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Bulletin 164 Date : 27th May 2009
Cappuccino Christians

These are without doubt turbulent times in the UK. We are still catching our breath as we assess the damage done by the ‘credit crunch’ and wonder what affect the billions of pounds which have been thrown at the financial crisis will have on our long-term prospects. And then, before we have time to hold our politicians to account for being too short-sighted to foresee this crisis, we hear of corruption on a major scale as some MPs have been claiming inappropriately through their expenses – money which we, the tax payer provide for these so-called honourable men and women.

All of this has left us with a deep sense of mistrust in the traditional institutions which once made this country great. As the forthcoming European and local elections loom, we seem a frenzy of activity amongst hitherto unknown political parties whose credentials are largely unknown. They are poised to fill the vacuum of confidence which recent events have created.

Reading our European Election polling information, the parties on offer range from the traditional and somewhat discredited parties to those who beat the drum of nationalism or those who offer a return to traditional Christian values. But what are we to make of these? I am often surprised at how relevant my daily readings can be at times like this. Firstly I was directed to I Samuel 16:7 where a successor to King Saul is being sought and all the noble looking sons of Jesse are rejected because “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks upon the heart”. Instead God had his eye on David, the little known and humanly-speaking, unlikely candidate. The focus of my readings then switched to Matthew 23:25-28 where Jesus tears the Pharisees to shreds for their hypocrisy.

You will have seen that the BNP are using Christian overlays in their campaign by quoting John 15:20 “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you”. This is a highly dangerous use of the Bible and suggests that the policies of the BNP are consistent with Christian teaching. I am reminded of those penetrating words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21 “Not all who call me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven”. Quoting from the Bible is no substitute for deep-rooted Christian commitment and we need to beware of what I call ‘cappuccino Christians’ – those who have a great deal of froth but little substance underneath. On the flip-side of this is that not all MPs are fiddling their expenses.

Above all else, we need to exercise discernment with regard to who we vote for in these elections and ensure that we don’t let our emotions rule our heads. Some will be out to exploit the turmoil created over recent months and suggest that they have the answers which the old-guard don’t. Let’s pray that our democracy emerges healthier and stronger as a result of all that’s happened and that we genuinely see a return to the Christian values which under gird so much of our society.