Urgent Referendum Reflection

AN URGENT REFERENDUM REFLECTION
Dr Alan C. Clifford

Whatever today’s secularists think, the Act of Union (1707) brought about a Christian-based socio-political unity rooted in the ‘Protestant Reformed Religion’. After three centuries, these religious values have been well-nigh deleted from our culture. Where Judeo-Christian ideas once permeated British family and community life, atheistic and amoral Marxist materialism has eaten out the heart of our once-prized and admired heritage.

Should we then be surprised at the UK’s current crisis? Indeed, for those who know their biblical history, our very Judeo-Christian heritage would remind us that this is not the first time such a crisis of national disintegration has taken place. The Old Testament narrates the history of a divided kingdom, when the nation of Israel was torn apart after the tragic end of King Solomon’s once-glorious reign (see 1 Kings 11-12). Furthermore, the immediate cause of national disarray – when ten of the tribes of Israel broke away to become the northern kingdom – was sexual immorality and multi-faith idolatry.

Should Prime Minister David Cameron’s unflattering legacy be that he presided over the break-up of the UK, it was his namesake King David who personally started the rot in ancient Israel. Indeed, he set an appalling example to his successor Solomon in sexual promiscuity and adultery (see 2 Samuel 11). Divine judgement fell upon Solomon because of his idolatrous and sexual apostasy. This judgement is starkly stated: “I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11: 11).

While Solomon’s reign ended in ruin, it was his father who ‘sowed the seed’ and set the standard. King David’s adultery with Bathsheba – he also arranged for her valiant husband to be killed – was rebuked by God’s servant the prophet Nathan. Utterly unlike the average Archbishop of Canterbury, the faithful prophet challenged the king: “Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?” … Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife … Behold, I will raise up adversity from your own house…” (2 Samuel 12: 9-11).

Reader, if you’ve made it this far, is the connection not obvious? The post-war explosion of sexual promiscuity correlates with the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland, occasional Welsh discontent and now the possible secession of Scotland from the UK. The removal of Section 28, the royal immoralities of recent decades, child abuse and David Cameron’s zealous promotion of so-called ‘same-sex marriage’ are the immediate backdrop to the Scottish referendum. As the prophet Nathan accused King David, so David Cameron et al are guilty of ‘despising the commandments of the LORD’. We are thus facing the judgement of Almighty God!

If the UK ceases to be, we’ve had it coming for a long time. At time of writing, I passionately hope we might stay united. If the ‘YES’ campaign is victorious, it’ll be terribly sad. If the vote is ‘NO’, it’ll be God’s mercy not the late tears and promises of David and his Westminster élite. In any event, a national repentance is the only way to avert ruination on an alarming and almost unimaginable scale. No amount of political and economic tinkering will make any lasting difference without ‘broken and contrite hearts’ (Psalm 51: 17). However, as the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ was the promised hope of Israel and the world (John 1: 29), so ‘great David’s greater Son’ (James Montgomery) – ‘one greater than Solomon’ (Matthew 12: 42) – remains our only hope. As I commit myself to ongoing prayer for reformation and revival, I pray that God might yet have mercy upon us all. If – for all the best reasons – you truly love the United Kingdom, please join me.