Having no connection to any part of Britain other than distant ancestry I suppose I don’t really have a dog in the fight but I am paying attention nonetheless. Being conservative myself I concur with: “I don’t believe Christians should campaign or vote to upend the status quo of civil society without having extremely good moral reasons to do so.”. Of course Christians do strongly desire some degree of change, on both sides of the Atlantic, so we have to consider what degree and what kind of change does and does not amount to “upending”.
Delicate question here but, since “Scotland has led the way in the UK in legislating for gay rights, gay adoption, gay marriage, etc…..and London has only been a step or two behind”, would a divided, and hence weaker and less influential in the world Britain be altogether a bad thing? Offensive question to some, I know, but if it helps at all I also ask myself something like that about the United States’ “place in the world” at this point in history. No sure what I think the answer is, but I ask the question.

Your analysis is helpful, as usual, and whatever the outcome, Christians in Scotland (and everywhere) need to remember that our primary allegiance belongs to another kingdom. My friend, Andy Hunter, Scottish Director of FIEC, also puts a similar case well here: http://andyatgreenview.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/should-auld-acquaintance-be-forgot.html

(The booklet to which you refer has been laid out so as to ensure a limited readership!)

In God’s sovereign providence, even very dire events such as the ‘Clearances’ were used to bless many nations. I can rejoice in being a Scottish Canadian but I am also proud to have an English son-in-law as well as an Australian one and a Peruvian daughter-in-law but ultimately my greatest joy comes from the fact that I was given the ‘heritage’ of those who fear God and the great privilege of hearing the Gospel faithfully preached from my childhood.

As someone in the opposite position – an Englishman but resident in Scotland and thus with the opportunity to vote – I agree with what you say, although personally I think we’re likely to see a slim Yes vote on Thursday. I’m also currently sitting on the Yes vote – but that’s partly because I lean left politically, and would see it as “better the devil you vote, than the devil you can’t”. I was quite shocked when I discovered that Scotland as a nation hadn’t actually voted a Conservative majority for almost 60 years (1955 to be precise) and I guess my hope is that an independent Scotland would (at least for a season) break some of the political apathy I see here – it’s difficult to argue that voting makes a difference when it seems that actually it doesn’t….

But, ultimately, as you say “I don’t see either arrangement making that much difference to Christians or the Church of Christ” – let our “Yes” be to Christ, our “No” to the world, and our allegiance be to the Kingdom of God.