Saturday 31 July, 2010

.blogs

Saint George's day

Posted: Apr 24, 2008 by Matt

It was Saint George’s day on April 23rd and for a long time this festival has just ‘been’. We all knew about it but probably couldn’t name the date and, unlike the Scots and Irish, we just got on with it and didn’t go into all out celebrations. We were proud of being English and just enjoyed living in this beautiful country. Now we face a situation of tabloids screaming ‘immigration’, supposed nationalists who label all Muslims as terrorists and a real question of national identity. We have a government that seems happy to let in people of many differing cultures and beliefs. Whether that is good or bad is not the purpose of this blog but is hard to deny that there is a looming crisis of national identity. I have often thought how hard it must be for Gordon Brown to balance serving the people, which is the job he is elected to do, and helping others less fortunate than ourselves, privileged as we are to live in comfort. I have been concerned about these issues for a long time now.

Here are some quotes from a Daily Telegraph blog on the topic of St George’s day. I’m not trying to start a national debate here or discuss the EU. Being near voting age, I’m forming my own beliefs and keeping my opinions on these matters quiet.

The subject of the blog was a cancelled parade in the predominantly Muslim suburbs of Bradford on the grounds of ‘health and safety‘ in case of race riots.

It is time that Scottish MPs stopped ruling England and we became a separate Nation. What do Scotland and Wales and Ireland contribute to England. Get rid of them and the MPs and celebrate being English again. Don’t believe this Codswallop about Brown wanting an England, all he wants is a Euroland. How to celebrate Saint George’s day…very quietly. Don’t want to upset the Muslims, Scots, Irish, Welsh etc! Celebrate by burning an effigy of the current PM and then dancing on the ashes whilst holding the flag of St George aloft and singing, "God save the Queen." We should all get the day off and have a big party!! I know it’s not much to be proud of, but it’s still our country, and today’s the day we celebrate the fact! In England, migrants have no doubt been treated with great kindness, courtesy, respect and equality. Therefore I feel the true essence of England, lies in its ability to be accommodating and fair and to all people irrespective of race or culture. But I am really sad to say that the Government is now being unfair to the English by not allowing them to publicly celebrate a National Day – It is victimising the English! There are hardly any English left, what is there to celebrate? By executing our leaders and hanging the corpses from Traitor’s Gate in the Tower of London.

I was deeply shocked looking at these. There is an underlying bitterness in our country about identity; of who we are and what the future holds. The Christian heritage is dying amidst ‘free speech‘ and the right to live how you want, think what you want and enjoy life’s liberties. Amidst this fading, many are calling for a return to the ‘Christian ideals‘ and to have ‘England for the English‘. But these ideals do not tie in with God’s ideals. Jon’srecent blog was titled ‘At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow‘. This shows unity and how we are equal in God’s eyes. These ‘patriots‘ are seeking to go back to the England of Rule Britannia and restore pride. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic. I myself am very proud of the history, ideals and my being English, but the hatred of minority groups and political correctness will only foster more disagreement and trouble. I worry about what is happening to my home.

Jesus didn’t come for the Jews as many thought. He didn’t come to kick out the ruling Roman dictatorship as many hoped. He came to forgive and to love ALL. In an ideal world there would be no national boundaries and so no war, bombs or economic boycotts but, unfortunately, that is the world we live in because of sin. The Bible says that this world is not our home. This is only the temporary place before we go to live with God forever. This is a bit like the ‘shadow Narnia‘ revealed in CS. Lewis last book of that series. There we will truly be one people united under the one true God. Tim Hughes song ‘Centre of it all‘, in Matt’s last blog, talks that ‘it all begins and ends with God… the first, the last, the centre of it all… in you all things are held together… you are the centre of it all‘. Nations and empires have been and gone for millennia; Rome, Babylon, Mongolia, Inca. The whole Old Testament is full of such tales but throughout all of these God has endured.

In this era of supposed free speech we are often forced into the exact opposite so as not to offend people. This is so hard when we know that their eternal future and salvation are at stake. This is the Good News so why on Earth should it not be heard? We are called as Christians to be the salt and light of the world and in this increasing national stress that is what we must be. Love those who are arriving in our country, whatever their circumstances. Pray for those in power, that they will make the right decisions and that democracy will be upheld. Pray for the future. Pray for people’s souls and for the soul of the nation which is slipping so far away from God. Hope 2008 is meant to be the year for this. God is in all of this somewhere. I am English and British officially and also in my heart. I love this country, my country, and I am proud to say that, but I long for the life that must surely be better than this. Habakkuk reads, "Look at the nations, look at what I am going to do in your day.""

In my father’s house there are many rooms…". One of those rooms is mine. That is my true identity and my true home. With Jesus.