As a Lent course we looked at some of the ideas in Nigel Room’s book “The Faith of the English.”
Just as Jesus lived at a particular time in a specific culture and showed what His Father is like, so too the church in any age cannot exist outside culture. If the Church is to show the nature of the Father then we have to do that from within the culture we live in. Arguably failure to understand and engage with culture is what leads to the demise of churches. So what is English culture, what is there about it that the gospel affirms and what does the gospel challenge?
The group looked at five sayings/attitudes that help us appreciate Englishness. They are “Don’t Rock the Boat”, “Humorous moaning”, “An Englishman’s home is his Castle”, “To be fair,” and “Sorry!”
Englishness is about moderation. We don’t rock the boat. A moderate world would be very safe, but Jesus who stilled the storm also rocked the boat. He drove the money changers out of the temple. He healed the sick and leprous. He welcomed the outcasts. His life was one of non-violent change. A world of moderation is not all bad, but falls short of the example of Jesus.
Banter and chuntering about weather and general “gallows humour” is another characteristic of Englishness. It creates ways of engaging with others but a “gallows humour” world could be be wearing. The ability of gallows humour to accept a situation & transform it has strong faith overtones. The biblical picture is one of Transformation through Acceptance. A “Transformation through acceptance” world would be exciting and yet uncomfortable because of the implications of change.
An “Englishman’s Home is his Castle” is a world that would feel secure, private, comfortable but also potentially isolated. Homes can be expressions of personality, contentment, a personal place to be yourself, recharge your batteries & offer hospitality yet they have potential for isolation & increasing individualism. The biblical picture is of Son of Man, born in a stable who had no place to lay his head, who called followers to leave their homes, of Abram & Moses called to go into unknown. BUT the Son of Man who retreated to “a lonely place”, who was welcomed into people’s homes to receive hospitality & who talked about the prodigal son’s homecoming.
A world built round the value of “a stable place sufficed” would be smelly, but a place of shelter warmth & security, albeit on the margins. It would be one in which people rejoiced in what they had not relentlessly pursuing what they hadn’t. It would be non-materialistic with gratitude & resultant joy. It would celebrate family & social connections. Contentment follows being satisfied with what you’ve got. People who demonstrate that philosophy come across as truly happy. Satisfaction comes from a relationship with God who provides enough. Human response is to see that what God has provided is shared so all have shelter warmth and security.
“To be fair,” caused us problems, because the scandal of the gospel is that God’s love is unfair. It is for everyone, including the undeserving. That is not comfortable for those of us who feel as though we have been working long hours in the vineyard! But we need to recognise that’s our problem!
“Sorry!” – why are the English so good at apologising, and do we actually mean it. A researcher quoted in Rooms book went round bumping in to people. 80% of them – of all ages and ethnicities – apologised to the researcher for her bumping into them! A “Sorry!” world could be caring and healing, celebrating reconciliation and harmony. It could be insincere and irritating. A biblical picture of sorrow is Peter breaking down and weeping after denying Jesus. A world based on that – of guilt and remorse leading to contrition, has the possibility of real acceptance of human frailty and of personal and corporate growth.
