As we conclude our brief series on Ireland (part 1 and part 2 here), I do hope you will appreciate that I have attempted only to paint the big picture. And I trust it will help you pray for this wonderful piece of God’s real estate which has produced a star-studded list of missionaries, headed by St Patrick, who have helped to make a profound impact for the gospel around the world.
Much-acclaimed author and preacher Sam Gordon, who still ministers much in his native Northern Ireland while living in Yorkshire, says: “It’s important to realise that gospel work continues. Jesus is building his church, and the pro rata influence of Northern Ireland on global mission is considerable. Furthermore, there are a number of men now involved in gospel ministry who were formerly paramilitaries - a reminder that there is no limit to God’s grace.”
Idolatrous strongholds
Nevertheless, the idolatrous strongholds of national identity and strife need to be broken, with pride laid down before the God of the Universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls us to worship him alone, and to have no other gods beside him!
Both Catholicism and Protestantism have, in many countries, become a culture more than a religion, which partly explains why paramilitaries exist on both sides. It isn’t religion (which is a belief system) that is the problem, but idolatry – putting our hope and trust in someone or something other than the God who created us and provides us with everything we need.
But if our god is a united Ireland on the one hand, or staying in the union at all costs on the other, we are in irreconcilable territory which could lead to civil war.
But if our god is a united Ireland on the one hand, or staying in the union at all costs on the other, we are in irreconcilable territory which could lead to civil war. As Harry Smith said in his book Heal Not Lightly: “Until we realise that we are dealing with something with spiritual roots, nothing is going to radically change.”
Politicians and others are treating the fruit of the problems rather than the root. The title of his book comes from a Bible passage where, referring to false prophets, Jeremiah writes: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying ‘Peace, peace’, when there is no peace.” (Jer 8:11) Only changes in the heavenly realms will ultimately manifest themselves in the social and political realms, Harry adds.
Call to be peacemakers – by sharing Jesus
Our gospel call is to be peacemakers and reconcilers. Peace in Ireland will not come from politics, but from people who know their God. It was Jesus who ensured a relatively peaceful transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa; the theological underpinning of apartheid was broken by the very people who built it – they repented of their sin. And the icing on the cake was that the two main protagonists – Nelson Mandela and F W de Klerk – both had an encounter with Jesus. (I have met, and heard his story, the man who was once chaplain to Mandela and his cohorts on Robben Island; I have no reason to doubt his testimony.) There were others also involved – men like Michael Cassidy, Chief Buthelezi and Ray McCauley – all wonderful Christian leaders who helped to bring reconciliation in the name of Christ.
It’s significant to note that the Christian Renewal Centre, already mentioned, had a heart, not only for reconciliation in Ireland, but also for South Africa and Israel. But the need is everywhere. The trouble is, these are very uncertain times of widening polarisation, and Christians are confused, especially over some of the hot issues, often preferring to shelter in the apparent safety of an increasingly woke culture.
The trouble is, these are very uncertain times of widening polarisation, and Christians are confused, especially over some of the hot issues, often preferring to shelter in the apparent safety of an increasingly woke culture.
Unfortunately, a growing identity with liberal attitudes is particularly manifested in a rise of anti-Semitic feeling, especially in the south of Ireland. As one young man put it, Palestinians are winning the propaganda war. And even in Belfast, city councillors have passed a motion stipulating that, in view of recent events, the local authority would “write to the Irish and UK governments, urging them to expel from office Israeli ambassadors, with immediate effect.”1
The dangers of pride and disunity
But we need to nail our colours to the mast – over the gospel focus on reconciliation for a start. I’m sure few will have heard of Martin Luther’s warning to his fellow reformer, Melanchthon: “After our death, there will rise many harsh and terrible sects. God help us!”2 This proved something of a self-fulfilling prophecy in that Luther’s own anti-Semitism was used, four centuries later, to justify Nazism and the attempted annihilation of European Jews. In the mid-19th century, Protestant church historian Philip Schaff referred to sects as a “grand disease which has fastened itself upon the heart of Protestantism, and which must be considered…more dangerous, because it appears ordinarily in the imposing garb of piety.”3
Indeed, the Apostle Paul warns us: “If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” (Gal 5:15) Schaff wondered: “Where the process of separation is destined to end, no human calculation can foretell. Anyone who has…some inward experience and a ready tongue may persuade himself that he is called to be a reformer…”4 Ring any bells?
Pride and selfish ambition, rather than primary concern for the kingdom of God, is doubtless behind many of our splits and squabbles. James warns us that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (Jas 3:16). Does our desire to make an impact on the world have motivations of selfish ambition? We need to ensure that we are driven by the Holy Spirit.
A pure faith in Christ
I was watching a young evangelist called Daniel Chand on Christian television5 and was stirred by his passion and boldness as he urged viewers to follow Jesus and be baptised in the Holy Spirit and power. He told of how he had seen people kneel before the Lord on the streets of Birmingham in response to his gospel call. I am praying for a fresh wave of the Holy Spirit to stir the men and women of Ireland to repentance, renewal and revival of the pure faith of Christ, strained through the sieve of God’s refining fire of impure sectarianism and other unclean blockages. Lord, may your kingdom come!
