Britain continues to abandon its biblical heritage.

A dysfunctional House of Commons voted in Westminster this week to impose same-sex marriage and abortion upon the people of Northern Ireland – the only part of the United Kingdom that respects biblical teaching on these issues. MPs, aided and abetted by a rebellious Speaker of the House, took advantage of the fact that Britain at present is effectively without a fully functioning Government, to pass amendments to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill.

The amendments threaten to impose LGBTQ demands upon the people of Ulster by 21 October this year unless the Stormont Government has been reinstated. The DUP, who are the main representatives of the people of Northern Ireland in the House of Commons, and the only Bible-believing political party in the British Parliament, strongly opposed the measures, but they were nevertheless approved by large majorities.

Sinn Fein (who refuse to take their Westminster seats), the political party with whom the DUP have to cooperate if the Northern Ireland Assembly is to be reactivated, immediately expressed approval of the Westminster votes, which is unlikely to make it easier for Stormont to rise from the ashes after 2 ½ years of dormancy. The future for Northern Ireland is further complicated by Brexit and the failure to agree a solution to Irish border issues in the event of Britain leaving the European Union.

The Shaking of the Political Scene

The political scene in the United Kingdom is also struggling to cope with strong opposition to Brexit from Scotland, and growing demands from the SNP for another Scottish Referendum, with the threat of breaking up the Union. Adding all these political tensions together presents a graphic scene of dysfunction over the whole of the United Kingdom where we have a powerless Prime Minister with only days to run and two men vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, neither of whom appear to have the outstanding qualities required to unite the nation in a time of crisis.

Adding all the political tensions together presents a graphic scene of dysfunction over the whole of the United Kingdom.

But what about the official Opposition? The most shocking revelations of the week came in the BBC Panorama programme investigating the rise of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party since the advent of the Corbyn leadership. The evidence all came back inexorably to Corbyn himself and his personal hostility to Israel and ambivalent attitude towards Jews. Clearly the Labour Party itself is falling apart and, like the rest of the House of Commons, it is utterly dysfunctional and unfit to be Her Majesty’s Opposition at a critical time in the nation’s history.

See Credits

Another big story of the week has been the unpatriotic action of a Sunday newspaper in publishing leaked reports from the British Ambassador in Washington that have done immense harm to Anglo-American relationships resulting in the Ambassador’s resignation. Boris Johnson’s hesitation in giving unqualified support to the Ambassador in his televised leadership encounter was quite understandable. The subject is far too sensitive for an off-the-cuff verdict. I’ve no doubt that Sir Kim Darroch’s assessment of the dysfunctionality of the Trump Administration is accurate. But the difference between the White House and the Westminster Parliament is simply that Westminster has been exposed to the world whereas Washington has so far been more successful in covering any cracks.

Hypocrisy and Rebellion

But perhaps an even more significant story of the week has been the intervention of Sir John Major saying he would take court action to stop Parliament being prorogued in order to achieve Brexit by the end of October. Why should we listen to the opinions of a man who strongly campaigned to remain in the EU and was not renowned for his moral integrity?

The plain fact is we have a Parliament that is refusing to honour the wishes of the nation as expressed in the 2016 Referendum to leave the European Union. Parliament is in rebellion against the will of the nation and has been totally unable to find collective agreement on any issue concerning Brexit. It has therefore proved itself to be utterly dysfunctional and unable to provide effective government of the nation. Surely such a parliament should be prorogued if that is the only way to achieve the will of the people – that is democracy!

Parliament is in rebellion against the will of the nation.

I went to a meeting of the Lords and Commons Family and Child Protection Group in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The whole of Parliament Square was choked with hundreds of taxis on strike blocking the traffic, and protest groups with all their different messages. It really was a pathetic scene of confusion matching the scene inside Parliament and indeed the condition of the buildings themselves with an abundance of scaffolding!

The Fall of the Empire

Looking back at history it is astonishing to think that the nation at the head of the British Empire, upon which the sun never set, has now come to this pathetic situation where our Parliament is in greater disarray than many banana states, and even the pound is almost at the lowest ebb it has ever been. We are not making a case for colonialism, but simply highlighting the obvious fall in the influence of the nation on the world stage. How are the mighty fallen! What has brought Great Britain to this critical state?

