Introduction: Together Before God

Bad Political Decisions
Alywn Thomson

Wrong Political Expectations
David Porter

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TOGETHER BEFORE GOD
'Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession... We have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. We have not listened...' Daniel 9:3-6

As we once again face a crucial point in the life of our community, there is a deep sense of resignation as we drift back to the old polarisations.

The outcome of the elections, the initial stages of the talks and the bomb attack in Manchester suggest that little has changed. Trust and mutual understanding is a rare commodity, not just among our politicians, but in the very fabric of our community.

Faced with perplexing crises in national life the prophets instinctively turned to prayer. While in their helplessness they called on God to act and speak, they also came before God with a focused sense of what was required on their part.

Daniel was special. From his earliest years he was set apart - for God and the service of his people. He was faithful to this calling in his lifestyle and in maintaining a clear identity as God's holy servant.

Like many of God's people in Northern Ireland it could not be said of him that he resorted to rebellion and wickedness or did not listen to God.

Yet before the great and awesome God (v4) he belonged, not to the vindicated but to 'all the people of the land' on whom there was shame in the presence of God. Daniel identified with his community.

In response to the 1994 IRA cessation ECONI said: From God's perspective we are a people marred by violence and murder, death and destruction, hatred and bigotry - this in a community characterised by significant Christian profession and practice. Our proper call must be to God for mercy.

While belonging to God all of us still belong to this community - and not just to our side, for before God there are no sides, simply those who seek to follow his law and those who rebel against him. Do we as Christians need to identify with ALL who live in this land? Unionist and Nationalist, Republican and Loyalist - our people, who are violent, intransigent, suspicious and hostile. Do we need to confess 'WW have sinned', not simply because of our individual responsibilities but because we belong?

The church is here to serve the whole community. If we embrace all of this hurting, fearful, distrusting society that is the people of Northern Ireland, in standing together before God and his righteous judgment, then maybe we might begin to embrace the whole as we live together in this piece of God's earth.

After all, this was the path that Jesus took. In one act the righteous identified with the unrighteous and his outstretched arms on the cross embraced the whole world.

ECONI WELCOMES the submission of unsolicited articles, but does not guarantee publication, and manuscripts cannot be returned. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECONI. Permission to reprint any original article in Lion & Lamb should be sought from the Editor.

Editor   Derek Poole
Asst Editor   Ruth Hutchinson