"Church Society" Polarisation

There is growing polarisation between the communities in Northern Ireland, according to research carried out by Dr Peter Shirlow, UU, c.2000.  His research suggests that the communities in Northern Ireland are further polarised now than they were before the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998.  Social polarisation is a current reality forthis part of the world.

Yet, what is happening in society is but a reflection of what is going on within the Christian church here.  The main, that is, larger denominations are theologically liberal and ecumenical, while smaller one have been imbibing the attitudes of liberalism for many years.  Then, when the biblical Gospel arrives in these churches, they do not know what has hit them.  At first, the congregations tolerate this new message, but as the impact of the gospel begins to register on their minds, there is an antagonism welling up within a section of the membership, which eventually spills out into outright opposition to the minister and his message.  Polarisation within the congregation is created, and this infiltrates into the wider denomination, forcing ministers to take sides either with the gospel or against it. 

This is happening within the churches at this time.  What we see in the country is a true reflection of what is happening in wider society.  Hence, there should be no great surprise at what is happening within Northern Ireland's divided society.  It is a case of "like church, like people."  A hopelessly divided evangelical church can but create an equally hopelessly divided society.

Northern Ireland knows what this is like, for the contexts are similar.  But, it must be qualified to a degree because our nearest international neighbour, the Irish Republic, acted as a bad neighbour when in the early seventies and under Jack Lynch’s premiership, it supported, financed and trained republican terrorists (the IRA) to engage in acts of international terrorism against the UK.  Over the years, other premiers gave their support to IRA terrorism, and to its allegedly political counterpart, Sinn Fein.  

In like manner, it is neighbours who are involved in opposing the Gospel of God (Rom.1:1).  These people belong to a different kingdom, serve a different master, and march to a different drum beat.  the Gospel people belong to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whereas their enemies belong to the Prince of darkness, Satan.  Their aspirations are fundamentally different, the one excluding the other, and their methods are also fundamentally different.  The very existence of these two kingdoms means that there will be strife and conflict and outright war between them.  There will be casualties on either side, and the capacity of Christ's kingdom will grow and increase, being strengthened by the power of God's might (Eph.6:10).  The other kingdom has already been defeated, but its master has not yet informed his servants; but time, and eternity, will tell.

In the Northern Ireland situation, those attackers were from our own towns and countryside, our neighbours; they spoke the same language, or at least used the same vocabulary.  It was neighbour who set up neighbour for attack and assassination and it was neighbour who passed on information to terrorists about the movements of neighbours who were security forces personnel.  Most of the terrorist attacks came from within Northern Ireland, but they found the proximity of the Irish Republic most convenient to escape to after completing their dastardly deeds.  

The context of the church tells the same sorry tale.  The people who are setting up the minister for attack probably live on the same street or road, or in the neighbouring farm or district; they have been friends for years. They, too, speak the same language and use the same vocabulary, but the difference is that they mean totally different things by the words they use.  They talk amongst themselves, passing on the latest information that is opposed to the best interests of the minister and of the Gospel he preaches.  Sometimes they operate in small numbers so as not to draw attention to themselves, while on others they will only work in larger numbers, where they have the numerical strength to intimidate those "Christians."  Like wolves, they meet in packs and come together when they consider it safe to do so - they do this without realising that there is nowhere safe for the enemies of the Gospel to be.  Their purpose? To tear the minister and his supporters in the Gospel to pieces, if they possibly can.  After their foray is over, they return to the safe haven of their Irish Republic - their homes and into their familiar communities.

This is church life in Northern Ireland - not unlike societal life in Northern Ireland.  And in common with both, there will be and can be no coming together unless and until God sovereignly and graciously changes hearts and gives to all a completely new disposition - one of love to Christ and his Gospel.

What do you think of this analysis?  Are the parallels between the two situations acceptable?  Do you see them? In fact, this is not just a parable about life in NI; this can be taken to any place on earth, and you will find that the Kingdom of Light is being opposed and attacked relentlessly by the kingdom of darkness.  But GOD MUST WIN!