I woke up yesterday morning not remembering what news I had
been waiting for in my sleep. What I have felt since then resembles the stages of
grief: shock, denial and anger. I cried for a long time when I found out the
news that we had voted to leave the European Union. I honestly feel an
overwhelming sense of sadness, anger, bewilderment, betrayal, desperation, and
powerlessness.
And yet. And yet, I totally believe with my heart and my
head that God is in control; yes, indeed, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that
in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25). I know my citizenship is
not of this earth; I know that God is sovereign; I know that my primary concern
is the spread of the Gospel and his Kingdom, not earthly principalities.
But does all that mean that as Christians we shouldn’t feel
emotions about this? I think not and I’m here to express that. This post is
written out of a heart in turmoil, a head that aches from thinking about all
this and a desire to try and struggle through these issues and come out the
other side with grace and love. I’m trying, and praying, but it’s hard. I need
help, and I imagine a lot of Christians are feeling like this too.
When someone endures a loss such as a loved one dying,
getting a cancer diagnosis or becoming bankrupt, do we glibly tell them it’s ok
and not to worry because “God knows”? No… at least I hope not. Yes, we use the
Bible as a means of comforting them but in the context of offering support,
love, compassion and understanding.
God cares deeply about our membership of the EU (or not).
That’s not to claim I know his opinion on it. I just know that he cares. His
sovereignty does not preclude sadness, anger or pleasure at earthly actions.
Quite the opposite; who cares more about injustice and poverty than the Lord
our God? Whose heart breaks more than his at needless death, greed and
violence? (Proverbs 6:17 – “The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood”;
Psalm 10:17 – “You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted”). So God himself,
who knows that all things are bound together for his pleasure, purposes and
glory, feels pain and anger and devastation at the events that happen on this
earth.
I have seen many Christians post verses and quick-fire
responses that seem to reference God’s sovereignty as a reason for not having
strong feelings about the referendum. And I find them very hard to accept
because I am struggling. I’m struggling to wrap my heart around the truths of
God’s word, and I am clinging onto them, but just as in any other crisis you
are still buffeted around by grief and anger while you hold onto the anchor,
and I need help.
So, Christians who voted Leave, and those who voted Remain
but weren’t all that bothered about the vote, I am asking you 5 favours:
1) Please accept and acknowledge that a deep Christian
belief in God’s sovereignty is not incompatible with deeply negative feelings
about this decision. Please do not gloss over these legitimate feelings or
assume we are responding unchristianly because we are going through them.
2) Please show compassion to us and allow us to feel what we
need to feel while we struggle to hold onto God’s promises through this.
Yesterday it had been literally HOURS since the decision was announced, we were all still reeling, and my feed was
full of people telling us to “stop whinging”; “suck it up”; and other less
wholesome language. I’m fully aware there were Remain voters also coming out
with some nasty stuff and that’s not on either but I’m not speaking
specifically to them in this post.
3) Please try and understand that you really don’t
understand how this feels, and that’s ok, but it needs acknowledging. If you
voted to Leave, or voted to Remain but didn’t really feel that passionate about
it, it’s impossible to understand why we are feeling genuinely awful about it.
It’s not at all the same as how the Leave voters would have felt if they’d
lost, because a) that wouldn’t have been a shock and b) that would have meant a
return to the status quo. This is a seismic shift and one that’s very much full
of uncertainty and turmoil.
4) Please talk to us. I am sensible enough to be deeply
concerned that the referendum does not come between Christian brothers and
sisters! But a lack of grace in any situation, from either side, is more
difficult to overcome. I am a flawed person and I struggle to be fully gracious
when it comes to political issues, but I am desperately trying! As the winners,
I need the help of Leave voters to be magnanimous in victory!
5) If you’re a Christian and not bothered about politics,
please question why not. I have more empathy for Leave voters who were
passionate about their belief for the right reasons than Remain voters who aren’t
bothered. The Christians of the past – the Wilberforces, Booths and Frys – they
were at the forefront of social change because
of their Christian beliefs, not in spite of. And if our minds are on heaven, we
will act on earth.
You might sense that this isn’t written as a wrapped-up,
perfectly-packaged piece but a whole load of scrambled emotions…. And you’d be
spot on. I am aware, and sorry for, any ungracious attitudes to those who
disagree with me and don’t empathise with my feelings on the matter throughout
this campaign. Some may think that enough is enough and one more opinion piece
on the EU is one too many, but I hope by writing this it may help some and at
least explain my seemingly nonsensical reactions to some of my friends.
In Christ, who will indeed one day stand upon the earth –
Amen!
