On Saturday last week, an estimated 100000 people marched through London in a protest called “Unite the nation.” Quite a few Christian leaders have condemned the march as promoting intimidation and fear particularly towards immigrants and asylum seekers.
I’ve seen quite a few responses from Christians who joined in on the march complaining that they object to being labelled as racists, arguing that they and others had legitimate causes to march for and that the demonstration was largely peaceful
I am not going to question any of those points. The demonstration may well have been largely peaceful, numbers may have reflected general frustration and dissatisfaction with the establishment alongside a concern for patriotism. Those things can all be true.
However, what cannot be ignored and what was well known is that the march was organised by Tommy Robinson a well known agitator consistently associated with the far right. You can read more about him here.
Whether or not people liked Tommy Robinson or claim to agree with his agenda, they marched under his banner and lead. Whether or not they were themselves peaceful, they added numbers to a cause and image that was going to cause great fear and anxiety to others. Once again, space and permission was given to an agenda that surely we do not want to gain currency in our capital city
The march saddened me and it saddens me to see Christians associate with it just as it saddens me and angers me to see and hear Christian imagery including the Cross and prayers associated with such causes. I wish that those who participated could hear my brothers and sisters in our church and understand how their choices and actions affected others.
Finally, there is a reminder here, when we march , whether literally or metaphorically, we don’t just march for our own individual causes and concerns. The “who” matters as well as the what. Whose banner are you marching under, whose cause are you following. I want us to march under the banner and following the lead of King Jesus.
Faithroots 