A CHRISTIAN VIEW

David Beckingham – I got interested in politics in my later years at school, mostly just through discussions with friends, and generally being aware of what was in the news. That initial interest wasn’t particularly motivated by my faith, but it quickly became clear that the two things went together well. The Bible is quite plain that we should engage with society rather than close ourselves off, so it seemed obvious to me that we needed more Christians to get involved with politics, as it has a major impact on our nation. Also, my faith has definitely shaped some of my political views on issues, although I am always aware that the Bible isn’t a political manifesto, so it is possible for Christians to disagree about political solutions to problems

GP: What does it feel like to work at Westminster, when there is a general election round the corner? And maybe you cannot say too much, but what do you think the outcome is going to be?

DB: It’s quite exciting. There is a lot of planning and discussion going on and everyone is very aware that we don’t have long to go now, so we are all concentrated on making sure that the work is done in time. I think the result will be closer than many people might expect but I better not say any more than that!

GP: From your own point of view, and what you believe as a Christian, what are the biggest concerns in our country just now?

DB: I suppose the biggest issues are those affecting the health of our society, and particularly the extent of poverty and deprivation in certain communities. It is quite shocking. When I first started working, I spent some time studying this. For example, there are four million children currently growing up in poverty in the UK, which is extraordinary. There are lots of issues that come into this – family breakdown, drugs, and poor education all affect a child’s life chances. Of course, this should be of concern to all Christians, as we are called to 'defend the rights of the poor and needy'

GP: The kind of work you do must make for a busy life. Do your hours affect time to grow as a Christian and in the Fellowship?

DB: I generally start at 8.30am and leave after 6pm, so the hours are quite long. Thankfully, I have never had to work at the weekend or too late in the evening, so it usually doesn’t affect church commitments. The good thing is that, when I get a seat, the train journey allows me to try to read Christian books quite regularly

GP: To say there are ups and downs in politics is stating the obvious, but what frustrations do you see? Are there things that discourage you as a Christian serving in our country today?

DB: I think there are frustrations when you lose sight of the bigger picture, and start concentrating on things that are part of modern politics but aren't of great importance, like the latest gossip or opinion polls. What is discouraging is the extent to which faith, and particularly Christian faith, is a source of bemusement to so many in public affairs. A good example was Tony Blair’s recent interview about his faith, which was met with bewilderment by various commentators, as if they couldn’t understand how anyone could have a faith that would actually shape their views. A more dangerous extension of this is the growing hostility to evangelism – in other words, it’s ok to have your own faith, but it’s not ok if you try to convert others

GP: David, thanks so much for taking the time for this