First published in Evangelicals Now in October 2024
I am writing this article on the way back from the Conservative Party
Conference where most of my time was spent with the Conservative
Christian Fellowship which had an exhibition stand at the entrance to the
conference hall. The talk of the conference was about leadership which
has made me reflect not so much upon the qualities of the leadership
candidates but upon the distinctive Christian characteristics of
leadership, which are needed not just in the Conservative Party but
across public life.
When I became an MP in 2005 I was immediately thrown into a Party
Leadership contest when David Cameron came from behind and after
an extraordinary conference speech went on to win. But on the subject
of throwing it recalls a time when I was first elected and the then
Conservative Party Leader, Michael Howard, invited me and other MPs
who had just been elected to reflect on their views about on the last
election. We had all munched our sandwiches and got to coffee and I
was conscious that I had not asked a question. I raised my hand but
unfortunately it was just the same time as Michael Howard, sitting next
to me, decided to have a slurp of his coffee. Collision! The coffee went
all over Michael Howard’s lovely purple tie and suit which had survived a
tough election contest but not my questioning hand! But it is Michael
Howard’s reaction which made a bigger impression than the stain on his
clothes. He responded graciously and sought to deflect the blame and
shame away from me and shrug off my clumsiness. It led to me writing
to Michael Howard suggesting that we have a coffee character test in the
forthcoming leadership contest, allowing me to throw coffee over all the
candidates and see if they act with similar grace!
The Greek word for Grace is the same as Gratitude. To receive God’s
Grace in vain is to fail to respond to Gods Grace with gratitude. To fail to
show overflowing thanks (Colossians 2 v 7) for Grace - Christ’s love so
wide, high, long and deep (Ephesians 3 v 8).
We need grace and gratitude everywhere, reflecting the extraordinary
generosity of our Lord in all aspects of life and even death. Psalms like
107 exudes gratitude:
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all
your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires
with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
In a community in Enfield where my church has recently planted, a
group delivering a leaflet advertising the opening of a branch of the
charity Grace Advocacy, were met with the comment that there is no
grace here. It could perhaps also be said in some of our public life. As
the Conservative Party get into their final stage of choosing a leader, or
as we look to other leaders locally and nationally let’s do a character
test. No not by throwing coffee over them, but by ourselves leading by
example - talking about and showing Christ-like, Holy Spirit filled God’s
Grace and Gratitude.
David Burrowes
Co-Director of Conservative Christian Fellowship