Invited to Pray? Why I Declined...

Whenever the alarm clock radio turns itself on every weekday morning, or I turn on the television for the evening news bulletin, or go online to browse its version of the daily newspaper, my spirit tends to sink under the weight of the political dross I constantly hear or read. As I write this line, a song is playing in the background, by Mr Mister, an American pop band of the 1980s with Richard Page as the lead vocalist. The song is titled Broken Wings, and it's about taking these broken wings and learning to fly again, a reference about a broken relationship and pleading for its restoration.

It's a beautiful song, with a regular beat and an intense tune conveying a sense of longing for forgiveness and a revival of a love which once bonded their hearts together. The sort of desperation, a sense of blasted hope, an aimless drift towards desolation. Lost without direction and not knowing what lies in the future. It's this feeling of uncertainty which we as a nation is feeling at the moment. 

The country is split into roughly two equal halves - those who want to leave the European Union and those who prefer to remain. Both sides are left with a feeling of frustration after a series of complications having arisen which had turned the straightforward course to leave the EU into a convoluted labyrinth of confusion and dead-end turns and making us wonder just when the longed-for exit from the maze will finally appear.

As the Bible likens a restless nation to a stormy ocean, Parliament can be likened to a tall ship caught in this storm, and as the waves sweep over the deck, every crew member is under full strain to keep the sails in position, yet the threat of sinking is never far away, let alone straying off-course. How the thought of land appearing on the horizon stirs the imagination of each crew member as he visualises the safe harbour welcoming them with open arms.

But the harbour is not only out of sight but the stormy ocean seem to be forever shoreless. That is until the captain thinks he could see something on the horizon. Land ahoy? He directs the ship towards it, but as it draws closer, it turns out to be a jagged reef, and dangerous at that, according to the fear lurking in the minds of all on board, the jagged rocks of the reef would tear the hull into shreds, and at best, the ship would run aground, at worse, sink to the depths below, taking the life of all of them.

Therefore, considering the political situation we are in, it comes as no surprise that prayer meetings are arranged by local churches, pleading with God for special wisdom to direct our leaders in the right direction. Although I was told about the strict neutrality of these meetings - neither for Leave or Remain - just godly wisdom bestowed on our leaders in making the right decisions.

On the outside, this seems like a wise move, a proper course to take. Christians praying for their Government and political leaders, for kings and for all in authority is Biblical (eg, 1 Timothy 2:2-4, 1 Peter 2:7, 2 Chronicles 7:14.) Also, Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-7 that there is no authority which has not been established by God, and therefore everyone in authority should be obeyed, as they are servants of God in use to keep evil in check.

Therefore I don't find it wrong to pray for the goodness of our country. For example, our beloved National Health Service (NHS). Intercessory prayer includes thanking God for the NHS and asking him for the NHS to be properly staffed with people who are motivated more with compassion rather than with a career drive. Prayer also including thanking God for our excellent communication infrastructures. This includes transport, TV and radio, newspapers and the internet. By thanking God for these and other institutions designed for both public and individual benefit, and asking God that these infrastructures and institutions can run efficiently by a properly motivated staff and workers is not a bad thing.

But my main concern is not whether we leave or remain in the EU. Rather, I mourn as I witness a country which once had a Christian-based Constitution turn away from God, towards atheist-based secularism, which is fed each day by a constant stream of Darwin's evolutionary theories which undermine the truth of the Gospel and denying its historicity.

EU Headquarters in Brussels.  

As such, if I pray, then it's not whether we leave or remain in the EU. Rather, it's for the Spirit of God to be poured out on a national scale. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says it well: If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.

The phrase, my people, can only refer to the nation of Israel at the time that was written, and it was written at the time King Solomon was dedicating the newly-built Temple to the Lord. Literally speaking, the full forgiveness of sin and the complete healing of the land remains in the future, after the risen Jesus Christ returns and begins his reign from Jerusalem. Under this Kingdom age, not only sin would be forgiven but eradicated, and the whole of the earth will be restored to an Eden-like paradise, an event which had never occurred since the Fall and the Edenic Curse.

