Peter Sammons reflects on a recent survey, second in this series.
# 2/5 – If you could be part of a real royal family, would you be interested?
Background to the Wolverhampton Surveys
It was TFM’s privilege to serve five churches in Wolverhampton during May 2023, two independent churches (International Life Centre, and Hope City Church) and three in the Anglican benefice of Bushbury. Approximately ten minutes driving time apart, these churches are ‘local’, but not on each other’s doorstep.
During the TFM mission we used two surveys. The first was a one-off, recognizing that the Wolverhampton mission coincided with the Coronation event. As this seemed a God-sent opportunity, we grasped it gratefully! Here is the “Crowning the King” survey with the questions in full:
https://tfm.uk.endis.com/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=327542
Whilst its questions might appear to be focused on King Charles III, there was an easily recognizable sub-text, as they provided an opportunity to think about The King of Kings. The TFM survey seemed, overall, well received and was certainly thought-provoking. It made for friendly and non-stressed person-to-person encounter, irrespective of peoples’ personal feelings about Monarchy in the UK.
In this short reflection we focus on the second question – If you could be part of a real royal family, would you be interested?
Part of a real royal family
The way people reacted to this question showed something of their general attitude to Monarchy, as well as their realism about the pressures and ‘costs’ of being a Royal. Here is the question and the associated percentage responses:
| 2. If you could be part of a real royal family, would you be interested? | ||
| f | No – life is too complicated already | 62 % |
| g | Yes – I’d like to give something back (to my country, to my community, to my family) | 13 % |
| h | Could I cope with the demands/pressures? Would I fail? | 12 % |
| i | Note sure | 9 % |
| j | something else …. | 4 % |
The subtext behind this question is to help us see the wonderful and amazing truth that Jesus invites us to be a part of His royal family, eternally. We are more than ‘just’ His friends, amazing though that is: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15). We become fellow citizens with Christ: you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19).
https://philressler.com/you-are-a-member-of-the-royal-family/
What an amazing truth! Jesus died in our place, and, in accepting the punishment that ought to be ours, He ‘promotes’ us to be members of His family – forever: you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Realists in Bushbury Parish
Few respondents deliberated the question. Most were quick to say “no thanks”! Fully 62% said ‘life is too complex’ already. There was a
little appetite to join the royal family, with just 13% thinking they have what it takes! Fully 74% were chary on the idea.
But think of this from the Christian perspective. The truth of the matter is that precisely 100% of people have the personal invitation to royalty extended to them – no one is excluded from that invitation: in this way God loved the world. He gave his one and only Son, that whomsoever believes on Him shall not die, but shall have life eternal (John 3:16). It is ‘whomsoever’ that believes on Jesus. Yes, it is a little more complex than that. As we explored at Bushbury during the week of the TFM mission in Wolverhampton, the gospel message is as simple, and as hard, as ABC! We must admit our need of salvation. We must believe on Jesus – and what He has achieved for us on the cross of crucifixion. And we must commit our lives to following Him. The first recorded word that Jesus spoke in the gospels is “repent”; that means to turn away from rebellion (‘sin’) against God and towards God – to live our lives for Him, in His strength.
| f | No – life is too complicated already | 62 % |
| g | Yes – I’d like to give something back (to my country, to my community, to my family) | 13 % |
| h | Could I cope with the demands/pressures? Would I fail? | 12 % |
TFM questions (f), (g) and (h), above, are interconnected. Although it might seem hard to follow Jesus (and it is!), it is certainly not impossible because we do not do it alone. Jesus has left behind His Spirit to strengthen us: I tell you the truth. It is good for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you (John 16:7). Although life may seem too complex already (f) following Jesus helps us to straighten out life’s priorities and to live truly meaningful lives. Indeed we can give a little something back to God as we minister to others in His name (g). And we can indeed cope with the demands and pressures (h) because we do so not in our own strength but in the strength of God Himself, evidenced by His Spirit working in our lives, and through us – into the lives of others.
Wolverhampton wanderers!
It was great to do street mission across five churches in Wolverhampton the week of Charles III coronation. Survey results and conversations did indicate real confusion about the nature of God and of His Son, Jesus our Lord. We shall explore this in the next couple of months as we unpack what the good folk of Wolverhampton had to say on the streets. Yes, Mankind ‘wanders’ away from God, and the people of Woplverhampton are just the same. It’s not always intentional or determined, but it does require correction for the sake of our eternal destiny. Interestingly, one of the definitions of the word Hebrew is ‘wanderer’, as the Jewish people were so often compelled to wander beyond their own special land. All of us need to seek a better land – in that sense to be ‘wanderers’ or even ‘Hebrews’!
Jesus said ‘seek first the Kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33). Our focus in life must to be to seek the good things that God alone ‘gives’ and the ‘country’ that He has set aside for us. Wanderers we may be, but let us determine to seek Him – and to find Him. He is not so far away!
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Look out for our next article which will consider how people responded to the second question – ‘if you could be a part of a real royal family, would you be interested?’ We hope this will come out next week via the TFM prayermail.
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Through Faith Missions (TFM) is an evangelism charity that aims to bring the good news of Jesus to people across the UK – and beyond. Volunteer missioners are mobilized for short term mission, and regularly see profound answers to prayers. Here is a link to TFM: https://tfm.uk.endis.com/
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If you are excited by the possibilities above, please visit the TFM website where there are some great links to other gospel materials that make these things easy to understand. As the Bible says “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Why not seek Him? He’s waiting for you, too!
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