On Sunday I spoke about how
Christians should respond to the EU referendum result. Below is an abridged
version of what I said...
'I believe we now have a glorious
opportunity'. Those
were the words of leading Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson the day after the UK
voted to leave the European Union. 'Above
all,' - he said - 'we can find our
voice... powerful, liberal, humane, an extraordinary force for good in the
world.'
Only
time will tell if this vision becomes reality. However I want to suggest that while the political and
economic benefits of the UK's decision to leave the EU are still very much up
for debate, Christians have a glorious gospel opportunity to show the
difference Jesus makes.
In
Colossians 4:5 the apostle Paul said: 'Be
wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.'
In a
similar way, in Ephesians 5:6 he said: 'Be
very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most
of every opportunity, because the days are evil.'
As
disciples of Jesus, we're to make the most of every opportunity to point people
to Jesus and so the way we respond to
the referendum result is important.
In Philippians
2:15-16 the Apostle Paul told the believers in Philippi to be 'children of God without fault in a warped
and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as
you hold out the word of life.'
As
children of God, we are to stand out as we hold out the word of life, the
gospel. We are to demonstrate the radical difference Jesus makes. In 1:27 Paul says
the same thing in a slightly differently way: 'Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ.'
Clearly,
this is command which applies at all times, but it surely applies in a
particular way during times of uncertainty and change. It is at these times
that we Christians have the greatest opportunity to stand out and be
attractively distinctive in a way which commends the gospel.
In Philippians
2:1-18 I believe we see four ways in which Christians are called to be
distinctive in the light of the EU referendum result.
UNITY
One
of the inescapable conclusions of the post-referendum analysis is that the UK
is a divided country. The most obvious division is between those who voted to leave
the EU and those who voted remain. However, it's also clear there were stark
divisions along the lines of age, class, education and location.
- Younger
people were more likely to vote IN, whereas older people were more likely to
vote OUT.
- Middle
class communities were more likely to vote IN, whereas working class
communities were more likely to vote OUT.
- Graduates
were more likely to vote IN, whereas non-graduates were more likely to vote OUT
- Urban
areas were more likely to vote IN, whereas rural areas were more likely to vote OUT.
- Scotland
and Northern Ireland voted IN, whereas England and Wales voted OUT.
The
referendum has exposed how divided we are as a nation. Mark Easton, the BBC's
Home Editor, put it like this: 'The EU
referendum has revealed an ancient, jagged fault line across the United
Kingdom... it is far from clear whether the Kingdom can still call itself
united.'
But doesn't
this give Christians a glorious gospel opportunity to stand out?
In v1-2
Paul reminds the believers in Philippi that they are united to Christ and as a
result, they should also be united to each other.
'Therefore if you have any
encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if
any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
and of one mind.'
A local
church community is utterly unique. The unity factor which holds its members together
is not age, class, education, background, or political persuasion. We are
united in Christ. He is the source of our common-union. He's the Vine we're
attached to, the Good Shepherd we belong to, the Cornerstone we line up to, the
Head we submit to, the Saviour we point to.
Last
week I spent 3 days with 1300 other gospel leaders at the Evangelical Ministry
Assembly in London. The sense of unity in Christ was wonderful! However,
scratch the surface and you would have found many differences of opinion on a
whole number of issues, including secondary theological ones. Our unity came
from a common understanding of the good about Jesus.
Christianity
Today writer Andrew Wilson tweeted last Sunday: 'If you really want ever-closer union, or even a truly united kingdom,
join the king. One anthem, one flag, one hope, one Lord.'
The
referendum result gives churches a glorious gospel opportunity to display the
UNITY that is lacking in our society.
SELFLESSNESS
One
of the most concerning outcomes of the referendum result has been the rise in
incidents of hate crime being reported. Police have said reports of hate crime were
up 57% in the days following the referendum.
