"“We can’t confuse "Christ is King" as a political slogan with "Jesus is Lord" as a call to discipleship”"
As parliament returns from its summer recess, the political headlines feel more prevalent than ever and each one carries implications for Christians seeking to navigate public life with wisdom and faithfulness. In this episode of Cross Section, the team take time to reflect on the biggest global and local stories and discuss how Christians can faithfully engage in such difficult conversations.
We begin with the turmoil in Westminster, where Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting challenges after nine senior resignations in just over a year. What do these departures reveal about the character and credibility of the Labour government? What might the future of the Labour government look like?
From there, the conversation moves to the defection of Conservative MP Danny Kruger to Reform UK. Kruger has been a prominent voice on social issues and public faith (most recently speaking up against assisted suicide). His move raises pressing questions about what this signifies about the future of the Conservative party and what this could mean for Reform UK.
The episode then turns to the shocking killing of Charlie Kirk. At 31, Kirk’s death has sparked grief, reflection and controversy. Loved by some as a bold Christian apologist and critiqued by others as they have highlighted his controversial positions on a range of political topics, the story has sparked many different reactions. The team discuss the way the story has taken over social media and the reactions of many – particularly Gen Z.
Finally, the team reflect on Tommy Robinson’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march in London, which saw Christian symbols and slogans used at scale. Around 150,000 gathered at the rally, highlighting the frustrations many are feeling around our politics and the growing conversation of Christian nationalism in the UK. But does “Christ is King” shouted on the streets line up with the New Testament confession “Jesus is Lord”? How can the church engage with the real grievances Robinson taps into without endorsing exclusionary nationalism?
Through each of these stories runs a common thread: identity, faith, and the risk of Christian symbols being co-opted by political agendas. We invite you to listen in and consider: what kind of public witness is Christ calling his church to in this cultural moment?
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro and episode overview
2:22 Labour cabinet reshuffle and political chaos
6:48 Danny Kruger’s defection to Reform
15:37 Charlie Kirk: reactions and reflections
23:12 Faith, politics and generational impact
26:44 ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march and Tommy Robinson
27:58 Christian symbolism and nationalism
32:16 Engaging with difficult figures and ideas
Christian nationalism in the UK: a contest for the nation's soul?
Peter Lynas outlines the debate on Christian nationalism in the UK, and asks how Christians can respond in faithful, hopeful and prophetic ways
