Let’s start with a history quiz.
1. Which Christian woman brought about a revolution in nursing through her work in the Crimea? 2. Which Christian man started the Ashley Down Orphanage near Bristol? 3. Which Christian MP was instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade? 4. Which group of ‘martyrs’, transported to Australia, fought for workers’ rights and the acceptance of trade unions? 5. Whose motto was, ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can’?
The answers in order are: Florence Nightingale (1820-1910); George Muller (1805-1898); William Wilberforce (1759-1833); the Tolpuddle martyrs (whose letters are very moving. I remember at least one quoting Romans 8.28 expressing Christian faith) and John Wesley (1703-1791).
The church has not been perfect — it is made up of sinners. But Christian faith has brought untold benefit to this country — our quiz only scratches the surface. But perversely, for many years now, we have seen the denigration of biblical faith and Christian values by media personalities and politicians. They feel able to at best ignore and at worst despise the achievements of Christian heroes and heroines of the past, as if they themselves were such great human beings.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …