The Church and the future of Britain
February 2001
by Tim Montgomerie
published in Prophecy Today

Tim Montgomerie reflects on what he has learnt through the 'Listening to Britain's Churches' process

· Listening to Britain's Churches has revealed the reality of Christian life and witness in Britain today - not the media caricatures of equivocation on one hand, and bigotry on the other

· It has also revealed the strength of faith-inspired welfare, which can solve problems the state cannot reach

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Nearly three years ago I left my job in the City of London to go and work for the Conservative Party's Christian Fellowship. Many of my colleagues thought I was crazy - many probably still do. The Conservative Party had only recently suffered a catastrophic defeat in the General Election. After eighteen years in office half of the Conservative cabinet and half of the Party's MPs were thrown from office.

It was a devastating defeat that demanded an extensive renewal of the Conservative Party's purpose and priorities. Some Christians talked to me of the need for the Conservative Party to repent of its past failings before it could be ready for office again.

Listening to Britain's Churches

William Hague, the Conservative leader, decided that a process called Listening to Britain should be at the heart of this renewal process. William Hague promised to reconnect with the common sense concerns of people in every corner of the country and I - alongside a couple of colleagues - was given the task of including Britain's Churches within this consultation process. Today the ongoing Listening to Britain's Churches process has involved over 300 Christian groups and leaders from every part of the country. I cannot deny that the process has had political aims but it has also been a great journey of renewed faith for me.

A casual observer of the media's presentation of Christianity would conclude that authentic biblical beliefs are in rapid retreat within Britain. Our television screens are filled with two stereotyped Christians. The first is an equivocating cleric who will not make any firm distinction between right and wrong. At the other end of the spectrum are strident voices that condemn immoral behaviour but without the compassion that Jesus showed to all the sinners He met. Far away from the television lens I have witnessed a depth of Christian commitment to the neediest people and communities that I would defy anyone to be unmoved by.

I have spent time learning from Christians working with the unemployed, the homeless or children from broken families. Unsung Christian heroes are demonstrating that a biblical understanding of humanity is a proper basis for tackling some of society's most deep-seated social problems. At the end of history Jesus will ask us if we visited the prisoner, tended the sick or clothed the naked? The challenge recorded throughout Scripture can lose its power from familiarity. But it is the essence of Christian discipleship and the churches that are growing throughout Britain are rediscovering its power.

Churches are no longer waiting for others to act but are reclaiming social responsibilities. The myth of secular progress has been exposed. Western society has never been more prosperous or scientifically advanced. The modern state is spending record sums on welfare. But despite all of this - millions of people in our country are still homeless, lonely, fatherless or addicted to drugs. Our country has spent money but it has not given love.

The strength of faith-based charities

Christian charities are different. They succeed for three primary reasons: (1) personal care; (2) forgiveness; and (3) hope. Churches mobilise individual people who have the strength, experience and compassion to minister to a needy person on a sustained basis. There is nothing like the power of example, and Christian ministries are often led by people who have triumphed over personal adversity and can testify to the possibility of change. Forgiveness is the second crucial ingredient of Christian care. Guilt holds people back from being freed from their history. But the Cross washes away the past sin of any person. Finally Christians offer hope. A person can deal with their past but the world does not always provide them with financial success or the partner they seek. Christianity gives them hope in eternal truths can never perish.

In America, President George W Bush, whose own life of alcohol problems was transformed after being witnessed to by Billy Graham, is giving a leading role to faith-based ministries. William Hague is promising the same in Britain. He is arguing that neither the government nor the individual can deal with society's most intractable problems. A good society depends upon good neighbours and these agents of compassion are most often found in families, churches and voluntary groups. That is why the Conservative leader plans to strengthen these institutions of civil society. Conservatives will begin by restoring a marriage tax allowance. Conservatives will then explore radical ways of getting funds to compassionate groups whilst allowing those groups to retain their essential religious or foundational character.

William Hague summarised this message when he became the first party leader to address Spring Harvest, the biggest gathering of evangelical Christians in Europe: "For some the big moral issue is marriage and family life. For others it is religious freedom and democracy. Others focus on the sanctity of life. And some on unemployment or poverty. People often divide into two camps - those who focus on so-called personal moral issues and others who campaign on so-called social morality. I think that distinction is artificial. I do not believe that it is a distinction that can be found in the teachings of any of the great world religions. Jesus called us to serve the lonely as well as the hungry; the prisoner as well as the homeless; and the orphan and widow as well as the sick."