Unite the Kingdom – and the Church 

Finding unity to the left and right of politics - in Christ

The Unite the Kingdom march, led by Tommy Robinson two weekends ago, has generated enormous discussion and has been derided by many - including our Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood at the Labour Party conference this week. The was very well attended, with vast crowds filling many streets in the centre of London. And, for the numbers involved, it was a very peaceful affair.

There may well have been a number attending who could legitimately be called ‘far right’, but the vast majority were just ordinary people concerned by what has happened to this country of ours.

Christian influence

What captured the attention of the press was the fact that there were so many Christian banners, references and even speeches. The cross of St George, as the national flag of England, was hugely prominent – whether everyone present recognised it as such or not, it symbolises the centrality of Jesus to this nation (as the Scottish saltire does too, with the diagonal cross of St Andrew.)

The proliferation of Christian influences within this movement is a feature that, on the whole, is enormously encouraging. It shows us a lot about what is happening under the surface in our country.

Christian heritage

First of all, it shows us that there is a dawning realisation by many that our Judeo-Christian heritage has been crucial to who we have been as a nation, and the West in general. Secular writers such as Tom Holland and Douglas Murray have brought this into the mainstream of intellectual thought (with Tom Holland actually becoming a Christian through the insights gained while researching his book, Dominion).

The cross of St George, as the national flag of England, symbolises the centrality of Jesus to this nation.

MP Danny Kruger’s speech to an almost empty Parliament this summer about the historical Christian foundations of England, and the need for a Christian restoration, went viral, with his post on ‘X’ now approaching 4 million views (along with hundreds of thousands of views on many other channels). Those banners, and the celebration of faith by the marchers, even by those who had no faith of their own, is testimony to the fact that this message is cutting through to a very wide audience.

Influence on society

It shows also that Christianity is beginning to become a significant influence on society too. Together with the substantial increase in church attendance across many denominations and flavours of the Church, this has the potential to grow into a more widespread revival, one that could significantly influence our nation for the better. It is clear that there is a hunger and an opening for the gospel across the land in a way that there hasn’t been for a long time.

Political right

What it also shows, however, is that it is predominantly those on the conservative (with a small ‘c’) right of politics that has, so far, embraced the concept of the foundational nature of Judeo-Christian values. The extent to which these people have embraced the gospel, and Christ Himself, is yet to be seen.  

The extent to which these people have embraced the gospel, and Christ Himself, is yet to be seen.  

It’s fantastic that those on what would be described as ‘the right’ have realised the central importance of the Christian faith to our nation. There are two dangers, however, that I feel Christians need to be aware of. I say this not to diminish the welcome news, but to hopefully help us guide this movement to a truly transformational place.

Christ is paramount

Firstly, for Christians, the centrality of the message should be Christ Himself. It is Jesus’ death and resurrection, His teachings, the fact that it is He who holds all this world together, that is our central message. If this ends up as only a co-opting of Christianity for the purposes of a political movement, then it is doomed.

Many politicians co-opt Christianity (or indeed any faith) for their own purposes – even Hitler did so. We can’t prevent that, but we can make sure that, for those of us who are Christians, the political element is secondary – our faith in Christ should be paramount, and making Him known.

The laws that underpin society are one (very important) aspect of making a country Christian. But what is even more important is a people who, in the main, worship God, and seek to live in a way that pleases Him. This will have an influence on attitudes in society like respect, honesty, hard work, care for family, honouring life, caring for the disabled and elderly, etc. If these attitudes aren’t already part ingrained in the population, laws can only do so much. (Think of the huge cost to society of the high rate of shoplifting, for example. If people want to please God, they won’t shoplift – which puts up prices for everyone else.)

If these attitudes aren’t already part ingrained in the population, laws can only do so much.

Neither right or left-wing

The second danger is that this becomes only a movement of the right-wing (including the ‘far right’. (I hesitate to use that term now, as it is being applied to so many who do not fit that description.) Jesus is neither right nor left-wing – aspects of both strands of politics bear imprints of His influence. What we want is for Christ to be welcomed into all areas of our society, communities, families and politics. We truly don’t want those who are naturally inclined to left-wing politics to be put off the gospel by its co-opting by those on the right.

As a Christian, in recent years, I have found reasoning from the right-wing sector to be stronger, due partly to the seeming economic illiteracy of some on the left, but especially from the crazy excesses of ‘woke’ ideology embraced by so many on the left. But actually, left-wing politics in this country developed from very strong Christian foundations, that of caring for the weak and vulnerable in society.

To this end, the other thing that is needed is for strong, Christian left-wing voices to make the case for Christ, for the importance of Christianity. These should be voices that don’t seek to disparage the right, but that want to ensure that Christ is centre of the mainstream Labour or Lib-Dem movement. A voice that proclaims Christ as the reason for their priorities of care for the weak and vulnerable – including genuine asylum seekers. One that rejects the excesses of trans activism, of dividing the nation into victim groups/oppressors, one that, as well as promoting welfare for those most in need, also sees the biblical imperative that the idle – those who will not work (not those who genuinely can’t) – won’t eat (2Thess 3:10).

Actually, left-wing politics in this country developed from very strong Christian foundations, that of caring for the weak and vulnerable in society.

Uniting right and left

A nation where both right and left recognise the importance of the Bible, and the centrality of Christ, is one where dissenting voices can be listened to and learned from, not shut down. For a true change will only be effected when both left and right embrace Jesus and the truths of Scripture.

For us, as Christians, the priorities are these:

• Make Jesus the centre of our life;
• Make Him known;
• Pray for our nation;
• Hold loosely to any political movement; but hold tightly to Christ.