A divergence in socio-political view between two Christians

 

Context

A polite and friendly conversation between two British Christians:

One, a Non-conformist Protestant in their mid-50s; highly educated; top 25% in terms of financial income/assets; two children between 14 and under 23.

The other, a Church of England (C of E) Protestant, also mid-50s; well-educated (but not to the extent of the first) and around the 50% mark in terms of financial income/assets; two children between 14 and under 23.

Many similarities it would therefore seem, yet differing outlooks.

The discussion centred around this statement: ‘young people feel the older generations are selfish because we should all be locked-down together. Only old people go to church and they’re still open whereas Universities and schools are closed.

So, there are two topics here which, although interwoven in the discussion, I will take separately in an attempt not to confuse the issues.

[NB. I am speaking from my knowledge of Christianity in the UK. I make no claims to be speaking for anyone else or to be encompassing any other religions within my views].

1.    Places of Worship should be closed to show support for the secular authorities.

The rather flippant but sadly true first response is that so few people go to church these days that it hardly matters.
Nevertheless, that very fact means that churches are among the safest indoor spaces you can find. No social distancing problems here!
And when you add the fact that most churches are quite draughty due to single-glazed stained-glass windows and ill-fitting old doors, it’s like being outside anyway!
So the probability of people catching or passing on Covid in churches is way below that of being in a supermarket or hospital or care-home or office.

With sensible rules on numbers, social distancing and suitable hand-sanitising etc there is no real medical reason to close churches down.

My second thought is this.
Surely the church’s mission has to be far more than simply falling in line with whatever the secular authorities want.
As the Historian & writer Tom Holland said recently, the Church of England has missed an opportunity to differentiate itself from the secular; to provide spiritual leadership and places of calm & solace in these troubled times. 
He said that by merely parroting the offical Government line, the C of E leadership has become an unimportant sub-department of the Welfare State.

This should come as no surprise.

In terms of our political parties, the C of E leadership’s occasional forays into politics in the media or the House of Lords show them to be, not the Tory party at prayer as they were once described, but the Liberal Democrat Party at prayer.
Left wing but in a rather supercilious, head-in-the-clouds, financially secure, safe and socially conformist way. Conformist in that, whatever, the left of centre secular cause of the moment, they’re for it!
In terms of their outlook on life, they are ‘of the elite’, not ‘of the people’. Tim Farron must be chuffed.

2.    Young people feel that older generations are selfish

Again, my first flippant response is that you couldn’t find a larger irony than young people (especially those of the comfortable middle-classes) accusing others of selfishness.
A more pampered, self-righteous, narcissistic yet fragile generation I doubt there has ever been!
That’s what increasing prosperity does; it increases the size of the middle-classes; that is, it increases the number who feel comfortable, safe and secure, which over time drifts into decadence.
Gratitude & responsibility decreases with security while entitlement & navel-gazing increases.

Secondly, on what basis does any young person look at older people with such disdain?

The young will find that making the right decisions to make the world a better place while working and raising a family is not as easy in the real world as it looks from their cosy bedrooms or Uni digs – both paid for by a combination of mum & dad as well as the taxes of those older folk they scorn.

I think you need to stand on your own two feet and actually contribute something meaningful to society before giving yourself the right to be judgemental of older folk.

We are not separate. We are a continuous fluid link between the past and the future which should be treated with the grace and respect that such an awesome responsibility requires, not with self-righteousness and arrogance.

What do you think?