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In this piece, Christian Concern's Islamic Affairs Director, Tim Dieppe, responds to the UK's momentous decision to leave the European Union.
In an historic referendum result, the UK has voted to leave the EU. It is a momentous decision with huge consequences. Though this is the result I personally hoped and prayed for, I am in no mood for celebration. The nation has chosen a very difficult path, and we need to prepare for tough times ahead.
The result is decisive, if close. 52% in favour of Leave, with a 72% turnout. A majority of over 1m. It is encouraging to see that politicians and others are accepting the result, however passionately they fought against it. This is the nature of democracy. I pray for the whole nation to accept this vote and to unite to find the best way forward. The Leave vote was strongest in working-class areas where people rejected the economic fear campaign of the Remain camp. Immigration was played as a key concern by the Leave camp, and undoubtedly some voted to Leave because of the fear-mongering about this issue. Both campaigns played too much on fears and too little on hopes. We now need to rebuild a vision of hope for our nation under God.
The campaign and the result has exposed a bitterly divided nation. The political and economic elite were firmly for Remain. Many church leaders too argued for Remain. In many ways the result was a vote against the political establishment. A vote against big business and globalisation. A protest vote. We need to pray for healing between groups that argued passionately and patriotically on both sides. The referendum has divided families, churches, political parties, and the nation as a whole. Now that David Cameron has resigned, we need to pray for the right leadership and cabinet to take the nation forward. We also need to pray for Europe and Europeans, many of whom feel betrayed and upset by this result. Much prayer went into the referendum, but I feel that even more prayer is needed now and on an ongoing basis.
The result creates considerable economic and financial uncertainty. Financial markets and investors hate uncertainty and this is reflected in sharp falls in the pound and the stock market today. Jobs and prices will be affected. Many things need to be negotiated with the EU, and this will take time. No one knows what the future may hold. God remains sovereign and rules over all these things. We need to trust Him, that He is working out His plans and purposes through all the uncertainty and turmoil that may come.
Now is the time for Britain to recover its identity as a Christian nation. But this won’t happen without repentance. My prayer is for God to use this referendum result to lead the nation to a place of repentance from where God’s blessing can flow again. We know that "Righteousness exalts a nation." (Proverbs 14:34). Can we recover righteous laws? I was disappointed that David Cameron highlighted same-sex ‘marriage’ as a key achievement of his premiership. This move only served to undermine the status of the family in the nation. I was also disappointed that He spoke of a ‘multi-faith’ democracy, when previously he has spoken about Britain being a Christian nation. We seem so far from where God want us, yet He has turned our hearts towards him in the past, and He can do it again.
So, if you have been praying for the referendum as I hope you have, my prayer is that you pray even more now after this result. We cry out for God’s healing and restoration. We plead for His mercy. We pray for repentance and reconciliation. We pray for boldness in proclaiming the gospel. We pray for righteous laws. We pray for love for our neighbours and neighbouring nations. We pray for positive vision for who we can be under God. We pray for God to use this result to bring his righteous purposes to pass. Lord, heal our land.