Values, What Values?
AS WE APPROACH the season of remembrance, we shall once again give thanks for the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. We do so in a world of increasing conflict and ever greater division. At remembrance-tide our national flags are more visible than usual, although this year we already have a preponderance of national flags on our lamp posts and motorway flyovers.
These seem to echo a trend expressed in many places, emphasising national identity. Politically, this trend is accompanied by rhetoric which includes calls to reassert English and Christian values. Given that church attendance has halved since the 1980s, and around 90% of people don’t go to church at all, this high-profile interest in Christian values is surprising. My question is this: what do you imagine ‘Christian values’ are?
I can’t help recalling that 2,000 years ago, the Jewish people were yearning for a long-awaited saviour. They were expecting a great king in the traditional monarchic and military sense, who would take back control of their country from outside invaders and make them a great nation once more. What they got was a baby in a manger, who grew up to be a radical charismatic teacher and took no role in the structures of religion or state. The values he taught were of love, compassion and justice. Sometimes he did get angry, but only because love, compassion and justice were being subverted. His kingdom was no earthly territory, and yet he called all people everywhere to work towards it.
So when I hear calls within the political arena for a re-assertion of ‘Christian values’, I am curious to know what exactly they are hoping for. Personally, I long to be ‘godly and quietly governed’ as the old prayerbook says, but there is a long history of monarchic or political power harnessing religion (not just Christianity) to serve its own purposes. The Christian faith also questions and speaks truth to political power, holding it accountable. As we remember with gratitude those who gave so much for our freedom, I do indeed hope and pray that the values of love, compassion and justice that they fought to preserve, will prevail in our nation.
Rev’d Kevin Lovell, Vicar of St Barnabas, Emmer Green and Caversham Park
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