Neither the Archbishop of Canterbury in his address at the Diamond Jubilee service in St Paul’s Cathedral, nor the Bishop of London in his pamphlet for the Bible Society marking the jubilee, could be accused of missing the mark. Dr Williams was of course attacked immediately by the extreme right press for including social criticism which not surprisingly was not of their hue or taste. In several of the leading web sites on world Anglicanism however, there was a theme from commentators who were saying this was the Rowan of old, the pre-Canterbury theological commentator in first class form. And there is in my mind no doubt about the quality of the theological comment and insight.
Both Archbishop Williams and Bishop Chartres highlighted some of the most serious problems in British society and drawing accurately on the theology of Biblical Jubilee, they have presented social and economic challenges to government, individuals and society at large. It was also a challenge to the churches but so far there has been little comment in the secular press on that.
There has been rapid change in society and the pace of change is increasing. Many of the pillars of society which were regarded as fundamental when the Queen ascended the throne, have been demolished, or damaged to the point of being a pale shadow of their former status. Britain has been pro-active in a worldwide process of independence and all evidence of its world empire status in terms of everyday political influence has gone. Its navy which did rule the world’s waves could not repeat the large scale earlier Jubilee review at Spithead without inviting ships of other nations. Britain’s capability as a military nation has been severely compromised through continuing cuts and reductions. The banking status of Britain had encountered difficulties long before the present crisis, and the City is still far from immune from both internal mis-government and over exposure to external high risk lending. The integrity of government and parliament has been shattered by too many public representatives found to be lining their pockets illegally whilst being involved in law making for their fellow citizens. Add to that too many compromises of the truth by politicians in matters of pubic import. And the C of E itself despite all its magnificent work in society, is seen as divided on sex and women bishops.
Can we explain this change in the nation? Is the question a theological one rather than a social, economic and political one? To put it bluntly, has Britain become a “post Christian” society? In particular has Protestantism failed? How do we account for the mass disregard of the churches? Have we become a nation of heretics?
There are big issues here. To take only one area and pose it in question form – what is the basis of universal human rights? What justifies and sustains this claim? What is the metaphysical coherent picture of the universe which justifies it? Where does the Christian concept of God and the Gospel come into play? Why should we grant such an area as human rights, a supernatural respect?
The current financial crisis is without doubt the result of a hedonistic fervour and lifestyle. It is a lifestyle and mind-set by which the adults of today have spent the resources of tomorrow with a disregard for their children’s well-being. Where in a year of Jubilee can we as individuals, as Churches, and as a society, find the means of turning away from such an atheistic behaviour form?
William Temple said the church was always only one generation away from extinction. We have had at least two generations of a persistent hedonistic and thus atheistic philosophy and practice. We have created a society in which all restraints seem to have been cast off. The children we have produced may be technologically smart, even brilliant, but a majority of them in old-style evangelical language, would appear to know not the Lord.
The Jubilee through reflecting on society and utilising the insights of the Old Testament concept of Jubilee celebration, affords to the churches and individual Christians an opportunity for extensive reappraisal of our mission and witness. Archbishop Williams and Bishop Chartres have provided two excellent resources to stimulate our prayers, thoughts and, please God, our actions. But that is only the beginning of a necessary stage in our pilgrimage journey towards salvation – both in this world and in the world to come.
Houston McKelvey