Letter from the Vicarage

May 2010

Dear Friends,

Perhaps one of the most disturbing features of our politics in recent years has been the growth in popularity of parties like the BNP. It is easy to get this out of proportion and their level of support is still thankfully small.

The distinctions that parties like this make between races, and the assertion that some countries are for white people, are incompatible with the Gospel. In the Old Testament the Genesis creation story emphasises the common origins of humanity, all people are made in the image of God. The story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is particularly interesting. Here God prevents humanity from forming one culture and one language and scatters the nations of the earth. God is therefore responsible for the development of different cultures and languages; diversity should be cherished as God given. Even the calling of a chosen people, the people of Israel, is so that “All the nations of the earth can be blessed” (Genesis 12.3).

In the New Testament, Christ’s treatment of the Samaritans and Gentiles shows a willingness to break through the cultural and racial divisions of his day. Paul also teaches that in Christ there are no ethnic distinctions (Galatians 3:28). Above all the vision of the new creation is of a place where people from every tribe, people and nation are together. So the Bible gives us a vision of a world where people of all different cultures come together united in Christ, Cultural distinctions are not abolished but rather in Christ there is unity in diversity.

Of course one of the fears that people have about our multi–cultural society is that somehow our British identity will be diminished. Some even say that Christianity will be pushed out or marginalized. My own experience is that people of other cultures and faiths take our Christian heritage far more seriously than most white British people! We need also to remember that if Christianity is true then the promises of Scripture stand, one day the Kingdom of God will come in power. If Christianity is not true then it hardly matters at all whether it thrives in this land or is pushed out. I personally believe the words of Christ when he says “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16.18). Christians then have nothing at all to fear from other religions or cultural diversity. More than that, we should be at the forefront of cross–cultural engagement, open to learn from others and to share with them about the God who made us all.

As ever,

Mark

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