God In The Public Square - Peter Baker
Westminster Hall, Parliament
“God In The Public Square” - This was the important question that Professor John Lennox addressed at the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster Hall, Parliament, on Tuesday June 24th.
My guest on table 51 was Jessica Toale MP for Bournemouth West. Sat with us were a Lord, a Baroness, a Dame and a Canon. So, I was with some pretty big guns!
On other tables were MP's from different political parties including Cabinet Ministers. The Speaker of the House welcomed us and Rachel Maskell, who is chair of the cross-party Christians in Parliament group, led the proceedings.
Keith and Kirsten Getty led the worship. Dai Woolridge delivered a spoken word poem on humanity in the Image of God. John Lennox spoke from John 19 about Pilate interviewing Jesus about truth and power.
Afterwards I was given a guided tour of both Houses of Parliament and just for a moment stood at the despatch box pretending to be the PM!!
Here are three reflections from a memorable day:
1.Public Service is demanding and important.
Jessica Toale, The Bournemouth West MP, was clearly engaged in the event and interested in the community work Lansdowne is doing. She has agreed to visit us to see some of our community programmes in action and meet our leaders.
Among other things, we talked about two particular and controversial bills that had been debated and passed in the Commons last week - Assisted dying for terminally ill adults and decriminalising abortion for women.
In both cases, though we had different views on the merits of the legislation, I was struck by how conscientiously Jessica had researched the subjects and voted.
2. There is still a significant Christian voice in our political culture.
It wasn't just the event itself that made the point so clearly. It is the extent to which there are a number of Christians in Parliament.
The Tour Guide told us that prayers are said every morning in the Commons Chamber.
Given the number of MPs, over 600, and only 427 seats available, an MP can guarantee their seat for a debate by leaving a Prayer Card on it!
3. The Scriptural injunction, "Pray for those in authority ..." was reinforced for me as Wes Streeting (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) walked by at the end of the breakfast.
Whatever our party-political affiliation, we can pray for those politicians who identify as Christians.
We can also engage our local MP honestly and respectfully in those issues which are important to us as Christians. The public square is just as much a space for the truth of God and the gospel as every other. There is no part of existence to which Jesus does not lay claim.
You might like to be aware of an event at Lansdowne at 7:30 on Saturday Sept 20th during the Liberal Democrat Party Conference. Tim Farron is speaking to the title: “Come and hear a politician talk about Jesus."
Bring not- yet Christians with you!
Peter Baker
Senior Minister