But a partial application can be made in this era. The history of ancient Ninevah and its repentance under the preaching of the prophet Jonah is so outstanding, that the whole book of Jonah was written, dedicated to that particular event. During his first advent, Jesus has remarked that even the people of Ninevah will rise to condemn the Pharisees, who had rejected the Lord's ministry, including his miraculous works which the men of Ninevah had never seen.

During the days of Paul the apostle, the Roman Empire reigned supreme, with its Pax Romana allowing its citizens to live in peace and enjoying freedom from wars and skirmishes. However, Emperor Nero was as corrupt as most other emperors were, including having both male and female lovers, a way of governing which would be scandalous in Britain at present! But he never prayed for any political change. He never prayed for the Roman Empire to be dissolved or taken over by foreigners, nor did he pray for the Emperor to be ousted. Rather, his main concern was that the Gospel may spread unhindered throughout the Empire.

The whole of the 26th chapter of Acts is focused on the discourse between Paul and the three rulers, Festus, Agrippa and Bernice. His desire was not to revolutionise and clean up the Empire but to desire that they would become Christian believers too. "To become as I am, except for these chains."  v. 29. Paul desired that all would repent - to change their minds - and believe that this Jesus of Nazareth is the risen Christ, and turn to him.

There are times when I pray for this nation in the quietness of solitude, whether at home or outside. But those prayers are never about whether to leave or remain in the EU, neither whether our Prime Minister should be ousted, or resign. Nor whether he should attempt to pass a deal with the EU, or to leave without a deal, or to further a delay. It's none of these things. If I was to deliver a prayer for our nation, it's always to do with salvation for all, whether it's for the ministers or the electorate alike.

Therefore when my good friend, Dr Andrew Milnthorpe, invited me to pray for the nation at his church, I first hesitated, then refused.

The regular readers of my blog posts may already be familiar with Andrew, for I have mentioned him several times before. Our friendship with each other is quite unique. Here is a holder of PhD degree, happily united with a retired window cleaner. Culturally, the difference not only couldn't have been wider but very unusual too, for it crosses all social class barriers, a cultural-divide system held dearly by the English. Yet we remain close, perhaps seeing me as an older brother or even a father, as he is young enough to be my son. We, along with my beloved Alex, have spent a couple of weekends away together. The two of us often go swimming and the sauna together, as well as days out in London, to attend a Christian conference or visit museums.

Dr A. Milnthorpe at the London Transport Museum, Aug 2019

As such, he delights in my company during midweek church meetings, such as Encounter, a weekly lunchtime meeting held throughout the school term. And he invited me to this prayer meeting. So why did I decline his invitation this time?

While I voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 Referendum, he voted to leave. And we have both polarised in our opinions ever since! It's amazing, coming to think of it because our differences in political opinion do not get in the way of our friendship and our activities. Except for intercessory prayer for our nation. 

Andrew is a committed Leave advocate, and he has other close friends in his church who are also committed advocates of Leave. At this point, I don't want to appear critical or judgemental, but I cannot help notice that his fellow Christians, nearly all graduates, appear to be far more committed to these political issues than they are of Jesus Christ. And there are Christians in my own church with the same political opinion. I even heard the idea that the European Union is the forerunner of the coming Revived Roman Empire ruled by Antichrist of Revelation 13. To think that leaving the EU is a way to escape the clutches of Antichrist is certainly a sign of ignorance of the full significance of Biblical prophecies! There is no way power-hungry Antichrist will grant the Brits their own independence or their own sovereignty, yet upon such assumptions have these Christians voted to leave the EU.

Of course, there is the imperial mentality prevailing many leave-voters, both inside and outside the church. One elderly gentleman actually explained why he voted Leave. It's so Britain not only becomes an independent sovereign nation but also to revive its former Empire.

Intercessory prayer is a matter of the heart between himself and God. No man can look into the heart in the same way God can. During such prayer meetings such a Christian may pray aloud for God to grant our Government wisdom to carry out His will. But silently, in his heart, he is probably thinking, of course, I meant the right way to leave the European Union. In such company, I doubt if I can settle well, let alone pray together in full harmony.

Maybe it's because I'm passionate about the UK remaining in the EU, neither am I ashamed to admit this, to allow myself to be identified as a European, one who wants to identify myself as one with my fellow citizens in Christ who happen to live just across La Manche.