What Would Jesus Say To Gordon Brown?
Anyway all this talk of conflict in the government and leadership criticism of the Prime Minister reminds me of a few letters I've received in my time and I'm just a humble Parish Minister. What people forget is it can be hurtful and especially to your family.
The truth of the matter is you will never please everyone. I learned that lesson and continue to learn it. All this has made me feel a little bit of sympathy for the under dog, especially when the guy is working his socks off for the country, even if I don't always agree with his policies.
On the other hand the media, the public and the political opposition see it as their job to remind the government that no one has a tenancy in No 10 for life. But as for his own party you'd think they'd know better. But hey, jobs are at stake, and the I told you I know better brigade have got their long knives out~.
However I'm convinced we've lost all sense of decency and propriety when it comes to public life. We've bought into the spin rather than the substance. We're hooked on image and instant solution. I actually think we're now running our country in the way that people run a reality show. The media is turning Parliament into an X Factor or "Britain Has Talent Show". The public are like the plebs in Roman arena, they're looking for blood. The expenses fiasco has brought about an angry mood in the country. The problem is that no one makes good decisions when they're angry.
And if the public are angry many of our politicians are too. I think they might be angry at themselves for not seeing this coming. Everyone one of them knew the system wasn't right. Why didn't they change it? Mmmm?
Some will be angry that they played the game the way they were advised to do by their accountants and advisors. Its the same moral dilemma that Bill Clinton had to face. When reflecting on his past moral lapses Clinton once remarked in a speech something to the effect " my greatest moral weakness was , just because I could , I did it."
Its the same with expenses and other legal matters. The law might make something legal but is it moral? In the end we have a moral obligation to oversee our own actions. The problem is that we're all fallen people. People who sin - people who need forgiveness - people who need to rid ourselves of guilt. And we are people capable of doing some of the most hurtful and mean things to each other. I guess this is what we are seeing being played out before our eyes. Its not country before politics its self preservation and the settling of old scores.
Anyway I wonder what Jesus would say to Gordon Brown today. You've reaped what you've sowed! You're a failure give up! Perhaps not, I think he might say " pay no man evil for evil", perhaps he might remind him of the prophet Micah who wrote "He has told you Oh man what you should do, Love mercy, seek justice and walk humbly with your God. . I think that's not bad advice to give to the PM.
You know what most of us don't know the man, no doubt he has his faults, who doesn't, but he must be under enormous pressure at this time. I hope he gets the support he needs from this party colleagues. He has a huge hill to climb and many have written him off. However public opinion is fickle and the media is fickle. If he can hold on and the economy begins to turn around he might yet still be the hero who was down but not out. If he can keep remembering why he came into politics and not lose sight of the integrity and justice bit , he may lose in the end but in his own conscience he will have won.
BOGLE'S PARAPHRASES
When your right in the midst of it all and trouble has overwhelmed you there is one place you can take refuge. Turn around from your trouble and walk straight into the presence of God. He is standing behind you all the time.
Psalm 46.1
Posted By: vpcano On: 9 Jun 2009 At: 7:42am
I think Gordon has moral integrity and is working his socks off. However I doubt the integrity of the people he has surrounded himself with. There is a lot of greed, ambition and posturing instead of an honest desire to do a job well for your community and the country. Humility seems ot be a dirty word amongts politicians, yet… they all claim to “love to serve”:.... serve whom? their own interests? their ego? It is easy for me to criticise, I would probably react in the same way if given the power and the ability to command, but how do we teach ourselves humility? How can we let God into our hearts to let Him do HIS work in our lives? How many politicians let God in their livesnot as a ploy to gain the religious vote, but truthfully, privately and honestly? how many pray, or open a cabinet session with prayer? It does not have to be a Christian prayer, but merely an acknowledgement of God in their lives and in their work. HAving witnessed the power of prayer as an opening to work related activities, I swear that it focuses my mind away from my petty individual concerns and reminds me the reason why I am even sitting in that chair amongst those people in my office. I wish Cabinet sessions would start with prayer.