Anger, kindness and hiraeth – a raft of emotions
Yesterday’s provocative blog on Christians whining about the High Court ruling on prayer on Council Meeting agenda provoked a bigger than usual response. The popular part was my encouragement for Christians not to complain but to stand for election and make a difference. The unpopular part was to talk about ‘whining Christians’, leading to complaint that it was reasonable to protest about the ruling. I don’t plan to comment further on that because the issue has rapidly been seen as a storm in a teacup once the ruling was explained.
Two people have caused me to reflect on the blog and I feel I owe them a response. One removed me as a Facebook friend saying with honesty, “I do find your posts difficult not always because of what you want to debate, rather I feel in your attempts to stir up Christians you seem to be consistently pointing out our faults. I find this personally difficult as I am fully aware of my own shortcomings as a Christian. I find that your comments leave me feeling frustrated and at times angry.” I thought about what he said and I realised that I am reflecting the anger I am feeling personally about the behaviour of some people in the name of Christ but my blunt instrument approach was hurting others. Probably my greatest anger is directed towards those Christians who show intolerance and harsh attitudes towards others in society. I believe this needs to be challenged but I will make sure that my future challenges are more accurately targeted. The friend who felt he had to take this difficult step is one of the kindest and most gentle people I know and I must certainly owe him and others I may have offended an apology.
The second was rather different. “Noddfa53″ wrote, “Glad you feel that you are able to freely comment about issues … Unfortunately we do not have a level playing field, … [if] you are against same sex relationships, pro abortion, for marriage. And pro Christian. Try and disagree with any of above and see how much freedom you have. Hiraeth means amongst other things a longing. So what are you longing for hiraeth?. Reply not required.”
Well, I feel I did have respond. Noddfa Is the Welsh word for ‘sanctuary’ which is ironical because I feel that for the first 40 years or so of my Christian life I was in a sanctuary of a Christian subculture and if I had wanted to, I could have conducted every element of my life without moving outside that world. It was hiraeth that drew me back to my roots in Wales and hiraeth caused me to start to examine my Christian faith out of a deep longing for reality.
So, for Noddfa, for me, and for anyone else who is interested, these are the things that I am longing for.
Reality in my Christian life
My favourite hymn is a traditional Welsh hymn known and sung by Welshman everywhere even if they don’t understand the words because it is entirely in Welsh! Two lines in Calon Lân says Gofyn rwyf am calon hapus, Calon onest, calon lân which translates as ‘But I have the best of wishes, For a pure and honest heart’. I’m not prepare to settle for Sunday two-hour Christianity that doesn’t extend to all my life. I want to use the same vocabulary and language seven days a week and to value everyone I encounter equally. I long to treat each person with kindness, justice and dignity. It was kindness that drew me to the Christian faith and I have realised that in expressing my anger it has come in the way of the kindness I would want to demonstrate.
Kingdom values lived out by Christians
That probably need some explanation because I am using some Christian jargon here. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God throughout his life and there was a value base implicit that he demonstrated consistently in his every action. He was non-judgemental, he was compassionate, he was kind and he served other people. There are many people selflessly and passionately expressing those values in their Christian service in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. I have not been writing about those people because others are their advocates. My concern is with harsh, unforgiving, judgemental, discriminatory and insensitive attitudes which a minority of Christians express. Unfortunately these are the ones the media likes the best and so bigots like Stephen Green from Christian Voice gain a platform they do not deserve.
Inclusiveness demonstrated by Christians
Although this is implicit in the section above, I feel it needs specific attention because it is the area that causes the greatest offence to people who would say they do not have a Christian faith. I have several friends who have been badly hurt by the judgemental attitudes and overt criticism made to them by Christians. This includes people who have been divorced, people who have taken poor decisions which have damaged both their own and their family’s lives, girls who have become pregnant and had abortions and both men and women who are attracted to the same sex. I respect fully the reservations of people who disagree with such things as same-sex relationships although I do not share their views. However, I do take issue when gay people are treated with discourtesy and harshness by committed Christians.
My sister, of whom I am hugely proud, runs a pregnancy crisis centre. She listens to the stories told by the girls and helps them to understand the alternative courses that they can take and then supports them and walks with them in whatever they choose. Both my sister and I have a personal pro-life position, but our views are immaterial when we are dealing with the lives of people who are confused, terrified and often desperate. My sister meets the needs where the girls are.
A caring society
I am actively involved in left-wing politics and I long to see a society where those at the margins are appropriately supported. I’m not taking a political stance on this, however, when I say that it’s not all down to the State, but to all of us to take responsibility and become involved at the level we feel comfortable.
Wales to be the nation she has the potential to be
Wales has a wonderful culture, language and heritage. I long to see every Welsh man and woman to experience that pride in those wonderful things, for the language to grow and for the same wind that blew in the nation in 1904 to blow again.
So thank you Noddfa, for causing me to do what the Quakers call ‘centre down’ and reassess my priorities and to continue questioning and challenging – not out of anger and always with kindness.
