In the Midst of Judgement - Hope 

Reflections on our nation’s turning from God

Our system of democratic government is supposed to be a government of the people, for the people, by the people.

Landmark law

In 1918, the British Parliament passed a landmark law, The Representation of the People Act, which overhauled the electoral system of the day, abolishing most property qualifications for men, so that almost all men over twenty-one years of age gained the right to vote, and following almost six decades of campaigning for suffrage, women over thirty were granted the vote if they were property owners, householders, or married to a householder.

Ten years on, the 1928 amendment of the Act extended the vote to all women over the age of twenty-one. For almost a century since then, the right to vote has been a treasured right of every adult British citizen. These rights were hard won, and though we may not be optimistic about the outcome, we have a clear duty to exercise our right to vote in the local elections on May 7^th.

It is our ability to appoint or dismiss those who represent us in Parliament, forming a national government, which has kept our nation from the sort of fracture, violence and bloody revolution seen elsewhere. We have what political philosophers call a social contract in which individual citizens consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms, and submit to the authority of a government, in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights, and the maintenance of social order.

For almost a century since then, the right to vote has been a treasured right of every adult British citizen.

Societal changes

The first duty of every government is the protection of its citizens and defence of its borders. Sadly, Britain no longer feels safe and secure. Hordes of unvetted, illegal migrants have invaded our nation and those who govern us end up maintaining them at taxpayers’ expense, making no attempts at integration and, frequently, silencing opposing voices. Shoplifting is out of control, fraud has risen significantly, and many are concerned at the visibility of violent crime.

These are societal changes which no-one voted for, which no political party included in their manifesto, and many would now argue that the social contract in Britain is well and truly broken. It is no longer unthinkable that the outcome will be blood on the streets of Britain. The steps to our social, political, and economic decline are well documented, but fundamentally, this once great Christian nation has rejected and sinned against God. The consequences of His judgement are plain for all to see. Indeed, far greater judgement and crisis is soon to come.

Wisdom of the world

The Bible describes how a nation which turns away from God will be marked by its people scoffing at the very idea of God. In His sovereignty, God uses their own foolishness to shame them, as 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 describes:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

 The consequences of His judgement are plain for all to see. Indeed, far greater judgement and crisis is soon to come.

However, within such a nation, God will always preserve for himself a small remnant of true followers, those we would describe as the Bible-believing remnant.  

Rejection of God

Tragically, the rest of the nation will be given over to their sin which will only increase their misery, as Romans 1:22-25 describes:

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

When a nation rejects God, He gives them the leaders they deserve. The prophet Samuel warned the people that having kings rule over them would lead to more problems. But the people wanted a king nonetheless:

When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day. But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

The prophet Samuel warned the people that having kings rule over them would lead to more problems. But the people wanted a king nonetheless.

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”  (1 Samuel 8:18-22)

Power of God

God also reminds the nation of his power:

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
    all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
    let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal. (Psalm 9:15-20)

The words of Isaiah 1:16-20 offer us hope, even in these dark times.

Our Hope

We may have the leaders we deserve, but all is not lost. The words of Isaiah 1:16-20 offer us hope, even in these dark times:

Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
But if you resist and rebel you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
 
Amen!