British Society and the Church

By Mitiku Adisu

Nearly sixty percent of British citizens believe they are now a “surveillance society.” More electronic “eyes and ears” are planted in public squares in Britain than anywhere in Europe. More people [especially Londoners] are fearful than ever before. Number of people having mental problems is on the rise. There are complaints about government intrusiveness but not enough to mobilize public outrage. One reason is that the issue of monitoring the public was framed as a device to keep terrorists in check. It is indeed a thin line to tread.

The first casualty under these conditions is of course democracy itself. Democracy flourishes in proportion to level of trust within the particular society. Trust must be voluntary or else fear, corruption and distrust will gain the upper hand. Each society surely reaps whatever it sowed in its public policy. There has been aggressive secularization going on in British society. What is appalling is that Christianity, not other faiths, consistently gets castigated. Other religions, by comparison, have fared much better under ‘equality’ and ‘rights’ clauses the evidence of which could be seen in their numerical growth over the past several decades.

If we are to accept the historical fact that British [and Western] civilization is founded on Christian values, then the fissures we are witnessing may be the result of replacing those values with ones that are opaque and fluid. The fire that burned in the heart and conscience of a Wilberforce against human enslavement and such may soon be unrecognizable because it is fast abandoning its Christian foundation.

The ‘danger’ of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with non-Christians was very recently the subject of a debate in Britain. The rules that were supposedly to govern “Christian” activities, however, hardly applied to those of other faiths. It is in such an environment that the church would regain her vitality. The church accommodated the values of the world for so long that only a God-sent persecution would restore her to her prophetic position. In the end, a choice will have to be made whether “it is right in God’s sight” to obey man rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. Ironically, groups who desire the voice of the church silenced are the same ones who turn around and preach freedom of speech and democracy.

One needs to be vigilant and not fall asleep. The enemy is unrelenting. His strategy is to lay claim to territory bit by bit. And now “de-baptism” has become issue of 'concern'. “De-Baptism” is regretting you were ever baptized [or circumcised] and the effort to undo that pledge and practice. Disgruntled church-goers can now access an on-line “de-baptismal” form to show their rejection of “baptism’s creeds and other such superstitions,” according to organizers. It is regrettable that the church has in more than one way failed in her teaching to conform to the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Again, the current rage may be a passing fad promoted by few shrill voices. All we can say at the moment is that those attacking the church probably did not “belong” in the first place and others simply relish “crucifying the Son of God all over again, subjecting him to public disgrace.”

Looked at collectively, these trends do have enormous policy implications for British overseas engagements. The fact that surveillance is slowly but surely becoming part of British life could mean the public is being desensitized to the plight of people under despotic rule and those facing religious and political persecution. Perhaps more worrisome is the example this sets for “emerging democracies” and the impunity with which some could violate public trust, human rights, and the rule of law because personal security has taken precedence over holding elected public servants to account.

True disciples of Jesus have their work cut out for them. And that is, to represent Christ to the world in love and to show love one for another. Opportunities for evangelization have never been better. We have the gospel of hope to share in an environment of impending fear and uncertainty. Leadership belongs to the Resurrected Christ and his Holy Spirit. The Lord knows there are a minority in Britain hid from public view “whose knees have not bowed down to [the god of this age] and whose mouths have not kissed it.” These should strive to strengthen bonds of fellowship with Christians of the global South. And there is no telling what the Lord can do with a life committed to Him.

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