Seeking to build on the apparent success of the citizenship ceremonies that now formally welcome legal immigrants into British society, Lord Goldsmith has suggested that school leavers should have the opportunity to declare their loyalty to Queen and country. Doubtless the ex-attorney-general, who has also suggested that we should have an extra bank holiday to celebrate our shared heritage and national achievements, has something in mind rather more profound than my tongue-in-cheek effort above.
But what could it be? After all, aren’t his suggestions born of the real concern that precious little connects us as a nation nowadays? The stories that bind young people together are often concerned with more universal fare. Popular music, fast-food chains, online game-playing and branded goods are just a few of the many ways they – and we – can show our commitment to the global community of consumers.
If we are disciples of the Lord of all of life, our Christian discipleship must be whole-life. That means that the question of what it means to be a good citizen day by day is a crucial one for us to reflect on theologically. And there’s plenty in both the Old and New Testament to help us to do that. But it’s worth reminding ourselves that we do our reflecting from a unique perspective. Paul put it like this: ‘Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…’ (Philippians 3:20). Our first and foremost loyalty is to a divine polity. And our Lord, in the prayer he taught us, has given us our own pledge:
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Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
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(Matthew 6.9-10)
So, while you wrestle with what it means to be a good British citizen, remember your heritage in Christ – its depth, its richness, its nobility – and proudly fly the colours that mark you as God’s own.
Jason Gardner
Reproduced with permission: © The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
