A Brief History
Traditionally, Christian involvement in politics has meant involvement in social work, as well as preaching salvation and helping those on the ground. This idea was of prime importance for the 18th-19th century church but arguably was lost in the early 20th century. This paper will look at why the early thinkers considered social involvement so important and why it was lost, to the detriment of Christian influence.
The EA was established in 1846, at this time many prominent Christians were active in the socio-political sphere. William Wilberforce, Hannah Moore and the Clapham Sect had campaigned for thirty years for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery in British territories. Moore was one of those who campaigned for the establishment of a Christian based education. Later in the nineteenth century Lord Shaftesbury campaigned vigorously for a wide range of humanitarian causes - the care of orphans and street children, the ending of child prostitution, prison reform and legislation to regulate the conditions under which women and children were employed in factories- to name but a few.
The Clapham Sect
Behind all of this activity lay the powerful influence of John Wesley and the Evangelical revival that took place in the eighteenth century. Historians see him as a major influence in exporting the movement away from British shores and taking it further afield. Wesley has been described as "both a preacher of the Gospel and a prophet of social righteousness. Wesley was the man who restored to a nation its soul". His influence on a generation and succeeding evangelicals was profound. The Clapham Sect met regularly to discuss many issues. Their desire was to lessen the extent of human misery and add to the sum total of human happiness. At the centre of their thinking was the understanding that this requires both the preaching of the Gospel for individual salvation and the practice of the Gospel for social transformation. Their convictions and experience were shared by many of their contemporaries who went overseas in the 19th century explosion of missionary activity. These men and women preached and engaged in relief and aid work.
Achievements
The work of these 19th century missionaries includes a contribution to the fight against small pox, malaria and leprosy; the provision of clean water; the extension of primary education; the protection of native peoples against exploitation and injustice; the defence of human rights. Opposition to foot binding and the exposure of girl babies in China; opposition to widow-burning and infanticide and temple prostitution in India; and much, much more.
The 'Great Reversal'
Given this emphasis on the social involvement of the early modern church, it seems to be surprising that the church did not move forward from this position, but instead retreated to a more strict preaching that did not include this strong social dimension. The has been referred to as the "Great Reversal".
John Stott identified five reasons for this shift:
- A reaction against theological liberalism, which became popular at the start of the century. Faced by challenges to the long cherished basic doctrines they retreated into the defence of historic biblical Christianity and lost much of their cutting edge.
- A reaction against what was called the social Gospel. Many of the advocates of this had ministered in areas of severe poverty and deprivation and they had tried to develop a theology which seemed relevant to these experiences. This thinking was based upon the idea of human perfectibility this side of heaven. Life should be transformed here on earth before we get to the Kingdom of God. Evangelicals of the day reacted badly to this.
- Thirdly, the effect of WWI which engendered widespread disillusionment among evangelicals. The enormity of original sin and human evilness was brought to the fore like never before and Christian appeared to be overcome by it. They retreated into a feeling of social pessimism.
- Fourthly, Christian’s were encouraged, through a variety of sources, to take the view that whatever reform attempts were made, evil would continue to flourish and the condition of society would continue to deteriorate until Jesus second coming. Some Christian were criticised for getting involved in social action because by improving society they may delay the return of Christ!
- Lastly, some sociologists have suggested that Evangelicals have become alienated form social concern because of the spread of Christianity among the middle classes, who tend to be more conservative and concerned to preserve the status quo. It was basically a move towards self centred Christianity, saving your own soul.
A new concern
After WWII there was a gradual move back towards optimism in the social lives of individuals. Things in society generally were getting better, people were better off, and had a higher standard of living. Optimism overtook the pessimism of the inter war years. Again their were several individuals that took the lead. Billy Graham in America and John Stott in this country, are just two examples.
It is worth noting that during the period of disengagement of Christians from politics, several policies were passed by Parliament - legalisation of abortion, homosexual acts between consenting adults, easier divorce and weaker constraints on pornographic material - that previously Christians would have campaigned against. Christians were forced to come out of the ghetto that they had put themselves in and look afresh at what Christian involvement in Politics should be.
