, education, marriage, adoption, the family, religious liberty), I shiver at the thought that this represents some form of ‘freedom’.
The Exodus paradigm points us to Calvary, not Brexit. The confusion caused when we identify Christian freedom with our own particular political interests can be seen in the history of South Africa, Ireland, and even perhaps now Trump’s America – please let us not fall into the same trap!
I don’t claim any biblical infallibility for my views, but I did note when I was considering how to vote that the gospel in our country seemed to be making more headway in London than elsewhere, and I understand that this is partly the result of the openness of immigrant communities to the gospel. What a pity this opportunity for evangelism may now be restricted.
A more appropriate biblical text might be 1 Kings 12.15, when Solomon’s kingdom was split into two under his successor, King Rehoboam. We are told ‘this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfil the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Abijah the Shilonite.’ There was nothing inherently good about this division of the kingdom – in fact, it seems to be more of a judgment on Israel for sin; but it was God’s doing. In this last point at least I can concur with those who are passionately pro-Brexit; but without their enthusiasm for the desired outcome.
Yours,
