Lent is a time of contemplation, often the clergy will refer to it as ‘a journey’. The six weeks of abstinence is designed to trigger reflection and a cementing of your faith.
My Lent journey this year is turning out to be unexpected.
It is not a journey I was planning on taking, indeed, my new occupation of writing about the Church and my own faith is not something I was planning to do – it has just happened.
Around Shrove Tuesday I saw and heard reports of the persecution of Christians across the globe, absolutely dreadful, barbaric acts such as the beheading of seventy Christians in their Church in the Congo.
I waited for an official response from the Church of England, a call to prayer, a special service to be held, a statement, anything but alas nothing materialised. Apologies if I missed it but I therefore, took it upon myself to do something. I felt compelled; the horrors these people must be going through surely deserved some spiritual support from the Anglican Church, whose branches stretch across the world?
I organised a Prayer Vigil at my local Church. My fellow members of the congregation supported me and the Vigil kindly and fully. I hope to hold the Vigil every Wednesday evening through Lent for 30 mins. However, I have failed to receive any kind of encouragement or support from other Churches and clergy. It has left me completely flabbergasted. Unfortunately for them, I’m still not lost for words, I have plenty to offer on the subject.
And can it be, that the mighty Anglican Church cannot bring itself to defend its own?
And can it be, that the mighty Anglican Church cannot bring itself to defend its own?
Over the years we have watched people come together in ‘solidarity’ with the Miners, Greenpeace, CND, Dr’s Strikes, Teachers Strikes, LGB Community, Just Stop Oil, Black Lives Matter, Anti Lockdown, Anti Brexit. I remember tents from ‘Occupy London’ outside St Paul’s Cathedral and the Archbishop proclaiming support for the ‘anti-capitalist’ movement. Yet the defence of Christians warrants not even a whimper.
Of course, the irony is, if this is a cause that does not deserve support there will come a time very soon when not one more cause will be heard. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Christianity is the basis, the foundation of every one of our laws, principles, morals and Democratic process. Without it, we are nothing.
I have no explanation for the lack of support for the persecuted Christians by the Anglican Church in Great Britain. I can’t think of a single reason. We have the Save The Parish Movement, dedicated to saving local Parishes, is it doing what it says on the tin? What parishes are they aiming to save? And how do they intend to save them when we fail to defend the faith?
Why are Cathedrals hosting events such as ‘Taylor Swift by Candlelight’ (Southwell Minster) or ‘The Great Gatsby Ball’ (Selby Abbey) and yet cannot use the buildings for their intended purpose? How many more churches are the Church of England Commissioners going to ‘decommission’ due to lack of attendees? I’ve read this week sales of Bibles are on the up. There is a renewed thirst for Spiritual nourishment – where are the Clergy? What are they doing? If they can’t even Pray?
I was never a vocal Christian in my younger days. I was a normal woman, partying like everyone else and trying to be the best person I could be according to my Christian values. I quietly kept my faith, given to me by my parents and other generous adults who ran Sunday School and Choir and YPF. I didn’t shout about it. When I did say I was a Christian, I was ridiculed, laughed at and made to feel pretty darn stupid for believing in some ‘bloke in the sky’. I can’t see how it’s any more ridiculous than believing in absolutely nothing. Quite frankly, now I don’t care what anyone says to me or how much they laugh at me. Because this is an existential issue.
If you have so much as a grain of the Christian faith in your heart, now is the time to water it.
If you have so much as a grain of the Christian faith in your heart, now is the time to water it. Do not feel embarrassed. It is the greatest, most sophisticated, successful philosophy man has ever explored. It has raised mankind from Barbarians to extraordinary shapers of peace and beauty.
Lent is not over, Easter approaches. The miracle of the Resurrection, where the Son of God made man, passed through death, defeated evil and gave mankind the tools with which to bring peace and prosperity to the entire world. It is incredible. There is no more powerful force for good than Christianity. It may have problems but those problems are created by the misinterpretation of the scriptures. The words of the Gospels are mankind’s passport to perfect freedom.
I’m prepared to stick my neck out for Christianity and persecuted Christians, whether they be in distant lands and being subjected to heinous physical acts and death or closer to home and losing their livelihoods for their refusal to renounce their faith – because Christianity is the one thing that will keep our world free. It isn’t an easy path, it’s tough and it needs courage.
Br under no illusions, the Socialist Dystopia the Left have planned for us, will have no faith, no churches, no prayers, no soul, no beauty, no freedom, no ‘Coldplay by Candlelight’ – just a portrait of our Glorious Leader.
By Rachael Tearney.
Follow Rachael at @WritesRachael
Main Image: For illustration purposes only. Image created using AI.