The Telegraph listed some of the incidents
that had been reported over the weekend, the majority of which were race
related. They included graffiti being daubed over a Polish Cultural Centre, abusive
messages posted through letter boxes and numerous incidents of racial abuse.
One
man, David Olusoga, said: 'I've never had
a day of so many people telling me to go back to Africa, There are those who
have seen this [vote] as legitimising views they have long held but have
previously been more cautious about expressing. I think now a lot of people
feel emboldened.'
But doesn't
this give Christians a glorious gospel opportunity to stand out?
God's
heart is for people of all nations and we want to reflect that as a church
community by being generous and selfless in the welcome we offer. In v3-8 Paul
urges the Philippians to be like Jesus, who
put the needs of others before himself.
'Do nothing out of selfish
ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the
others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ
Jesus.'
Jesus
made himself nothing, took on the nature of a servant and went to the cross that
those who were not like him could enjoy the benefits of inclusion in the
kingdom of God. If we are going to commend the gospel to others we therefore need
to demonstrate the same selflessness when it comes to those who are not like us,
both inside and outside the church.
Let
the message go out loud and clear: everyone is welcome at Woodgreen Church, regardless
of race, age, class, background, or situation!
The
referendum result gives churches a glorious gospel opportunity to display the
SELFLESSNESS that is so often lacking in our society.
CONFIDENCE
BBC
presenter Nick Robinson wrote an article last week entitled: 'UK suffers leadership gap in risky times'. It
was prompted by David Cameron's resignation the day after the referendum when he
said: 'I do not think it would be right
for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next
destination.'
But doesn't
this give Christians a glorious gospel opportunity to stand out?
There
is a Captain holding the rudder of history. There is a Leader who's in control.
There is a Lord before whom every knee will one day bow. Therefore, we can be confident
about the future. In v12 Paul goes
on:
The
referendum result gives us a glorious gospel opportunity to display the
CONFIDENCE that is either lacking or misplaced in our society at the moment.
CONVICTION
One
of the things that marked out both the 'remain' and 'leave' campaigns was their
conviction that their side was right and that this was a decision that really
mattered. 'This is the most important
decision in a generation'. 'This issue will define our lives for years to
come'. These were the sorts of phrases that were regularly used by both
sides.
This
should be an immense challenge to Christians as we consider the gospel need in
our country. Do we demonstrate the same passion and conviction about the
difference Jesus makes? Over the last
few months people have thought long and hard about where to put the cross on
their ballot paper, but of far more importance is where they will put the cross
in their lives. In Philippians 2:17-18 Paul said he was so convinced about the
importance of this issue, that he was gladly prepared to give up everything,
even to the point of sacrificing his own life.
'But even if I am being poured
out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice
with me.'
The drink
offering accompanied other sacrifices at the temple. It consisted of wine that
was poured out around the base of the altar, which then soaked away into the
ground without trace. Paul compares himself to a drink offering that was being
poured out in sacrificial service of the gospel. Like Jesus, he was prepared to
be made nothing, to disappear without trace, so that people might hear the
gospel. He had a conviction that the decision to follow Jesus was the decision
that mattered above all else.
Do we
share that same conviction? Do the priorities in our lives show we believe the
decision to follow Jesus is the decision that really matters, above all else?
The referendum result gives us a glorious gospel opportunity to display the
CONVICTION that knowing Jesus really matters.
Long before Sat navs were around sailors used to use the stars
to help them navigate. Apparently there is standard set of 57 stars that are used by
sailors worldwide in an emergency to help guide them to safety.
These 57 stars were chosen because they’re the brightest and
therefore easiest to spot on a dark night.
Paul challenges us here to stand out like stars, so we can
guide others to safety, as we hold out the word of life. We are to reflect THE
light of the world. We are to commend Jesus.
The
referendum result gives us a glorious gospel opportunity to display the gospel
UNITY, SELFLESSNESS, CONFIDENCE and CONVICTION our nation needs at this moment
in time.
