Election 2017 — as a nation are we losing the plot?

It never ceases to amaze me just how quickly we forget what really matters.

I include myself in this. We are only a week after Easter Day and already we have put to one side the fact that the empty tomb marked the most astonishing turning point in human history. It’s gone from our thoughts. Our agendas change so quickly. Of course, you might say we haven’t forgotten, we are simply led by events in the media. And the media from now till June 8^th will only talk about one thing.

Just when you thought it was safe to watch TV again

We’ve all had our fill of BREXIT, new PMs and the rest of it haven’t we. After a turbulent 2016, most of us were hoping for a politically quiet 2017 with our leaders focused on the mechanics of our EU withdrawal, so we could get on with the rest of life. Although I didn’t vote for the Conservatives or BREXIT, I, like many people on both sides of the fence, found myself reassured with Theresa’s May’s no-nonsense approach. She had none of the charisma of Cameron, and completely lacked the hype and spin of Blair, both of whom were masterful showmen. But I thought “that’s fine, we need a sensible PM who will just get on with this”.

But it seems “the lady is for turning” and the uncertainties of 2016 are back with us. Many of us were hoping we could start to look beyond BREXIT, but the announcement of a general election is a big step backwards. And let’s not assume that the election on June 8^th will settle things. Let’s not assume the unexpected won’t happen – as we assumed on June 23^rd last year – old wounds could be re-opened and new discord could be sown.

Naturally the media will continue to drive an election/BREXIT agenda because they think that’s what we want. And regrettably, this is self-fulfilling – we become interested in what we are fed … because that’s all there is. So they will no doubt dig out more plots and subplots, more real news and fake news, and more Brendas from Bristol (God bless her, she spoke for many).

 Let’s not assume that the election on June 8^th will settle things. Let’s not assume the unexpected won’t happen

But as a nation we are losing the plot

When distractions of this size appear at the front door other things fall out of the back door. We forget what national government should be about and even what we as a population should be about. With national government and media obsessed on a single issue, all other matters of genuine priority are pushed back.

There are occasions in scripture where leaders, and the population (and presumably whatever “media” they had) became obsessed with an idea they should not have been. It never turned out well.

Ancient Israel’s obsession was to demand a King (1 Samuel 8) “so they could be like everyone else” and that’s pretty much what happened, they became like every other nation. God even warned them that obsessing and clamouring for a king was not what they were to focus on, but to no avail. Or in Jesus’ time (Matthew 23) look at the religious leaders of the day. In general, these teachers and Pharisees were not wicked people, they were trying to do what they thought was right. But their obsession of scrupulously observing every word of the law (and making everyone else do the same) meant they had lost the plot of what God actually wanted from them: You hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices … but you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness”.

 Could it be, that while we follow every point and counter-point made in the run up to June 8^th, we might neglect “the more important matters of the law”?

Is there anything we can do?

We are only a week on from celebrating the most momentous event in human history when God revealed the shocking extent of his love for us. With news like that, there is always optimism. There is always good news.

But we are the vehicles of good news. Much will come down to what we choose to think about, talk about, pray about:

• Seek out news that is not election or BREXIT related. 
  Unfortunately, the media will not help here but if we are not informed we cannot say anything, pray anything or give anything. Last time I looked there was still an impending famine in East Africa. Last time I looked the population of Syria was still in desperation.
• Let’s talk about the impacts of BREXIT that are not simply economic.
  We should ask our MPs how we ensure that Brexit does not undo the peace we have had in Northern Ireland for almost 20 years. Never say something can never happen — if peace is undermined we will not forgive ourselves, even if God does.
• Insist that our MPs desist from being obstructive.
  Legitimate opposition easily becomes damaging obstruction. MPs need to get behind whatever EU withdrawal process results — whether we or they voted for BREXIT or not.
• We could go on and talk about eg local issues that matter, mental health or schools.

The things that mattered before BREXIT, still matter. Let’s make sure they are not forgotten during the next seven weeks.

Versions of this article were also published by Premier Christianity and The Baptist Times.
If you enjoyed reading this, try this previous post How Can We Put Britain Back Together?