The last few days have seen a wave of violence across the UK. The trigger point was the horrific knife attack in Southport and murder of three little girls.
We are seeing this stirred up with stories, rumours and blatant untruths circulated online and not helped by politicians’ comments. Passions are being inflamed. There is a strong suggestion of the far right manipulating the situation, though I’m not sure how helpful it is for the Prime Minister to emphasise this. It may suit his political situation but in fact risks over emphasising the power and influence of fascism here when in fact it’s influence has always been negligible and is on the wane.
There is definitely an issue with racism and a lot of anti-asylum-seeker sentiment. We surely want to distinguish genuine concerns about immigration control from that and from mindless violence.
Some political figures have for a while been playing into a narrative of Britain’s “Christian culture” and heritage being under attack from without and within. Those voices have got noisier and seem to sound attractive to some Christians.
It is worth pausing to realize that there are personal stories of fear and suffering here. There are the families in Southport, ripped apart by grief. There are people who are here, fleeing persecution elsewhere, they are here to escape political violence and yet it has come to their doorsteps in Britain. Then there are people in our churches and communities who are currently fearful and anxious about their safety.
So how do we respond. Well, first of all, we must be clear that the Christian gospel has nothing to do with those who stoke up fear, resentment and hatred. This includes those who claim for their own agenda to be co-belligerents with Christianity and claim to fight for a mythical Christian culture. Don’t be deceived and taken in. A message that goes against the Gospel cannot be defending Christianity and Christian culture. Perhaps we need a better conversation about what true Gospel culture is.
Secondly, we stand with those who are suffering, either directly from violence or currently living in fear. This should include reaching out both to friends in church and in the community to check that they are okay and safe. To see if there is anything practically they need.
Thirdly, our communities need the Gospel right now. They do not need Christian heritage as defined by politicians from either right or left. They need the good news of a saviour who died and rose again for them. I hope that what is happening will encourage you to pray for Gospel work in some of our neediest communities and for churches like Oldham Bethel, Church Central North, Hope Community Church, the Gate, Bearwood Chapel and more. Perhaps it will encourage you to think about how you can personally get more involved in outreach.
Fourthly, political solutions won’t work. So, if it is Jesus and the Gospel that is needed, then we need most of all to be praying. A lot of churches and groups are currently encouraging people to come together to do just that. Will you join with us?
Faithroots 