{"id":9018,"date":"2022-07-11T17:17:26","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T16:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/expertcomment\/?p=9018"},"modified":"2022-07-11T17:17:29","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T16:17:29","slug":"sajid-javid-seeks-the-common-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/expertcomment\/sajid-javid-seeks-the-common-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Sajid Javid seeks the common good"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr Ralph Norman<\/em> explores a how Sajid Javid claims to have taken inspiration from a sermon, ahead of writing his resignation letter. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Sajid Javid resigned from the Cabinet he set in course an avalanche of further resignations, including that of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Javid\u2019s decision has had big consequences for the UK. So what prompted him to make it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday 6 July, just after PMQs, Javid delivered his resignation speech from the backbenches. Right at the beginning he explained what had changed his mind. It was, he said, the Reverend Les Isaac\u2019s sermon at Tuesday\u2019s Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the version of his resignation speech written for The Spectator<\/a> <\/em>website, Javid says that Isaac \u201cspoke about the responsibility that comes with leadership – the responsibility to serve the interests of others above your own and to seek the common good of your party, your community and above all your country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening to a recording, when speaking in Parliament Javid had actually referred to \u201ccommon ground\u201d rather than the \u201ccommon good\u201d. Perhaps he misspoke. But he seems to have been careful to make sure his published words say just what he intends them to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four days later, interviewed by Sophie Raworth on BBC One\u2019s Sunday Morning Programme<\/a>, Javid again began by talking about Les Isaac\u2019s sermon. Javid explained,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt might sound a bit strange but I was listening to the sermon by this amazing man, Reverend Les Isaac – you know, he started Street Pastors,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was listening to him talking about the importance of integrity in public life and, just focusing on that, I made up my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I went straight back to my office and drafted the resignation letter and went to see the prime minister later in the day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is in this momentous sermon that changed Javid\u2019s mind and, in doing so, changed the course of a nation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking as his text Philippians 2:8, Isaacs preached on the theme of the humility of Christian service. Jesus, he said, served in humility. And such service continues today. One of the interesting things about the sermon is Isaac\u2019s repeated use of the words \u201ccommon good\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight across the United Kingdom, men and women who are serving their community without prejudice demonstrate their concern and their passion for the common good of society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany men and women are quietly demonstrating service, humbly and compassionately, for the common good of the community, of society, of their city and their nation\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[T]here\u2019s a challenge for us, whether we\u2019re politicians, whether we are church leaders, there\u2019s a challenge for us to work in a collaborative way. To work where we can work for the common good with everyone within our community, to bring hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we are called to serve. We are called to work together for the common good – not just for the party, not just for the denomination, but for humanity. My words of encouragement to us this morning: Give hope a chance. Let hope flourish as you seek to lead and as you seek to have influence and as you seek to exert your influence across the world, across the city, across our community. Let us recognise it\u2019s together we will make a difference. It\u2019s together the common good of our community would be realised. May the Lord help us as we continue to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it seems that Javid\u2019s mind was indeed changed by a sermon on religion and the common good<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much can be said about the \u201ccommon good\u201d, a technical term which goes all the way back to ancient Greek philosophy and which features prominently in theological writing. No matter what our identity, no matter what our community, it is about what we share. It is about working for shared goods while respecting the very real diversity found in a pluralist social order.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And seeking the common good is changing Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Ralph Norman is course director for the MA Religion and the Common Good<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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