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It’s predictable. The government produces guidelines on sex education, the media look for a storm/squabble/outrage and the Church duly provides them with one – usually to do with sexuality or promiscuity. And so the impression is created on the one hand that the Church is outdated, ignorant and against sex education; and on the other that the liberal elites have taken over and society is going to hell in a handcart! Perhaps it’s time for the Church to take a different approach? By the Church I don’t mean the liberal establishments within the institution who are just liberalism with a religious gloss, but rather the Church of Jesus Christ – those who hold fast to his word and seek to be salt and light in the society into which he has called us.
The Scottish government has just produced its awaited report on Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools. It is a good example of the kind of progressive, enlightened government document that we can expect in the UK. So how should we react?
1) All of the above does not mean that we do not question or weight the implications of what is being said. We will always ask questions. How do you do sex education with gender-neutral language? Why are ‘named persons’ to be told first before parents about sexual activity? Why do the guidelines seem to be so lax about underage sex? Of course we ask questions, challenge assumptions and hold the government accountable. There is a prophetic role for us to play. But this will be more effective if we are also being positive and working with schools and others.
Even our questioning can be used to help communicate the Gospel in a positive and challenging way. For example, the report states that “inputs from external partners should respect and complement the values and belief system of the school;” what is fascinating here is the admition that schools have a values and belief system. We should ask what that actually is. For most schools in the UK that has been, and for many it still is, a system based on Christian values and beliefs. If our liberal elites are seeking to change that, and using the education system to infiltrate their own untested values and beliefs, then we should be prepared to challenge.
The trouble is that our challenges often come at the micro rather than the macro level – thereby making us look petty and outdated because we just don’t get and don’t do the bigger picture. Certainly let’s go for the smaller things, but let’s also think big picture, apply our theology and do what we can to be salt and light in the midst of a tasteless and dark generation!
David Robertson is Moderator Designate of the Free Church of Scotland and Director of Solas CPC.
