Sermon: “A Christian Country — or a Christ-Like People?”

Scripture: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” — Matthew 5:14

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

A striking question:

“Should the United Kingdom remain a Christian country for good?”

It is a question that can stir strong feelings. Some will immediately say yes. Others will question whether Britain can truly be described as a Christian country today.

Others may ask what the phrase Christian country even means.

But perhaps, as Christians, there is an even deeper question we should ask:

Is it enough for a country to call itself Christian if its people are not living like Christ?

A flag flying above a church does not make a nation Christian.

A cross on a building does not make a nation Christian.

Calling ourselves a Christian country does not, by itself, make us followers of Jesus Christ.

Christianity is not merely a label. It is not nostalgia. It is not simply part of our history, architecture or national identity.

Christianity is a way of life.

Jesus did not say, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, because you live in a Christian country.”

He said:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”— John 13:35

That changes the question completely.

If we want Britain to retain a Christian character, then Christians must first ask whether we are retaining the character of Christ.

What would a genuinely Christian society look like?

It would be a society where the hungry are fed.

Where the homeless are treated with dignity.

Where elderly people are not forgotten.

Where children are protected.

Where strangers are welcomed.

Where those who are lonely have someone to sit beside them.

Where people struggling with poverty are not automatically condemned.

Where those who have fallen are offered the possibility of redemption.

Where truth matters.

Where justice matters.

Where compassion matters.

Where human dignity matters.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Notice something very important.

When Jesus describes the judgement of the nations, He does not ask how many churches they built.

He does not ask how often they described themselves as Christian.

He asks how they treated people.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

That is Christianity put into practice.

Britain has a deep Christian heritage

There is no denying that Christianity has profoundly influenced British history and culture.

Our towns and villages are filled with churches.

Our calendar contains Christian festivals.

Generations before us worshipped, prayed, married, mourned and were buried within the Christian tradition.

Many hospitals, schools, charities and organisations grew from Christian conviction.

But heritage is not the same as discipleship.

We can inherit church buildings without inheriting faith.

We can inherit Christian traditions without inheriting Christian compassion.

We can sing Christmas carols while ignoring Christ.

We can celebrate Easter while forgetting the power of resurrection.

The danger is that Christianity becomes something we admire in the past rather than something we live in the present.

Jesus never forced people to believe

There is another important truth.

Christ calls people.

Christ invites people.

Christ does not compel faith through fear.

When people rejected Jesus, He did not command His disciples to force them into belief.

Faith must ultimately be freely given.

Therefore, Christians should never fear living alongside people of different faiths or no faith.

We do not strengthen Christianity by attacking our neighbour.

We strengthen Christianity by loving our neighbour.

Jesus was asked:

“Which commandment is the greatest?”

He answered:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbour as yourself.”

And our neighbour is not simply the person who looks like us, speaks like us, worships like us or agrees with us.

The parable of the Good Samaritan makes that unmistakably clear.

Your neighbour is the person God places before you.

Christianity cannot survive on privilege alone

Sometimes Christians become worried when the Church appears to lose influence within society.

Church attendance falls.

Christian language disappears from public life.

People become less familiar with Scripture.

And we might be tempted to believe that Christianity will survive only if institutions protect it.

But Christianity began without political power.

The first Christians had no parliament supporting them.

They had no privileged national position.

They had no cathedral on every skyline.

What they had was faith.

They had courage.

They had the Holy Spirit.

And people looked at those early Christians and saw something different.

They cared for the sick.

They cared for widows.

They rescued abandoned children.

They shared what they possessed.

They welcomed strangers.

They forgave their enemies.

And the Gospel spread.

Perhaps the future of Christianity in Britain does not depend primarily upon whether Britain continues to call itself Christian.

Perhaps it depends upon whether Britain continues to see Christians behaving like Jesus.

The Church must be visible

We should not hide our faith.

Jesus says:

“No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket.”

There is nothing wrong with publicly saying that we are Christian.

There is nothing wrong with wearing a cross.

There is nothing wrong with processions, church bells, Christian festivals or public prayer.

There is nothing wrong with speaking about Jesus.

But visible Christianity carries responsibility.

If we display the cross, people should encounter the love represented by that cross.

If we preach forgiveness, we must practise forgiveness.

If we preach compassion, we must show compassion.

If we speak about human dignity, we must defend human dignity.

If we proclaim Christ, people should see something of Christ within us.

Otherwise Christianity becomes merely a badge.

Perhaps we should change the question

So when we see the words:

“Should the United Kingdom remain a Christian country for good?”

Perhaps Christians should respond with another question:

What are we doing to make Christ visible within it?

Because Christianity cannot simply be preserved by legislation, tradition or national identity.

The Gospel must be lived.

Every Christian household can become a place of hospitality.

Every parish can become a place where lonely people find friendship.

Every church can become a refuge for those who are hurting.

Every Christian can become an ambassador of mercy.

Imagine if Christians throughout Britain became known not primarily for what we oppose, but for how deeply we love.

Imagine if people said:

“When I was homeless, the Church helped me.”

“When my family fell apart, Christians stood beside me.”

“When I was grieving, somebody from the Church sat with me.”

“When I was hungry, they fed me.”

“When everyone else rejected me, they reminded me that God had not.”

That would be a Christian witness no statistic could measure.

And so, brothers and sisters…

The future of Christianity in this country will not ultimately be determined by a slogan beneath a photograph.

It will be determined in thousands of ordinary acts of faith.

A meal given.

A stranger welcomed.

A child protected.

A grieving person comforted.

A prisoner visited.

An enemy forgiven.

A lonely person noticed.

A prayer whispered beside a hospital bed.

A hand held at the moment of death.

A person reminded that they are loved by God.

These are the places where Christianity lives.

So should Britain remain Christian?

Perhaps our prayer should be something greater:

Lord, let Britain see Christ because Christians are living like Christ.

Let our churches be open.

Let our hearts be open.

Let our hands be open.

Let our faith be visible not only through crosses and buildings, but through mercy, justice, forgiveness and love.

For in the end, Christ did not command us simply to preserve a Christian culture.

He commanded us:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

And the most powerful sermon we may ever preach will not be spoken from a pulpit.

It will be the life we live when we walk out of the church doors.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.