With elections just behind us and immigration high on the agenda, David Cameron’s recent words about being “more confident about our status as a Christian country” bear analysing.

The word ‘Christian’ is an excellent noun but a poor adjective.

Its meaning as such is far from clear. What exactly is a ‘Christian country’?

St Albans and Harpenden have more visible church buildings than mosques or temples, but is that one of the criteria? In other areas it is no longer true.

It can be said that the heritage of this land has ‘Christian values’ clearly embedded within it.

Our legal, educational and health systems owe so much to the influence that Christians have played.

But there has also been huge confusion about what being ‘Christian’ is.

It has been seen as going to church, following a code of practice or even having a British passport.

Today we have a wealth of different religions represented within the UK, our foundations are being rethought in different ways and the Church’s influence is now marginal.

And yet, paradoxically, this gives me hope. Hope that the reality of true Christianity can shine against a secular backdrop.

Then we can see that to be a Christian is not at heart to follow certain dogma, nor to behave in particular ways (though both are hugely important), but to be a disciple, one who follows the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to forgive our wretchedness and offer life to the full.

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