Every week on my radio present and podcast, A Mucky Enterprise, I attempt to unpack the world of politics to encourage Christians to interact knowledgably and prayerfully with present points. We speak about why Christians ought to care and the way we could be brokers for change on this mucky enterprise.
I am at all times cautious to stress that you simply needn’t placed on a rosette and stand for Parliament to make a distinction. However on the similar time there are a lot of MPs who’ve performed simply that, and now sit within the Home of Commons for all the primary events. So right this moment I wish to ask, simply what use is a Christian MP?
Properly, I imagine that God cares deeply about the way in which we do politics. We should at all times do not forget that politics can’t save us, however we additionally know that God’s kingdom is bodily in addition to religious.
Jesus healed individuals, fed them and cared for his or her every day wants in addition to calling them to comply with him. God hungers for justice, and has given authority to human rulers to enact it on earth on his behalf. He calls us to like our neighbour, look after the weak and weak, and construct for his kingdom as he prepares in the end to resume all issues.
So my foremost intention as a Christian MP is to be the very best advocate I can probably be for my constituents within the stunning lakes and dales of Westmorland and Lonsdale. I converse out each week in Parliament on points that have an effect on my constituents, and I’ve a dedicated and tenacious casework workforce who work relentlessly to assist individuals and make a distinction to their lives.
This encompasses every little thing from discovering lodging for a household about to grow to be homeless, to campaigning for a radiotherapy centre in Kendal that may allow most cancers sufferers to obtain therapy near residence. To like the individuals and the place the place you reside, is to enact the acquainted instruction from Jeremiah to ‘search the welfare of the town you’re in.’ So I search to glorify God by being a wonderful constituency MP.
Having been my social gathering’s chief for a few years, I even have the privilege of being comparatively well-known. This after all carries with it a accountability, and I attempt to act graciously and be a superb witness to Christ, conscious that my social media feedback are simply picked up by information retailers in search of a juicy story … However it additionally means I can use my profile to encourage a greater understanding of religion within the public sq., and to share the Gospel with those that will hear.
Via my organisation, Religion in Public, I intention to show the significance of freedom of conscience and spiritual liberty within the public sq., and the constructive function that religion can play in tackling points resembling poverty, homelessness and refugees. I additionally wish to encourage Christians to interact successfully in politics – therefore my podcast and my e-book, additionally known as A Mucky Enterprise.
There may be usually suspicion from these with no religion that Christians will attempt to impose our views or morality on others, however I do not assume we attempt to do that greater than anybody else. Everybody in politics brings their very own worldview and values to each debate, and it’s important that we problem the idea {that a} non-religious outlook is someway impartial and goal.
All year long I attempt to go to native church buildings to speak about life as an MP and my calling as a Christian in politics. These talks are normally to blended audiences of Christians and non-Christians, and I worth the chance to softly crowbar within the Gospel message. I can’t promise to have the ability to go to each one, however in case you are and would really like me to come back and converse at your church, please give me a shout!
There’s a actual temptation for Christians in politics that we simply mix in comfortably, align ourselves with the tradition and lose our saltiness within the course of. There may be additionally a danger that we fall into self-pity after we obtain opposition due to our religion, in addition to a temptation to imagine that our function as MPs offers our lives final that means.
My standing doesn’t give me my identification, however my place as a toddler of God does. And with this comes the information that the God of the Universe created all of us in his picture, filled with price and dignity, and that he loves every considered one of us sufficient to die for us. Why would I wish to hold this wonderful information to myself?
Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and served because the Chief of the Liberal Democrat Get together from 2015 to 2017. Tim can be the host of Premier’s ‘A Mucky Enterprise’ podcast, which unpacks the murky world of politics and encourages believers across the UK to interact prayerfully. He’s the writer of A Mucky Enterprise: Why Christians ought to become involved in politics.”
