I’ve always felt rather sorry for Pontius Pilate. Apart from Mary he is the only person mentioned in the creed and it is unfortunate that the wording makes it sound as if he was responsible for Jesus’s death though “suffered under Pontius Pilate” was just a formula for dating the event. The gospel accounts give us a different picture – that in exasperation with the unruly and resentful populace he was expected to govern, he literally washed his hands of the whole affair. Roman authorities had two interlinked aims in governing their provinces – to maintain peace and civic order and to raise taxes. In return their subject populations benefitted from, in today’s terms, improved infrastructure, security and a generally tolerant attitude to colour, creed or nationality. But when there was a clash between religious and civic obligations, as we read, real trouble could arise.
Pilate’s aims in governing his province are not so different from the aims of our governments today – to keep the peace, administer justice, advance prosperity and ensure that enough tax is paid to keep the whole show on the road. In the Book of Common Prayer the prayer for the Church Militant (i.e. campaigning – very appropriate ) asks us to pray that under the King … we may be godly and quietly governed. And grant that … all that are put in authority under him may rightly and duly administer justice to the punishment of wickedness and vice and the maintenance of Thy true religion and virtue.” Those of us who lead the intercessions are given guidance that we should continue to include prayers for those who govern us, recognising that discharging our duties as good citizens is part of our duty as Christians.
As you read this you will be about to fish out your polling card and voter ID and head for your nearest polling station. Over the last six weeks we have been inundated with information and analysis, not necessarily very enlightening. Since all the main parties claim to put a high value on peace, law and order, security and social justice it is far from clear where our duty as Christians lies and our religious leaders are understandably reticent in telling us how we should vote. Maybe a little more input from them to the public debates in the run up to the election might help us to clarify our thoughts about who we should choose to represent us.
Gill Salway