FROM THE URC MINISTER
The Elections on 6th May and Christian Aid Week 9th - 15th May are two events this month calling for people to be involved. Should we bother? Or do the financial crisis in this country and lack of trust in politicians turn us off?
Christians turn to the Bible, especially the New Testament, for guidance on major issues of life. Some say the Bible is a map or a blueprint. It’s not quite so straight forward as that, especially when it comes to voting for political candidates. Systems of government and society were different in Biblical times.
Some forms of democracy were developed in Greek city states hundreds of years before Jesus was born, but by the time of Jesus and the early church the Roman Empire was in control of all the places in which the various parts of the New Testament were written. So there is no direct parallel with government in Hillingdon or the United Kingdom today.
However, Jesus did not try to give specific instruction, but general principles, and by the way he lived he showed how those applied in the situations where he and his followers found themselves. The New Testament is not a law book but a record of people’s experiences and insights about their relationships with each other and with God.
So while the New Testament doesn’t tell us exactly what to do, it is a rich resource for principles, patterns and purpose in life. And God offers both the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding and discernment of what is relevant, and the Church for sharing and supporting each other in this process.
May I suggest some of the principles from the New Testament which may help your consideration of whether and how to be involved in the elections, politics and government, and in Christian Aid Week collecting, giving or campaigning:
- Loving your neighbour as you love yourself
- Using your different gifts in accordance with the grace God has given you
- Praying for all in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct
- Not to be served, but to serve; “if one of you wants to be great he must be the servant of the rest”
- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength”
You may think of other principles to add to these. Will our parts in the events of this month lead to a better life for more people?
Bernie
FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY
I hardly need remind you of a national event taking place on 6th May! With Prime Ministerial Debates on television for the first time, hustings organised in faith buildings up and down the country, down-loadable manifestos, information online, and an April full of non-stop comment, comparison and opinion polls in the media, I think it unlikely that you had not noticed we are facing a general election. But perhaps I need to remind you to vote!
Firstly an election is about us, the voters. It’s our opportunity to have a say on how our country is governed. It’s not just about the character and colour of the political parties that govern us, it’s about our right to influence the values and policies of our government. We’re voting for people to serve our country. We have the right to vote according to our values, and whoever we vote for, our vote counts. It may be that there is no party that completely embodies the Kingdom of God values that Jesus taught, yet it is important to see how they measure up. One of the best political manifestos I’ve read can be found in three chapters of Matthew’s Gospel - Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It’s not only revolutionary because it talks about change starting in the human heart, it’s also witty, deeply challenging and much shorter than most of the others! I recommend Christians consider each party manifesto alongside the Sermon on the Mount to weigh up which most closely matches Jesus’ teaching.
Although a general election is principally about what is good for our country, voters are often wooed by promises about the personal benefits of tax systems and economic recovery, or how well an MP represents local issues. What’s good for the country does need to work well for both individuals and local communities, but politics is concerned with shaping society, which increasingly has a global dimension to it. So whilst inevitably an election following a time of recession and huge public deficit will focus on economic recovery issues in the UK, it is vital that we don’t lose sight of the problems of the international family of man. I would encourage you to consider how each of the parties deal with environment, poverty and Fairtrade issues, alongside personal, local and national ones. The mandate for this is found in a verse from the Old Testament: ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ (Micah 6.8)
So, even if you are sick of the election coverage, please use your vote prayerfully and wisely, and don’t forget to vote on 6th May!
Adrian
FROM THE CHURCHES’ REGISTERS
Baptism at the URC
Mar 28th George Christopher Hugill
Baptisms at St Giles’
Apr 11th Liam Joseph Barrowcliff
Jack Stephen Barrowcliff
Cremation at Breakspear Crematorium
Mar 22nd Georgina Simmons, aged 96
ST GILES’ CHURCH STREET PRAYER LIST
Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish. During May we will pray for the following roads:
May 2nd Heacham Avenue
May 9th Hetherington Way
May 16th High Road
May 23rd Hoylake Crescent
May 30th Ickenham Green
