The Farage-Coutts saga continues to intrigue me. The standard attack against Coutts is that they are discriminating against Farage based on his opinions. It is being presented as a denial of his freedom to be anti EU and pro border controls. I’m not sure there is evidence for that. I guess we would have to see if the accounts of other supporters of right wing political positions were having their bank accounts closed down.
What has come out from Coutts is not that some of Farage’s opinions have risked their reputation but his actions, words and perception by other clients of his character. This relates to his use of humour and the company he keeps. Now that may be a faulty perception but that and not merely his opinions or even him expressing political views has been the issue.
It’s fascinating too that in defence of freedoms we fear that we might lose as Christians that part of the criticism is that Coutts should be blind to those issues and just look after Nigel’s money, no questions asked.
Yet, Paul in Scripture makes it clear that we cannot just go into business arrangements treating them as neutral and boxed off from the character of those involved. The command not to be unequally yoked is primarily applied to marriage but is as much to do with other partnerships including business ventures.
The alliances I make, the company I prioritize rub off on me. Furthermore, I cannot completely absolve myself from responsibility about the end objectives for which my work and investments go to. Again, the World better understands this I think. So, for example, a UK exporter cannot wash their hands of the possibility that the parts they manufacture might be used in weapons by a rogue or enemy state to pursue genocide and illegal wars. That’s why end user licences have to be obtained to demonstrate that due diligence has been taken to ensure that a company like BAE SYSTEMS know where their products are eventually going to be used and what for.
Jesus would comment that sometimes the ungodly are shrewder than we are!
Faithroots 