The old sketch still works as comedy, and everyone recognised the reality in 1971, but does it still work as an analysis of our society in 2011? One thing the recent city riots suggest to me is that the key divide in our society is no longer the old one between working class and the upper classes. It is between the classes of people who are engaged with and benefit from society, and a growing underclass of people who have fallen through the gaps and experience the chronic social ills we hear much about.

 

The rioters are not “working class”; many have never worked; they have no “place” to know. They have no investment in conventional society and nothing much to lose even if they are arrested. A riot is just a chance to vent their alienation and gain a bit of excitement, gang status and new bling in.

 

Ironically, one of the main answers proposed to help may have the unfortunate side effect of enhancing the problem. We want to improve education and opportunities so as to increase social mobility – a good thing in itself, of course. But what happens when a young person from these communities betters themselves, gains an education and a good job? They, quite understandably, clear out of that community as quickly as they can! And who can blame them. But this means, rather than being lifted as a whole, the community is deprived of those very people who could be role models and give a positive influence.

 

This is very different from the old-fashioned working class communities where intelligent, respected and often self-educated individuals acted as secular salt and light. They gave leadership through local means – trade unions, churches, the brass band, choir or bowls club – and simply through example.  

 

It is not obvious how we can square the circle of giving opportunities to youngsters with aspiration without depleting their communities of that resource.

 

And here perhaps is the challenge and the opportunity for our churches – not least my own. We are called to be “salt and light” in the world; this means being connected and engaged with our society. Yet it is all too easy to revert to becoming a comfortable middle class enclave a million miles from the experiences of those caught in the underworld.

 

Some churches are trying of course; but many, not least in the capital, are affected by the same dynamic - those Christians with most to give commute to the church where they feel they have most to gain, rather than where they are most needed. So the question is “where’s the salt in our cities?”

 

And yet beating ourselves up for being middle class, or putting on hoodies pretending to be people we are not, or offering token patronising “aid programmes”, cannot be the answer. There must be a more creative approach.  As Christians we should be confidently that the gospel uniquely qualifies us to find it. At Surrey Chapel, as we anticipate a relocation to a site with more potential for engagement with a local run-down community, we are exploring all options and seeking God’s will for what that might look like. And if you have any suggestions, we would be very glad to hear what you have to say!