New Delhi (24 Feb 2010): A meeting of two visiting British Parliamentarians with some Indian MPs, Church leaders and other invitees at the Constitution Club here on February 24 turned into a discussion of the impact of the Bible and Christians on issues of justice and progress of the Indian society.

The British MPs Andrew Reed and Lord Alton, along with John Hughesdon, chair-man of the British and Foreign Bible Society, cme on a visit in connection with the year-long bicentenary celebrations of the Bible Society of India.

The British MPs are also human rights activists besides being connected with various Christian and charitable organizations. They were in Kolkota on Sunday to witness the release of commemorative stamp by the postal department in honour of the work of the Bible Society on February 21.

Addressing a limited gathering of invitees, Andrew Reed dwelt on the Christian calling to be the ‘salt of the earth.’

Political issues:
He has always taken an active interest in 'political' issues, although doesn’t regard himself as a politician. He has held many positions within the Labour Party over the last ten years. The church in general had not been enthusiastic about members taking part in politics. That may be one reason for the low presence of believing Christians in politics.

The British MP however called for increasing participation of Christians in the affairs of the state so that they could play a larger role in the promotion of justice and in the uplift of the downtrodden.

He reminded the audience that the House of Commons still began its session with a prayer. Nearly 100 MPs took part in regular Bible studies.

Then there was the National Prayer Breakfast , an annual event which brings people together to pray for institutions, government and the people of UK. The US too had a similar arrangement.

Keynote address:
There was a suggestion from the audience who had attended such prayer breakfasts in the US and the UK to organize a similar one in India.

Lord Alton , member of the House of Lords who delivered the keynote address emphasized the Biblical values which corresponded to virtues admired by the human race as a whole, by cultivating which Christians could make a great impact on society.

Man’s inhumanity to man manifested in wars, refugee influx and the like human misery in the form of starvation, malnutrition and diseases like AIDS called for compassion and joints efforts by all peace loving people including Christians. He said that every life is sacred and no one is untouchable. Christian faith stood for the sanctity of human life and everyone had a right to a life with dignity.

Issues like abortion, stem cell research, cloning, euthanasia have all become subject of great debates dividing even Christians. There is need for a positive pro-life approach. Quoting from Deuteronomy, he recalled the commandment of God: ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, both you and your seed may live…’

Aristotle, Aquinas and other sages enumerated virtues like justice, wisdom, temperance, tolerance, courage, magnanimity, munificence , prudence and the like. When a Christian lives his life he embodies all these virtues benefiting society thereby. The key, he said, is love. By living a model Christian life, we could influence society far more effectively than in any other manner.

Faithfulness:
Mother Teresa used to repeat that we are not called upon to be successful. But we need to be faithful. Other Christian leaders like Wilberforce, Shaftsbury campaigned for social reforms. Albert Einstein had said that for evil to succeed, it is enough if good people did nothing.

Strongly arguing for involvement of the Christian in matters of justice and reform, he quoted Pastor Martin Niemoller: “First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Several members from the audience were vocal regarding the caste system which impeded development and perpetuated inequality and injustice. There was some plain speaking too. It was pointed out that while Gandhiji opposed untouchability he supported the caste system.

Secularism:
Secularism, especially the secularism of the United States with its opposition towards any kind of allegiance to religion, was developing into a culture of intolerance. It was as if the public space would not be accessible to any spokesman of the Christian religion. Only words like God and Lord were being used even by Christian spokesmen for fear that words like ‘Jesus’ or ‘Christ’ would invite criticism. And Channles like the BBC often chose to give publicity to anti-Christian views.