The Referendum Result: A Gospel Opportunity

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?

No matter how risky things may seem, we know there is no leadership gap. In Philippians 2:9-11 Paul reminds his readers that Jesus is risen and reigning.

'Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'

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:

'Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.'

If you voted 'remain' and are despondent at the result, you have no reason to feel that way! Maybe there are tough times ahead, but God is working to fulfil his good purposes.

If you voted 'leave' and are delighted at the result, make sure you put your hope in the right place! We don't yet know who will be responsible for negotiating the terms of our exit from the EU, but whoever it is, we mustn't fall into the trap of pinning our hopes on a leader. In Daniel 2:21 - Daniel said of God:  'He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.'

We need to make sure we put our hope and confidence in the right place. Paul tells the Philippians to work OUT their salvation in the knowledge that God is working IN them to fulfil his good purposes.

And what are God's good purposes? Paul tells us in v14-18:

'Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘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 firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.'

God's good purposes are that we stand out as we hold out the word of life, the gospel. However we feel about Brexit, we can be confident as we look to the future, because we know who is in charge and where history is ultimately heading.

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.