protestant nationalism

I don’t often post about the Orange Order because it is a topic I get very angry about very quickly. However, reading a recent BBC news article has really annoyed me. It highlights a major issue with the Orange Order’s raison d’être. Reverend Stephen Dickinson is quoted in the article as saying, “This [referring to Orange Order demonstrations/marching] is about Protestantism, this is about Britishness.”

Why, oh why, do they so link Protestantism with Britishness?! One is not related to the other in any way. Furthermore it is very dangerous for the church to be (apparently) of a certain political persuasion. This idea is regrettably perpetuated in the media, which refer to Protestants generally as the unionist/loyalist community and Roman Catholics generally as the nationalist/republican community.

What a load of crap! I am a Protestant, yes, but I am not so ignorant or simple-minded as to have my politcal views entrenched in this archaic tribalism. Does the Orange Order believe Protestant Nationalism to be an oxymoron or (dare I suggest it?) even heresy?!

the responsibility of government

Today on BBC Radio Ulster’s Stephen Nolan Show, Iris Robinson, a local politician, said that she believed government has a “responsibility to uphold God’s law” [listen here]. I believe she was referring to the so-called Moral Law laid down in the Ten Commandments. Her remarks were, in my opinion, ill-considered especially given they were made during a debate on abortion. I mean, the essence of the debate on abortion will be forgotten about quickly now; instead, people will focus on this sound bite… just like I’m doing now.

I didn’t listen to the Nolan show but I did hear much comment on it on the way home in the car on BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme. The show welcomes responses from listeners through the media of text messages and, to a lesser extent, email. I was disappointed because the reaction of the apparent majority of responses was as I expected: typical, traditional, conservative and very Northern Irish. Most listeners who responded seemed to be in support of Mrs Robinson’s view. (Some were supportive of her stance on abortion, which is a separate matter; these listeners obviously didn’t catch onto the subject of the debate, which was on her remarks about her views on government responsibility.)

I find it difficult to believe that people who cannot think through things like this are governing our country. Obviously I disagree with Mrs Robinson’s remarks on governmental responsibility.

Think about it: if it was the responsibility of government to uphold God’s law then surely we should all be in prison because no one follow’s God’s law perfectly! The Bible, in which God’s law is quoted, tells us this! I am a Christian and have faith in the same God as Mrs Robinson but I cannot share this view. Jesus never forced anyone to listen to Him or obey Him, and neither should His followers. Submission to God’s law is up to the individual and should not be impressed by the church, the state or anyone else. I believe that there is plenty of good within God’s law, but just because it’s God’s law shouldn’t mean it’s civil law. The responsibility of government is to ensure order within the state, and equality, security and opportunity for all people within that state.

Remarks like Mrs Robinson’s only help to build up walls and cause friction. I pray that she will come to her senses over this and that those who supported her stance on this will realise the mistake.

rethinking my theology

Over the past few months I have been reading a number of interesting books on postmodernism and prayer, all of which are well-intentioned efforts at helping Christians develop a more meaningful and a more intimate relationship with God. In the past I have been warned against reading too much into postmodernism (and the movement called the “emerging church”) due to its alleged flimsy basis and its verging onto pluralism. However, I have found my reading very helpful and have found myself questioning things I have previously taken for granted or rethinking ideas I had assumed to be true.

A simple example… the Bible clearly points out that God is omnipotent – that is, all-powerful. He can do anything he wants, whenever he wants. It’s one of the three O’s that I was taught about God; the others being omnipresence (everywhere, all at once) and omniscience (all-knowing).

So, God is omnipotent. Yes. But does God exercise his omnipotence on earth? Well, yes… I believe miracles happen. However, I am swiftly coming to the conclusion that God more often that not chooses not to exercise his omnipotence on earth. C S Lewis in “The Problem of Pain” says that, due to the delicate balance and fundamental laws of nature, instances of miracles – that is, God exercising his power – “should be extremely rare”.

Where am I going with this? Well, there is this modern idea of God being sovereign and omnipotent over his creation; the idea that he has his finger on every button and oversees and orchestrates every detail that happens in the world. While I agree that God is both sovereign and omnipotent over his creation, I no longer believe that he orchestrates and forces every single detail on earth.

And I think it’s a good thing he doesn’t.

If God was responsible for every human interaction and situation (and even a rugby game’s score line) then where is free will? Furthermore, given the apparent acceptance of the above view amongst a lot of people, isn’t it easy to see why so many people struggle with the problem of suffering and blame God for so much?

I do not think God is responsible for World War II nor do I think he is responsible for the scoreline in the last rugby game I played. Rather, I believe that God has created the world with certain rules (a.k.a. the Laws of Nature, and hence the idea that miracles are rare) and allows people to be governed by them and (is this the right word?) “suffer” from causality. This means the blame for the problems in the world should not be given to God. Instead, it rightly lands with us.

The above is only one example of a rethinking of my accepted theology. There are plenty more examples that I’m sure I’ll voice here. This shift in thinking has been (and still is!) disconcerting and lonely. So much so that I have even given consideration as to whether or not I should continue in some of my leadership roles in my church family! However, I do feel that the shift is towards a positive end – a more realistic expectation of God in my life and a more authentic relationship with him.