Rector's Musing

February, 2012

Stand up for Bible values

On Friday 16 December David Cameron made a remarkable speech in Christ Church College, Oxford in which he made three points:

• Firstly, that the King James Bible has given us much of the language which has shaped our culture.
• Secondly, the bible has helped shape the politics of Britain including the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of women, the starting of hospitals and leading the way in overseas development.
• And thirdly the bible has helped shape the values which define Britain, which he listed as responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility, self sacrifice and love.

Then he asked his audience to stand up for Christianity. Making it clear that standing up for Christianity is not putting other faiths down but rather that it is Christianity which has created our tolerant society and created the space for other faiths. And saying it is entirely right to point out inappropriate behaviour. So for example the riots of last summer, the banking crisis and MP's expenses scandal were all the result of inappropriate behaviour and we need to stand against them or watch the moral decline of our nation.

I could not agree more. This is what clergy preach in the churches of every denomination every week. Let's stand up for the Bible's values.

Yours sincerely

Mike Saunders