Uphill battle for Christian pursuing top job in Scotland

NICK EICHER, HOST: It’s Tuesday, the 28th of February, 2023.

This is WORLD Radio and we thank you for joining us today! Good morning, I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard.

First up on The World and Everything in It: a Christian politician making history in Scotland.

Kate Forbes is the front-runner to replace Scotland’s outgoing first minister. The first minister is the head of the Scottish government … not a small job in the age of Brexit, coronavirus, and ongoing calls for Scottish independence.

EICHER: Forbes became something of a political celebrity in 2018 when she was appointed finance minister at the age of 29. Now in the running for first minister, she has come under fire for her Biblical views on topics such as abortion, marriage, and transgenderism. Forbes belongs to the F-C-S … the Free Church of Scotland.

Here now to talk about it is David Robertson. He’s a political and cultural blogger and a pastor in the FCS, and he’s well-acquainted with this controversy.

Welcome Pastor Robertson!

ROBERTSON: It’s nice to be with you.

REICHARD: Well, would you paint a picture for us of the spiritual climate of Scotland right now. How common are Biblical convictions like those held by Kate Forbes?

ROBERTSON: Scotland used to be known as the land of the People of the Book. And in my view, we've secularized quicker than any nation in human history. I would say that the spiritual atmosphere is particularly dark, with the new kind of progressive religion having taken over as a state religion, and that biblical Christians are increasingly isolated, and indeed under attack as Kate Forbes has been.

REICHARD: Where does the Free Church of Scotland fit within that climate then?

ROBERTSON: The Free Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian Church, it holds to the Westminster Confession, so it would regard the Bible as inerrant. It is conservative evangelically. It has a wide variety of political opinions within it—we don't, you know, pick one political viewpoint. But we were declining, and I would say almost dying until the end of the 20th century. And since then, there's been a kind of mini-renewal. Not revival yet. But it is a growing church. And Kate Forbes is a young woman within that church. And it's a great shock to many of the progressives in Scotland, that someone so young, and in such a position of power, can be a Biblical believer.

REICHARD: David, could you tell us more of what you know about Forbes? Did she run for Scottish Parliament on a socially conservative platform?

ROBERTSON: No, she's a member of the Scottish National Party. And so what's independent for Scotland, she's a very capable young woman she ran in the highlands became what we call a member of the Scottish Parliament. And then because of a scandal, she was plunged into having to give the budget speech, which is the big speech for government. I think she had to do it within six to eight hours. She did brilliantly well became finance minister, and I think people were aware of her socially conservative views, but never really raised them. But now the progressives are so terrified. See, the thing about progressivism is it's not democratic, it doesn't allow for any other point of view. So right now we're experiencing what I call a witch hunt against Kate Forbes.

REICHARD: Now is this a true statement that Forbes was known more for her stances on poverty and fiscal responsibility than she ever was on these identity politics matters. Is that true?

ROBERTSON: Yes, but I mean, here's the astonishing thing. Scott, the raison d'etre of the Scottish National Party is to independence. But I actually think the progressives couldn't care about independence, they can't care about anything except their doctrines. Nobody denies that Forbes is by far the most competent of the candidates who are standing for First Minister. What they are now questioning is whether someone who holds to socially conservative views is fit, even fit to be First Minister. So it's a question not of what you will do, but who you are. And that is the most worrying thing about what's happening in Scotland.

REICHARD: So Forbes is really trying to walk a thin line in this day and age. She says that she opposes abortion and same-sex marriage. She also believes in representative democracy, though, and she won’t try to change existing marriage laws. Do you think it’s possible for a Bible-believing Christian to hold that line today?

ROBERTSON: We'll find out. Right now Scotland has been asked a question is Is it possible for somebody who does not accept the state doctrines, and they are religious doctrines on issues such as same sex marriage, euthanasia and abortion? Is it possible for such a person to be in civic office in high position of high power? We will find out the answer in a month.

REICHARD: We should probably clarify that unlike in the U-S, the head of the government in Scotland is not chosen on a country-wide vote. The members of Forbes’ party are selecting a party leader, who will become first minister of the government. David, how does that affect her chances of winning?

ROBERTSON: If it went to a vote of the media, if it was up to the elites, she wouldn't have a chance. But if it goes to the ordinary members, I think she'll she has a really good chance of winning. I certainly think if it went to the electorate in Scotland went when she would win quite easily. But that's not how these things are decided. So it's a very, very interesting time. She's such pressure was put on her that she was expected to withdraw. And I remember one journalist a couple of days ago, just writing I have no idea how she's still standing in this race. There must be some kind of supernatural power. So it's quite remarkable. She's a very brave young woman.

REICHARD: Final question here, David. One of Forbes’ opponents is Humza Yousef, the current Scottish health secretary. He is Muslim and has said he observes religious traditions such as Ramadan. Has his religion come under the same scrutiny as Forbes’?

ROBERTSON: No, not in the same way. So for example, during the same sex marriage debate, Kate Forbes was asked how she would have voted she was she wasn't a member of the Scottish Parliament then. And she said she would have voted No, and that's what got her in trouble. But Humza Yousef said he was for it, yet he arranged deliberately a meeting with some civil servants, because he came under pressure from his mosque and not to vote for it. The mosques in Glasgow came out with a statement effectively disowning him or criticizing him and supporting Kate Forbes, saying they agreed with her socially conservative views. And it's a crazy world and maybe, you know, I'll finish with just saying this. Maybe God is doing something here. For Scotland. I really hope and pray that it is the case because otherwise we're on the road to nowhere.

REICHARD: David Robertson of the Free Church of Scotland, thanks so much for joining us.

ROBERTSON: Thank you. It's been a privilege.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.