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We seek your kingdom

 




I am writing this on the evening of election day in Scotland and the local elections in England and Wales.  The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity re-released a song to the tune of Abide with Me inspiring and challenging us to live our Christian calling through the whole of  life and society.  https://youtu.be/2Lp2mMpSa1E

We seek your truth throughout every sphere

We long for heaven's demonstration here

Jesus your light shine bright for all to see

Transform, revive and  heal society.


Before all things, in him were all things made,

Inspiring culture, media and trade,

May all our work serve your economy

Transform, revive and  heal society.


Peace truth and justice reigning everywhere

With us be present in the public square

Fill all who lead with your integrity

Transform, revive and  heal society.


Forgive us Lord when we have not engaged

Failing to scribe your heart on history's page,

Make us again what we were made to be

Transform, revive and  heal society.


Faithful to govern ever may we be

Selfless in service, loving constantly

In everything may your authority

Transform, revive and  heal society.


The refrain to transform, revive and heal society is a vision of what the kingdom of God can do in a community.   Lives are transformed for example as people learn to forgive and others find the courage to leave their past behind.  Systems are transformed through greater integrity and honesty in the public square.  Lives are revived as new beginnings can open up for people with hope and trust.  This is often possible through systems being revived by money well spent and plans well laid guided by a vision of a fairer and more equitable society.  Lives can be healed through genuine love and acceptance and an appreciation of our true value.  Systems can be healed as we tackle racism and other forms of hatred and contempt and pursue a vision of wholeness and shalom.

Jesus said very little directly about politics.  To give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.   And that his kingdom is not of this world.    However, to live out our Christian lives as he has called us to means engagement in the full life of our society and that is a very political calling.   Furthermore Jesus had a lot to say about money and what we do with it and that has immense political implications.

Running through the song is a great and wonderful vision that God has for what our lives could be like, and what our communities could function like.  It is about all of life and it is a both a spiritual and a political vision, in which our lives are seen as a whole and there is no division between sacred and secular.

 Lasting social and political change is only possible however with personal and inner change.   Any system is only as good as the people who run it and this is where the spiritual becomes political.  Christians have a calling to partner with whoever we can and together resist those things that bring division and decay into our communities.  We are also called to pray for all those in power and authority, whoever is elected as our nation moves into a very uncertain future.




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