The Scottish Christian Party believes the country needs a distinctly Christian Voice in the Scottish Parliament and, by God’s grace, it is possible to do so.
How is it Possible? Click here.
Written by Revd J. George Hargreaves
Saturday, 17 June 2006
In the May 2005 General Election I stood as a parliamentary candidate in the
Western Isles constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar. On polling day 7.8% of
the electorate cast their vote in my favour, and the Labour incumbent MP lost
his seat after 18 years in Parliament. In reality the good folk of the Western
Isles did not vote for me, they voted for what I stood for; namely ‘the
proclamation of the Lordship of Christ.
In lay terms this means acknowledging that Christ is the highest governmental authority, even higher than Parliament. During the campaign I did encounter some objections, even from among Christians. To pre-empt the four most common of those objections being raised in the future, I am going to address them now.
So here goes:
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1. “Shouldn’t we render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s?”
This quotation, which can be found in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels is often taken out of context to argue that Christians should place their faith in one compartment of life and their political thought and actions in another. The scripture actually teaches that whilst we should pay our taxes in submission to secular authority, we should give our all to God. The denarius coin that Caesar Tiberius minted for the payment of taxes had an inscription that made the claim that Tiberius was “the son of the divine Augustus” i.e. the son of a god. The coin also bore the Emperor’s image, just as we bear the image of God. The point Jesus was making was give that which was made in Caesar’s image (the coin) to Caesar, but give that which was made in God’s image (yourself) to God. Just as it says in Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
2. “Isn’t politics about compromise, and religion about absolutes?”
Firstly, Christianity is not a religion as such, it is a dynamic relationship with God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, politics is not about compromise, politics is about the ordering (or administration) of civil society. There are many ways in which civil society can be ordered; compromise is just one of them. Another way is through obedience to and faith in God. I believe the latter is what we desperately need. Just look around and you will see that the former has failed. It is time for us to reject compromise and demand integrity, both in our relation to our fellow man and to God.
3. “There should be a separation of Church and State, as there is in the U.S.A.”
The fact is the “separation of church and state” in the U.S.A. is a myth. The First Amendment of the US constitution provides that: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It was Thomas Jefferson who in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association interpreted the First Amendment as “building a wall of separation between church and state.” This however is not how the U.S. Supreme Court understands the First Amendment. In Walz v Tax Commission of the City of New York, 379 U.S. 670, 90 s. Ct. 1409 (1970) the Supreme Court ruled: Adherents of particular faith and individual churches frequently take strong positions on public issues including,… vigorous advocacy of legal and constitutional positions. Of course, churches as much as secular bodies and private citizens have that right.
4. “Having a Christian Party will put Christians in a political ghetto.”
Having a Christian Party is just like having a Green Party. Whilst there
are greens in all the major political parties, the existence of the Green
Party has kept green issues on the political agenda. In the same the way the
Christian Party intends to keep Christian issues on the political agenda.
Now green issues have taken political centre stage, owing to the clear evidence
to all that we cannot carelessly treat the environment without suffering the
consequences. The same will become self-evident concerning the way we treat
God and his Word.
• Christian Constitution of Scotland: The Scottish Christian Party highlights the irresponsible failure of the SNP to say what will happen to the Christian Constitution of Scotland if the Treaty of Union 1707 is broken.
The Scottish public deserves to know this before an Election in which the pundits think the SNP may form the next administration; but the SNP has not addressed the question publicly far less provided any answers.
• Education: To give real choice we will campaign for an Educational Voucher Scheme, sex education on a parental opt-in basis, a daily act of Christian worship with Bible reading, and no obligation to promote other faiths.
Creationism and Intelligent Design will be considered alongside Evolution in science classes.
• Economic Development: Less reliance on fossil fuels, with increased emphasis on self-sustainability. Investment in new nuclear
plants must be matched by investment in research and development for nuclear waste solutions.
Explore the potential of water export, and effective extraction of North Sea oil with infrastructure designed to be adapted afterwards for marine renewable projects.
• Housing: Affordable housing earmarked as Local Family Housing.
• Gambling: Opposition to super casinos.
• Elected Police & Fire chiefs: The role of the Police and Fire Service does not involve marching in uniform, or handing out leaflets, at Gay parades. We believe they should be maintaining law and order impartially, and fighting fires. Electing chiefs will ensure accountability.
• Freedom of conscience, of speech and of public preaching: We will address the imbalance in law concerning giving and taking offence, and the oppressive emphasis in diversity training.
• Drugs: Zero tolerance on illegal drugs.
