The distinction between Christian thinking and that which is found in the rest of society is an issue I have considered in these comments before. It is vital for everyone that we emphasise the areas of difference. The reality is that across the whole spectrum of life the Bible has something distinctive and profoundly valuable to say.
This fact is not generally appreciated. In general, Christianity is seen as having very little of real practical value to contribute. There are a number of reasons for this which we need to consider:
But the indisputable fact remains that Biblical teaching has something very significant to say on so many issues. Many of these have come into the news in the last few weeks.
Value of Life - A recent article in the British Medical Journal illustrates the prevailing devaluing of life. This article has to do with China, where an estimated 1 million baby girls are aborted every year because families want a baby boy. China has the ‘one child policy’ so if the baby is not a boy then women will have an abortion. When human life is devalued, as it is in China where state policy strongly endorses abortion, then the womb becomes a dangerous place. But we have the same devaluing of life in the UK! Young mothers are encouraged to have tests to see whether the child in their womb has any genetic defect which means the baby may be born with a disability of some kind. To have a disabled child is unacceptable to many in our society. The Bible has a far more noble perspective. Human life is special because we are all made in the image of God. For the same reason disabled people are respected as fully human and of equal value. Sadly they are wickedly devalued by the approach which is being followed. We are on the slippery road to eugenics and a designer population. What Hitler was rightly condemned for we are increasingly adopting. A return to Bible-based values is urgently needed.
Tolerance - The Biblical approach to different views is to state the Truth while treating people with other views with respect. All views are to be subjected to analysis and serious discussion. This approach is based on a view of personal responsibility that knows that we all stand equal before God and He alone is fit to judge and condemn. That does not devalue the Truth but it does recognise the intrinsic value and culpability of human thought and action. So our Non-conformist forefathers fought hard and prevailed to ensure freedom of speech and the right of dissent. The position today is that everyone’s views are to be treated as equal, and criticism and challenge is to be silenced. The right of dissent is slowly being eroded. So Islamic countries in a debate at the United Nations have sought to make what they call “defamation of religion” a human rights violation - a crime. As the Economist has pointed out this becomes censorship of free discussion and independent thought. Religious liberty is severely threatened by such intentions. Similarly the new Equality Bill that is about to be debated in Parliament will also promote the same issues of intolerance. Some subjects will have free debate curtailed on the spurious grounds of incitement to hatred. That matter is dealt with very adequately by the existing criminal law. It has been suggested that when it comes to ‘equality and diversity’ issues Christians come at the bottom of the pile. A recent article in Pink news (a homosexual news website) illustrates this dramatically. The article concluded that “people have more of a right to be gay than to be religious.” So freedom to dissent is no longer possible. The most ridiculous example of this can be seen in the farce around the Miss USA pageant where one contestant was publicly ridiculed and failed to win the title because she expressed in the most courteous way her views in favour of heterosexual marriage. Equality and tolerance are only for those who accept the prevailing views.
Honesty in Public Debate - The issues around the financial crisis and the responses of Governments and political parties, the whole debacle about MPs expenses, and the increasingly sad debacle around ‘gay adoption’ are all shrouded in questionable practices, withheld and misrepresented facts and plain dishonest statements. Honesty and integrity in public life is becoming a very significant issue. Pragmatism that considers ‘the end justifies the means’ now is the predominant philosophy. And because of it personal agendas override the public good. When will someone call a halt to such things? The fact is they cannot because there is no philosophical foundation that will support such an action outside the Bible’s teaching. When Christian values were at least accepted, even if not fully carried out, the public debate had a degree of honesty. But that has now completely disappeared. Anyone who listens to BBC Radio 4 in a morning will hear politicians and public figures of all sorts constantly seeking to wriggle around questions and any thought of an honest and straightforward answer is rare. When it happens even the interviewers are taken aback.