February 2019

If you’re for Brexit or afraid of the effects of it,
If you’re not into the politics ‘cos everyone’s shifty,
Or curious of what happens after triggering article fifty – ask yourself – 
Who’s in charge?  Who’s in control? King of the castle – who plays that role?*

I cannot help but feel for Theresa May at the moment.  I admire her determination to strive for what she believes is right.  I admire her willingness to lead the country to Brexit when she herself voted Remain. I wonder if my heart goes out to her for being the daughter of a clergyman too?  (I pray my daughter won’t become prime minister!)

I say the same about so many of our politicians at present – whether we agree with them or not – have you noticed how tired and exhausted they all look?  They must be working so hard!  Even Labour MP Tulip Siddiq cancelled her scheduled C-section in order to vote on the most recent Brexit deal!

I have a strong hunch that whoever would be leading the government at this time, I would be feeling compassion for right now.  Whoever took up the prime minister’s office following the EU referendum I suspect was destined to find it tough and destined to have ‘no control’!  We wait to see if destined to fail.  Any referendum result that ends with a slim majority I imagine would be difficult for any leader or government to navigate their way through.

Here are three things that I believe we should do right now as Christians with regard to the ‘29 March’ Brexit.

Firstly, we should take an interest…  Some of us are thinking – How obvious!   Yet recently on the day of the no confidence vote in Theresa May as Prime Minister, I confess I opted for an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay on the telly, between of all teams, Southampton and Derby County.  Former Penyffordd lad, Tom Lawrence, did score his penalty for winning Derby though!

Just as the National Assembly led to large changes in how politics is done here in Wales, Brexit is going to lead to even greater changes than Welsh devolution has resulted in.  Just as Welsh devolution lessened its dependence on UK governance and laws – we are now realising how dependent the past 40+ years the UK has become on our relationship with Europe too.  We need to take an interest – it’s going to affect us.

Secondly, we must pray…  No one seems to be able to predict what’s going to happen.  No political leader.  No political party.  No government.  No nation.  We are all uncertain about our future.  We are feeling insecure and unstable.  What is going to happen to trade?  To the economy?  To EU nationals in the UK?  To Brits living out in sunny Spain?  What will happen to the way our country is governed?  

We don’t know.  But even so we can trust God to watch over us.  We can commit both the UK and Europe to God and remember that ‘when we pray, God intervenes’.

Thirdly, we should not worry… The wonderful truth of being a Christian is we trust God is ‘in control’.  Even if worst case scenario our economy goes pear-shaped, we lose complete faith in politics and our relationship with Europe is gone, through the storms of life, we can still survive, maybe even thrive, and know God’s peace.

The Apostle Paul taught:  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7)

Jesus taught:  Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:31-33)

Who’s in charge?  Who’s in control? King of the castle – who plays that role?
He doesn’t reside in Downing Street
He’s the one who grew up to wash his disciples feet
He doesn’t sit in the Oval Office
He rules the Holy Office*

* Dai Woolridge in his The Holy Office