Why does Christmas kill the idea of “Christian Britain”?

So many people set their hope on this world. And especially in the structures that shape this world… …government and politics.

If only we had… The right policies. The right taxes. The right people.

If only we could achieve… The right solution. The right deal. The right economy.

And many set their hope on the idea that we were once a “Christian nation” — and that everything would be better if we could somehow recover that supposed former glory.

But, whatever our views on that: all of us look for security in something we can see… …in something familiar. A church with an ancient building. A proud history to feel connected to. Numbers, success, a slick veneer. Or just recognition by someone official.

And many Christians, rather than founding their confidence in the Bible, in doctrine, in what God says… look to such earthly recognition for the church’s security too.

“Christian Britain.” The “established” Church.

The prophet Jeremiah tears through such tiny hopes. Speaking God’s Word to ancient Judah — clinging to their monarchy, their temple, and their national identity — he lifts their eyes from earthly security to the coming Messiah, with three truths:

1) Earthly powers are all for themselves (v. 2)
2) King Jesus is all for you (vv. 5-6)
3) You are all about King Jesus (vv. 7-8)

The first truth: 1) Earthly powers are all for themselves

Back in v. 2 Jeremiah had warned this:

Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts

Israel’s shepherds: — her kings, her priests, her prophets — have not cared for God’s flock.

They’ve scattered the sheep, driven people away from God’s Word and His mercy, and neglected their duty.

And Jeremiah explained back in 22:17, why Israel’s leaders have failed so badly:

But you have eyes and a heart for nothing except your own dishonest profit, shedding innocent blood and committing extortion and oppression.

Kings and leaders do not deliver; they devour. Of course they do, because they are just like you and me: sinful. As Paul says in Romans 3:

There is no one righteous, not even one. ¹¹ There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

The culture war is not a spiritual war. When we confuse these things, we end up obscuring Jesus
— blurring the difference between Law and Gospel
— confusing the kingdom of this world, with the kingdom coming through God’s Word.

The United Kingdom is not Jesus’ kingdom.

Campaigning for a particular cultural or political identity may be a valid thing to do as British citizens, but that is separate to our higher citizenship in heaven.

Jesus said it at the very moment when earthly power tried to judge Him (John 18:36):

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.

Christ’s kingdom isn’t built by votes, culture, power, campaigns, or marches;
by re-asserting “masculinity” or redefining “gender”;
by recovering “Britishness” or rewriting history;
by transforming Labour, the Tories, or Reform;
by defending “Christian values” through legislation;
by winning arguments online or losing our tempers offline;
by hashtags, protests, manifestos, or majority votes;
by saving “Western civilisation” or tearing it down;
by economics, education policy, or national revival.

We look to these things for hope, because we can see them. We can understand them. We can quantify them. But, when we do so, we are placing our trust in structures that can only ever be self-serving.

Christian nationalism promises salvation through heritage. Christian Britain promises salvation through nostalgia.

But Christ gives salvation only through His cross. And the cross leaves no room for pride in our nation, our culture, or our past.

Christian Britain is the hope you cling to when Christ Himself feels too small.

Christian nationalism is the religion you turn to when the Gospel feels too weak.

Cultural Christianity is the identity you settle for when being baptised into Christ doesn’t feel like enough.

This is the problem with trusting in things we can see… …because earthly leaders are always curved inward …and you and I are curved inward:

When we dream of ‘Christian Britain,’ we are really dreaming of a kingdom we can control.

Yes: you can see political structures, rallies, marches, votes. Yes: they are tangible, powerful, with money and people. But: can they ever ultimately deliver what they promise: no.

Earthly powers always end up serving themselves.

Because human beings by nature serve ourselves.

When people connect Christian hope to political promises… …they are pointing you in a false direction. Stop lowering your eyes. Stop settling for less. Stop making the same mistakes.

