Scotland's finance secretary admits to 'tiptoeing around' her Christian faith

 (Photo: Scottish Parliament)

Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes has spoken of "tiptoeing around" around her Christian faith. 

Ms Forbes attends the Free Church of Scotland, which adheres to a biblical view of marriage. 

She told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast that her Christian faith was "essential" to her being, and that she felt called to love and serve Jesus.

She added, though, that MPs should be representative of their constituents, and she admitted to being "as guilty as anybody of tiptoeing around" her Christian beliefs.

Explaining why this was the case, she spoke of a "fear and a sense that the public will think we only speak for our own rather than speak for everybody".

"To be straight, I believe in the person of Jesus Christ," she said. 

"I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love him and to serve and love my neighbours with all my heart and soul and mind and strength.

"So that for me is essential to my being. Politics will pass - I am a person before I was a politician and that person will continue to believe that I am made in the image of God."

She went on to say that it was important to be open about her faith with constituents. 

"Some of them will agree with my politics, others will disagree. Some will agree with my faith, others will disagree," she said.

"I have a duty to represent them, but neither do I want to deceive my constituents and I think being straight with them about my faith, about who I am, about my background is really important."

News
Cuts to government grants are having 'huge impact' on church buildings and local communities
Cuts to government grants are having 'huge impact' on church buildings and local communities

Many churches are in the corridor of uncertainty thanks to grant limits

Church of Scotland opposition to assisted suicide 'under review'
Church of Scotland opposition to assisted suicide 'under review'

Will the Church of Scotland change its traditional view following the Scottish Parliament's vote?

Christians pray as Westminster debates assisted suicide
Christians pray as Westminster debates assisted suicide

Christians are praying that more MPs will be persuaded to reject Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide bill when it is debated again the House of Commons on Friday. 

Assisted suicide: Scotland’s shame
Assisted suicide: Scotland’s shame

Increasingly Western societies, as they turn away from their Christian roots, become cultures of death.