There is only one answer to this question. It is there, written large in the history of the nation – the abandoning of the Judaeo-Christian biblical heritage that was established by our forefathers and for which millions of young men gave their lives to preserve in two world wars during the last century.

The abandoning of its Judaeo-Christian biblical heritage has brought Great Britain to a critical state today.

I lived through one of those wars – as a child I remember the bombing, the bloodshed and the hardship – we even had to grow our own food and keep hens in the back garden – but we were leaner and healthier then than we are today with our fast-food culture and our overindulgence.

Hope in Humility

In wartime we were united in faith: we were a praying nation, and we were fighting to uphold standards of righteousness and truth. Today, we have a rebellious generation that does not even know the meaning of truth. As Jesus said: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matt 13:13). We have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Rom 1:25).

Is there any hope? As a patriot I would love to be able to answer that affirmatively! But, after many years of studying the Bible and the history of God’s dealings with his covenant people Israel, I have to say that the only hope for the nation lies in repentance and turning back to the truth. For Israel, it only came after the tragedy of exile in Babylon, so it may be that we have to experience tragedy befalling Britain before eyes are open and people cry out, “O God, what has gone wrong?” Then, there can be a spiritual awakening transforming the nation and its fortunes.

The only hope for the nation lies in repentance and turning back to the truth.

The words of the Prophet Joel offer hope even in a desperate situation: “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing” (Joel 2:13-14).

Paul Luckraft reviews 'The Servant Queen and the King she serves' (2016, 64 pages, Bible Society, HOPE, LICC), a unique and magnificent tribute to Her Majesty.

This book is being published jointly by the Bible Society, HOPE and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), to mark the Queen's 90^th birthday in April. In a year in which the UK will be looking ahead to its future in or out of the EU, we also have the opportunity to reflect on the many decades of faithful service of one of the most remarkable and Godly monarchs in our long history.

Co-written by Mark Greene of LICC and Catherine Butcher of HOPE, this short book is a magnificent tribute to Her Majesty. It focuses primarily upon her own words delivered in her Christmas messages over the course of her long reign - words which reflect her deep faith in Christ and the gospel. Her gratitude to God for his steadfast love and continued faithfulness is commented upon in the foreword which Her Majesty wrote especially for this publication.

In the foreword, written by Her Majesty especially for this publication, her gratitude to God for his steadfast love and faithfulness shines through.

The book also contains several well-chosen anecdotes - sometimes humorous, always enlightening, which add to the overall impression of a real person behind all the pomp and ceremony of her position. Despite having many servants (though she would never regard her staff as mere servants) she always feeds the corgis herself!

Pictures of her smiling face as she meets and greets people while going about her duty are plentiful, but perhaps most striking is the close-up of her face in quiet prayerful reflection on Remembrance Day.

Through this book we come to understand just how dedicated she has been to the calling placed upon her and how hard she works on a daily basis. Her devotion to us stems from her devotion to God, and for that we can all be profoundly grateful.

Her Majesty's devotion to her people stems from her devotion to God, and for that we can all be profoundly grateful.

Two small snippets of information stood out for me. There was one part of the Coronation ceremony which was not televised as it was considered too sacred to show, but which is described here. This was the moment when all the regalia was removed and, dressed in a simple white dress, the Queen was anointed with oil and set apart to serve.

The other fascinating insight recounts how, when in residence at Sandringham, she often comes unannounced to join the local congregation at the church on the estate. No chauffeur, no ceremony, she slips in through the small side-door and takes a seat in one of the pews - not even the special one reserved only for her. She has simply driven herself to church because she wants to be there.

Overall, this is a very moving account of the private faith of a very public person. For me, what comes through these pages is an overwhelming sense of true majesty. I felt a strong impression that to simply stand - or kneel - silently in her presence, before her throne, would be to get a foretaste of what it will be like one day when we stand - or kneel - before the eternal throne of the King of Kings (and Queens!), the King she serves. And that she would humbly accept our homage as such.

This is a very moving account of the private faith of a very public person – and what comes through these pages is a sense of true majesty.

Bible Society, HOPE, LICC have designed this unique book to be given away to friends and colleagues, to start conversations and to bring communities together.

You can order 'The Servant Queen' through CPO by following this link.

Single copies are priced at £5 + P&P, with bulk orders (packs of 10) bringing the cost down to £1 + P&P. Extra resources also available for school and community distribution.