Whether you are a Tory or not you may have been watching the race to replace Boris Johnson. Mr.Johnson will be Prime Minister until September 5 and then we will know who our next leader will be. New candidates have emerged, some are known to us, and some are not so well known. As you may have noticed some of the hopefuls are of non-British, non-Christian origin. Sajid Javid is a non-practicing Muslim, Rishi Sunak is a practicing Hindu, etc. It is quite like we may find ourselves with a non-Christian as our Prime Minister. Historically this may be the first time a non-Christian has headed a European nation since the Moors were expelled from Spain in 1492.

Many Christians may be concerned by this turn of events. The UK has been a Christian nation for centuries and to have a non-Christian ‘at the top’ would be a new phenomenon. Of course, as UK-based-born citizens, Mr. Sunak, Mr. Javid, and others have as much right to be Prime Minister as anyone. It is arguable with the advent of secularism, other faiths, humanism, etc, the UK has not been a Christian nation for a while.

Amongst Native British church attendance has without doubt fallen. Although that said, Christianity is still the largest faith, other faiths, particularly Islam, have grown. Here are 10 reasons that are given for people (even those who identify as Christian) not attending church:

1) Greater affluence.

2) Kids activities.

3) More travel.

4) Blended and single-parent families.

5) Other options like online sermons, worship, etc.

6) Cultural disappearance of guilt.

7) Self-directed spirituality.

8) Seeing no direct benefit.

9) Church valuing attendance over engagement.

10) Massive culture shift.

There are Christians (who are Royalists) that fear what will happen when the Queen a practicing Christian dies. Undoubtedly, Prince Charles has labeled himself Commander of the Faiths rather than the Chrisitan faith. William appears to be more open to a multi-racial/multi-religious society as befits a UK monarch of today.

Christians understand that people of others faiths are here to stay. We will engage with them in our workplace, at school, in places of learning, even in social settings, etc.

Jesus himself lived in a land that was predominantly Jewish but there were other communities too. Greeks, Arabs, Africans, etc, would have been the everyday people Jesus encountered on his journeys. The Jewish nation at the time was conquered and occupied by the Romans, a foreign power. Yet Christ as God incarnate didn’t judge them on their faith, their culture, and nationality, but he looked at their humanity. He invited all to become his followers and never forced or threatened anyone to follow him or his doctrine. He gives everyone the choice to become his disciple or not, as is God’s way.

Yes, Christ most certainly is the way, the truth, and the life. However, all humans are made in God’s image and even if they are not Christian they will still reflect something of God’s goodness. So in a changing society with the folk of other faiths, we must be tolerant. No doubt, from a Christian point of view there are legitimate concerns about non-Christians taking charge. For example, what does that say about our nation? It means for many that our nation is tolerant, open, and non-judgemental. Of course, in principle, this is very Christian, yet sadly, our faith becomes just one of many.

Christianity may be declining in some aspects but it is still the largest faith worldwide and in the UK. The gates of hell will never prevail against the church of Christ, and our faith has gone through many challenges before, and yet has survived. Whatever happens in the UK there will always be Christians keeping the fire alive. And it does not matter how big or how small that community is going forward as Jesus says “Where several are gathered in my name there I will be also”.

To conclude, here is scripture that addresses the issues in this blog:

Isaiah 6:8: And I heard the Lord saying “Whom shall I send and who will go for us”? Then I said, “Here send me”.

John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6: “For although there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth-as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” – yet there is one God, the Father, from whom all things and for who we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist”.

James 1:26: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless”.

1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the spirit expressly says that in later days some will depart the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons”.

God bless.

Nick x.