Kate Forbes Reflects on Staying True to Faith Despite Political Setbacks
(Photo: Andrew Parsons/Parsons Media)
In the world of politics, where compromise is often seen as a necessity, Kate Forbes stands out as a figure who has chosen to remain steadfast in her beliefs. The former Deputy First Minister of Scotland, who participated in the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) leadership contest in 2023, claims she emerged as a true winner by upholding her Christian values despite the personal sacrifices involved.
At the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London, a global conservative gathering, Forbes shared her experiences of resisting the pressure to “lie” about her beliefs during the leadership race. Her decision to adhere to her father’s counsel—that “it’s never worth the compromise”—led to a media storm and ultimately losing the leadership to Humza Yousaf, a Muslim counterpart.
Forbes, affiliated with the Free Church of Scotland, remains unapologetic about her choices. “The end result felt like a victory because during that period I thought: I have not given in when I could have,” she said, expressing her satisfaction at gaining public support despite losing the contest.
The politician emphasized the importance of “courage” in maintaining one’s convictions, urging individuals to base their conscience on “external truths that will outlast every single one of you across the grand sweep of history—the biblical concepts of freedom, liberty, human dignity, the worth of life, and flourishing for all.”
Addressing the inevitable nature of conflict, Forbes posed, “The question is whether men and women will rise up like they did of old, standing firm on conviction, shaped by confidence, with the courage to defend truth or as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, daring to do what is right, not what fancy may tell you.”
She also highlighted the diminishing space for Christian viewpoints in public discourse, particularly in Parliament. Forbes pointed to the ongoing debate over assisted suicide in the UK Parliament as a case where Christian perspectives are being marginalized.
Forbes remarked, “There was a day in British politics when the Right and the Left made space for conscience. [That is] no longer,” noting that arguments rooted in Christian faith are often dismissed as biased and irrelevant by proponents of assisted suicide.
She criticized the acceptance of new ideologies without question, arguing that those who adhere to historical truths—truths she believes have fostered significant freedoms—are often sidelined.
Forbes warned of the potential consequences of abandoning Judeo-Christian principles, suggesting that the West could face detrimental outcomes. “It can be hard to understand that when you live in a society that is still largely shaped by biblical concepts and norms, but consider many of the authoritarian, regressive, oppressive regimes of death around the world—that’s the alternative, because our freedoms are not inevitable or guaranteed,” she cautioned.
She concluded by highlighting the crucial link between these freedoms and biblical teachings, emphasizing the risks of severing this connection.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
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