Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Official Report 580KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Pastor Ken Bleakley of Larbert Baptist church.

Presiding Officer, members of the Scottish Parliament, ladies and gentlemen; good afternoon. As a Baptist pastor, it is my privilege and pleasure to address the Scottish Parliament during today’s time for reflection.

In the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 34, the word of God tells us:

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

In 1638, Roger Williams was instrumental in constituting America’s first Baptist church in Providence, Rhode Island. He went on to obtain a royal charter in 1644 to establish Rhode Island as a British colony, and so prepared the way for it later to become one of the original 13 states in the newly independent United States of America.

Williams was a man of vision. He called for the complete separation of church and state—a position that undercut the authority of religious and civil leaders but that allowed them both to flourish without interference from each other. That principle is still enshrined in the first amendment to the constitution of the United States of America. It remains an important Baptist principle, and the first usage of the phrase “separation of church and state” can be traced to a letter written in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists in Connecticut.

Williams helped to build a system of government for Rhode Island that was based on biblical principles of tolerance towards others, justice and equality for all, and freedom to worship without let or hindrance. Under his influence, Rhode Island quickly became a safe haven for all those who suffered persecution for their respective faiths or belief systems. The state prospered.

It is only natural that all Governments wish to see their countries flourish, but what makes any country really great? The book of Proverbs tells us that it is “Righteousness” that “truly exalts a nation”. God is telling us that doing what is right takes precedence over everything else, including economic strength, military might, a rich heritage, celebrated culture and conspicuous wealth. All those things have their place—they all have their own importance—but righteousness truly allows a nation to rise.

That is what Roger Williams had in mind all those years ago by creating an environment in which doing what is righteous was actively encouraged and brought its own reward. I remind members, as they begin this afternoon’s business, that Scripture gives us a timeless truth:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Amen.