Earthly kingdoms promise much and deliver nothing; Christ’s kingdom seems small and delivers everything. And that’s all because of Jeremiah’s second point about who Christ is…

2) King Jesus is all for you (vv. 5-6)

Please look at v. 5:

⁵ “Look, the days are coming” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “when I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.

God has given Jesus to you as a gift. As Lord. As a righteous Lord and king.

As one who reigns and rules not for the sake of himself, but for the sake of others.

That’s why He can reign wisely and administer justice.

Just look at Him taking His throne… …not in the pomp and ceremony of wealth and power …but on the cross, clothed in blood and shame.

That is a king, a priest, a prophet — a leader …ruling not for himself, but for you.

That is the kind of leader Jesus is. And that’s why He provides a security that no political movement ever could, v. 6:

⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.

Because Jesus died, He could go to Hell and declare His victory. The place of the dead. Not to suffer, but to preach and rescue captives. Ps 68:18:

You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train.

Jesus declared to the powers of darkness: I have defeated you. And rose from the grave, defeating death itself… …bringing you and me with Him.

That is the security Jesus brings. Solid. Sure. Certain.

And Jeremiah goes on in v. 6:

This is the name he will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Everything that Jesus has, He shares with you. He doesn’t take anything from you, because He doesn’t need anything from you. You need everything from Him, and He gives it, freely.

You are a citizen of heaven, you are perfect, you are declared righteous… …because Jesus is your righteousness.

No country. No old church building. No political party, No economic system… …can ever deliver the righteousness of God Himself. What a lie to claim it could. What small change to imagine it might.

This is the Gospel. This is everything: King Jesus is all for you. Jesus is our righteousness. Jesus is Lord.

And that Gospel gives you a new identity:

3) You are all about King Jesus

Look at Jeremiah explain this in vv. 7-8:

⁷ “Look, the days are coming” —the Lord’s declaration — “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,’ ⁸ but, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other countries where I had banished them.’ They will dwell once more in their own land.”

God had saved Israel from Egypt… …and for generations, this was the story they told themselves about who they are. That’s what Moses explained this to the Israelites, Deuteronomy 6:20-23

²⁰ “When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ ²¹ tell him, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. ²² Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household, ²³ but he brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that he swore to our ancestors.

“You are defined by what God as done for you” Moses said. And so Jeremiah preaches… and now He’s doing something greater.

They both had the shadows. But, we have the fullness. Each of us, sitting here, is defined by these words: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Somebody said to me this week: “I want to serve in the church, but I know I’m not worthy enough to be a pastor.”

And I said to them: ridiculous.

Every single person here is infinitely worthy. Infinitely valuable. Infinitely righteous. Not because of who you are, but because God declares you to be so.

Don’t look at the kingdoms of this world… …because you are not defined by them.

The United Kingdom… …that says “This one is an immigrant, this one has permanent leave… this one a citizen.”

The world that defines our value… …by our income …our successes …our grades …our achievements.

Christ doesn’t require you to achieve anything. Christ simply gives you His righteousness.

No longer:

As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt

Or

As the Lord lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north

But:

As the Lord lives, who brought us from the depths of Hell, leading us captives to freedom.

You are all about King Jesus

So, Why does Christmas kill the idea of “Christian Britain”?

Jesus is coming.

1) Earthly powers are all for themselves

Don’t place your hope in earthly structures, authorities or powers All earthly leaders are selfish. All earthly leaders will fail you. There is no glorious utopia in this life. Human beings let each other down.

But, Jesus is coming.

2) King Jesus is all for you

He is God’s gift to you. Not self-serving, but you-serving: so providing true security. Not taking what He wants, but giving Himself for you. Even giving you His own, God’s, righteousness.

This Jesus is coming.

So, 3) You are all about King Jesus

He is who you are. Through Baptism. Through the promises He’s given to you.

Jesus is coming.

He came to earth as a man for you. He’s coming in people’s hearts through the Word in the Church. And He’s coming back. He’ll put it all right. And He’ll show the world the righteousness He’s given you.