The battle for the soul of our nation intensifies!
After many months of preparation, yesterday I spent the day in the Saints in the Stadium event in St Helens. Over 2000 people from across the nation came with a united desire to pray for the soul of the nation and for the advance of the Kingdom of God. It seemed like the most unfortunate timing in my schedule to go straight from that event to a business meeting in Belgium. I have been intensely busy with the preparations for Saints in the Stadium, and I had not looked at the address for the location of our meeting. As I arrived at the hotel in Waterloo I started to sense that the Holy Spirit of God was whispering to me.
Over dinner my host explained some of the history from 198 years ago:
The British Duke of Wellington had anticipated over a year before the now famous ‘Battle of Waterloo’ that he would at some point have to confront Napoleon and his goal of dominating Europe. With this in mind he had carefully surveyed the territory and prepared his options. In particular he had chosen the area of Waterloo because of the particular terrain. He chose a location where his troops had a strategic view of the hills and valleys, but where Napoleon’s troops from the other direction would perceive the land to be a level playing field.
Lessons for us:
- Plan ahead strategically don’t just react to events.
- Choose the terrain for the battle – don’t let the enemy choose the battleground
Wellington led an international army called the Seventh Coalition – comprising troops from Prussia, Austria, Russia and Great Britain. In the battle with Napoleon’s troops many soldiers attacked their own people because of the mud which covered everyone, making it hard to identify the enemy.
- We must be aware of the danger of attacking those on the same side as us because the battle is messy!
- We need to be in a coalition. It is called the Body of Christ – crossing boundaries of nation, culture and tradition.
We are part of a ‘Seventh Coalition’ in that 7 is God’s number. As I walked around Waterloo this evening I came across a sign on a building “ring 777 for assistance’ !
Yesterday in St Helens we made powerful declarations of our desire to work together as One Church in the United Kingdom. The Seventh Coalition is forming, we must think ahead in good time because the confrontation with the forces of domination and control are gathering. Napoleon intended to destroy the British and take control of Europe. The Seventh Coalition under Wellington was prepared and prevailed. Waterloo now has a museum dedicated to these events and the Lion representing the victory of the Seventh Coalition.
The last thing Wellington did before going into battle was to go and pray in St Joseph’s church.
Let us not be overconfident: Wellington’s comment after victory was that the battle “was the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life.”
Let the Lion roar again!
John D Manwell's Blog 
What value do we attach to the UK?
October 14, 2014With just seven months until the general election in the UK, it is clear to many that there is a battle developing in the field of
ideas. Maybe we could go further and suggest that there is a battle for the very soul of the nation? Earlier in the year our Prime Minister seemed to touch a nerve when he commented that this is a Christian country. This immediately drew squeals of reaction from the atheist commentators who kick against any reference to faith in any of our national governance. Equally, those who disagree with the current government challenged the Christian credentials of the Prime Minister to be able to make such a statement. Perhaps we should use the comments of David Cameron to open up discussion and debate?
Whatever our political opinion or faith position, or secular atheism, the immovable historic fact is that this nation has been especially shaped by Christian thinking over the past several hundred years. This lends us an opportunity to start conversations and get people thinking. I believe that it is more than a mere opportunity and that there is a pressing crisis which demands input.
Perhaps our freedoms and generally stable national life are a consequence of Christian thinking – within all parts of the political spectrum? Perhaps the Biblically informed approach to respecting life, property, government, local authority, education and the family is a major factor in why we have a country which people want to immigrate to? It is ironic that the Judeo-Christian teaching on offering hospitality to the vulnerable and alien amongst us is the original basis of welcoming people from all nations, and now Christian thinking is being sorely challenged by many of the very people who have enjoyed the privileges of freedom and peace. Indeed it is Christian thinking that should shape the care for the vulnerable, for the equipping of the uneducated, and envisioning for the hopeless. This is why I passionately believe that Christians should be influencing the political landscape. This is not about having a political party which takes an evangelical approach to belief but rather that the case for Biblical thinking is strong, credible and beneficial. The Gospel is a case for truth and right living which has tremendous consequences which are beneficial to all people in our communities, people of all faiths and of none. The principles for family life, community cohesion and national government which are revealed through the Judeo-Christian scriptures are timeless and unmatched. We should all be thinking about how we can prepare to engage and influence the upcoming political debate. We have a lot to offer in the coming seven months which may benefit the coming generation.
Tags:battle for the soul of the nation, Christian, general election, united kingdom, values
Posted in Christian Truth, Political Comment | Leave a Comment »