Whither Britain?

In October 1971, under the above caption, we commented as follows:

"It is an understatement to say that these are critical days in the United Kingdom. The Government is beset by the problems of mounting violence and crime, of galloping inflation, of serious industrial strife, of growing unemployment; to mention but a few of Britain's internal problems. Add to these the critical situation in Northern Ireland and the dilemma over the Common Market, and there is in total a jumble of appalling problems crying out for solution. Yet amid all these anxieties there is increasing political bitterness. Many regard such a climate as evidence of a healthy democracy, others fear a further slide into violence and anarchy.

We offer no comment on the political aspect of Britain's present problems but emphasize once more the responsibility of all committed Christians to intercede at the throne of grace on behalf of the nation and its Government.... At the time of Dunkirk when Britain was in mortal danger the nation was called to prayer. It is not without significance that no national leader or other public figure has given any such lead to the nation in the present crisis.

whither Britain? - a disquieting question."

That comment comes to mind as we look at the situation in these early months of 1974. During the past 2 1/2 years there have been further serious crises in national and international circles which have added greatly to the disquiet posed by the question, Whither Britain? Industrial strife has increased, inflation has not been arrested and the energy crisis has brought a new threat to the economy, not only of Britain but also of all the oil consumer nations. At the time of writing the nation is in the throes of a General Election and by the time this issue of Needed Truth reaches readers a new Government will have been elected. A miners' strike is in progress and industry is on a three-day week. The enormity of the tasks facing the nation, immediate and long-term, need no emphasis here - they are patent for all to see. Our concern is to review our responsibilities as God's people in the present phase of God's dealings with men. These are clearly marked in Scripture and do not change with the fluctuations of history. Christians in every nation have a crucial part to play in God's great overall plan for mankind.

Foremost among our responsibilities is that referred to in the

comment quoted above. There should be increasing urgency in our supplications at the throne of grace. This is a service we must render to our fellow men. The range of our prayers should embrace not only intercession for those in high place but also deeper concern for the spiritual plight of mankind. Men die in darkness without hope - the only answer to their spiritual need is the gospel of Christ.

During the Fellowship-wide week of prayer beginning at the end of this month let there be on our part a spirit of contrition and humiliation. We have failed to rise to our high calling as God's remnant people. We are too complacent, occupied too much with temporal things, giving too little of our attention to "the things that are above" (Col. 3:1). We need to be aroused from spiritual slumber. The apostle Paul's call to the Ephesian saints is relevant:

"Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ

shall shine upon thee" (Eph. 5:14).

The circumstances of Christians in various parts of the world differ from country to country. There is no system of human government which ensures social justice and equity. Even if there were, men could not endure it without spiritual renewal. Man's chief problem is not his environment but himself, and this was never demonstrated more clearly in human history than it is in the modern world. In Western lands generally there is no governmental oppression of Christians and other minorities but this is not the case in some other parts of the world. Many of our fellow-members of the Body of Christ are severely persecuted and oppressed for Christ's sake. They have the problem of discriminating between their duty to the secular State and their higher allegiance to God. The choice is often difficult and perplexing, calling not only for Christian fortitude but also for heavenly wisdom and discretion. Our Lord taught His disciples to pray for their persecutors, and this is one way that we can help our afflicted brethren. We should pray that rulers hostile to Christians will learn the folly of fighting against God and turn to Him in repentance and faith.

Here, then, are some of our responsibilities in this late-twentieth century. There are others. One that needs emphasis is that of contentment. In an acquisitive age the snare of covetousness is a serious menace to the spiritual life of believers. It may well be, in the wake of the present economic emergency, that the standard of living in Western lands will fall. Let no murmuring word escape our lips. There are many of our amenities which we can do well without. While some parts of the world live in poverty and deprivation a little self-denial will do us all good. Therefore

"Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

unknown | Mar 1974
Comment By Torchlight