Revival and nationalism

 

There is an unavoidable ongoing relationship between nationalism and Christian revival in the UK. I’m writing just after the latest Tommy Robinson Unite The Kingdom protest in London.

Remember, I’m left-leaning politically. I’m naturally minded to oppose excessive nationalism and jingoism, so I have to ‘unbias’ myself as much as I can.

One of my friends recently said, “I thought it was more British to be critical of nationalism”. I did too. In my book I conclude that Christian nationalism, though it is exclusive itself (specifically of immigrants and other minorities), is a position a person can take and which has often been taken in the past. The right are constantly telling the left that we are not inclusive at all (basically when we exclude them). And the right hate to be called far right or racist. But still, I simply have to acknowledge that God does not exclude patriots.

There is a sense in which revivalists want the best for their country. The love of country is not divorced from revival. If we want things to get better here (as many of us do) and we look to God for help in that, then we are kind of patriots too (despite our criticisms).

Is Tommy Robinson a Christian? And is any politician who claims to be a Christian necessarily really a Christian? Or are they using the faith to gain support? To woo the believers’ votes (or money)? I’m not convinced that Reform Ltd or Restore are really going to make things better or that their policies are even that radical. Anarchy is more radical. Farage once said: “No-one loves this country more than me.” Is that true? Does anyone else love Britain more than Nigel Farage? Anyone? I wonder if Nigel was lying?

You know, I’m getting bogged down. I’ll cut to my point. I don’t really like the manipulations of nationalists but concede that they shouldn’t be excluded from any revival. Nor, by the way should immigrants here. Or Muslims. Or Jews. Or Hindus. Or anyone else. Maybe politicians should, but that is an ongoing debate. But we are all under God, who does not discriminate.

The right are constantly telling the left that we are not genuinely inclusive at all. Maybe we should prove them wrong? Try to love the unlovable and all that? Love our political enemies?

But I’m getting bogged down. What some of us want to see is not more integration of faith into right-wing nationalism but a genuine, inclusive revival for all. A revival which will help and heal the UK. The UK is never going to be in unity. I’m sorry, but it isn’t. But things can get better here. ‘Believe in better’ as the Sky tagline says.

Or else watch the Disney Channel until this whole thing blows over.  (As an aside, some of the Disney Channel is quite dark you know?)

Anyway, I’ve got my eyes, ears and nose peeled for anything else necessary to be written about.

Preferably a big miracle, God.

Wrapping Up - An Outsider's Perspective

 

Well, let’s be honest, throughout this story there has been quite a lot of my own personal opinion and perspective, more than in a usual story. This, as I say is because I am the one writing it and I cannot easily avoid my biases and worldview.

There was one thing more that I thought was important to say. There was an irony in all this. After this finishes, I will, depending on what happens, continue to write on this subject.

But as I say, there has been an irony. The Waterboys (in their song, The Whole of the Moon sang ‘I spoke about wings, you just flew.’ The irony is the writers’ curse (or blessing, depending on what is being written about). Spending more time observing something than experiencing it. Like the academic book I read on all the philosophical perspectives about the meaning of life, which never arrived at a satisfactory conclusion (Although if you were to liken revival to a river and Heaven to the sea, then maybe we only find out what anything is like if we ever get into the water?).

This is, as I say, an alternative news source. I hope it has been helpful in some way.

And there we have it. I have written, researched and worked hard on this whole story for such a long time, only to have to admit that I have not experienced as much of this revival as you might imagine. At the time of writing, I’ve heard a lot about it and I do believe it is happening. But just as an outsider in Galilee might have heard about Jesus and the reports of his miracles, and even decided to follow him, I’ve been an outsider even to this.

 

The truth of the matter is that God is the source of all love. I can write about that until the sheep come home, but writing about it and living it are not the same. So, I will leave it to your critical thinking to decide about the integrity or otherwise and spiritual state of the writer of this story. As I say, ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom’ and that includes the remaining freedoms of thought and expression.

This material has been written over a period of over 20 years. It’s the most important story I will ever write. Though readers have been disappointingly few, thank you for reading all this and indulging me.

 

I need to thank so many people because this has not been a one man show. My wife (for giving me time, space and love to write all this), my family and friends, who encourage me so often. My readers, that’s you. Thank you. My contacts and all the people I interviewed. And finally, of course, Jesus, Heaven and the angels. Thank you.

Now, after all is said and done, you probably still have some questions. One of them which springs to mind is… This is all very lovely, and likely good news for a nation, but you spoke of miracles, signs and wonders accompanying revivals. So where are they?

 

All I can say, knowing that genuine miracles are rarer than they should be, is that you and I have to keep our eyes peeled for them. According to the Bible, Jesus said, ‘What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch.’

Seems to be a word from God for everyone on earth.

 

So, there it is. A story which took a long time to research, write and condense into this for you to read. It probably deserves to get into the Guinness Book of World Records or something, but I bet it won’t. There is a lot of material which I haven’t included here, but I wanted to make this as accessible as possible to whoever reads it. I wanted the story to be free to anyone with a phone or computer. I’m a fool but you probably wouldn’t be reading this if I had sold out quite yet.

I may, (or may not) get my reward in Heaven for all this.

Or maybe answered prayer on earth? Or maybe a small white pebble from God with my new name written on it, known only to me?

Preferably not the word, ‘Arse’…

 

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis