Christian Persecution
Ever since the Road-Tax petition publicised the government website where anyone can start an on-line petition it seems like everyone’s at it.
These are some of my favourites:
David Kitchen’s petition: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to replace the national anthem with 'Gold' by Spandau Ballet.” It has 4,912 signatures.
Tim Ireland’s Petition: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stand on his head and juggle ice-cream.” It has 4,037 signatures
Anyway, never to be left behind, us Christians are at it as well… and this is what worries me.
In the last couple of weeks I have received an e-mail asking me to sign a petition protesting against a government bill which “will give homosexuals far greater rights”. Now regardless of what we think about this issue, what concerns me most is the message being conveyed by the words. Campaigning against a group’s rights is the same as saying we support restrictions being placed on that group, which seems to me to suggest persecution.
Should Christians be persecuting people?
I got another e-mail this week for a petition asking the government to stop the building of a mosque in London. If I’m honest, I just don’t understand why we would be asking our government to do this. Would we like a country where the building of any religious building by groups other than Christians to be banned? (Who would decide what constitutes orthodox Christianity anyway?) What would the next step be, pulling down all temples, mosques and synagogues? Then what? Deporting all non-Christians? (the test for this would be interesting…)
We’re very concerned when foreign governments try to prevent the building of churches, as happens in countries like Egypt. Is that the sort of government we want in the UK? Or is it ok because we’re Christians?
Jesus went to the cross because God gave us free will as a precious gift. We abused it, yet God loved us still. If people choose to go to the Mosque or if gay people want to stay at a bed and breakfast, it’s their choice and I’m really uncomfortable with these campaigns asking the government to legislate on these issues. Especially when God desires us to follow him with our heart, not just with outward conformity.
I’m uncomfortable because when these petitions are sent around they claim to speak for Evangelical (or ‘Born-Again’) Christians and I don’t like issues of individual conscience being presented as issues of Christian doctrine or orthodoxy.
I’m uncomfortable that these petitions vilify and demonise Muslims and the gay community, when we need to see that the vast majority of conscientious Muslims are seeking God in the only way they know (see Acts 17:22-23 for Paul’s attitude to people of a different religion and how he concentrates on what they have in common rather than pointing out why he thinks they’re wrong).
History shows us time and time again that when an idea welded by those in power tries to stifle a different idea held by a minority it always has the reverse effect. The Church has thrived time and time again under persecution. Despite the fact that I think it goes against the heart of the gospel to so aggressively harass others, it’s not even a good idea from a purely practical perspective.
And what are we afraid of anyway? Where should we point the accusing finger because people aren’t finding Jesus’ offer of abundant life and want to go to a mosque? Is it the governments fault? Is it their responsibility? Or does the blame lay a bit closer to home?
On a level-playing field I’m convinced that Jesus’ radical message of life, hope and love will beat all other ideas every time. We don’t need to try and fix the game with the government's help, and personally I think that by trying we’re actually making our job an uphill struggle.
I firmly believe Christians should be involved in politics and government, campaigning for justice and the poor. Sticking up for the disadvantaged and the needy. Reminding society about the people that everyone else wants to forget. But not picking fights with minority groups!
So let’s get behind something we can all agree on… changing the national anthem to Spandau Ballet’s classic!
_
These are some of my favourites:
David Kitchen’s petition: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to replace the national anthem with 'Gold' by Spandau Ballet.” It has 4,912 signatures.Tim Ireland’s Petition: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stand on his head and juggle ice-cream.” It has 4,037 signatures
Anyway, never to be left behind, us Christians are at it as well… and this is what worries me.
In the last couple of weeks I have received an e-mail asking me to sign a petition protesting against a government bill which “will give homosexuals far greater rights”. Now regardless of what we think about this issue, what concerns me most is the message being conveyed by the words. Campaigning against a group’s rights is the same as saying we support restrictions being placed on that group, which seems to me to suggest persecution.
Should Christians be persecuting people?
I got another e-mail this week for a petition asking the government to stop the building of a mosque in London. If I’m honest, I just don’t understand why we would be asking our government to do this. Would we like a country where the building of any religious building by groups other than Christians to be banned? (Who would decide what constitutes orthodox Christianity anyway?) What would the next step be, pulling down all temples, mosques and synagogues? Then what? Deporting all non-Christians? (the test for this would be interesting…)
We’re very concerned when foreign governments try to prevent the building of churches, as happens in countries like Egypt. Is that the sort of government we want in the UK? Or is it ok because we’re Christians?
Jesus went to the cross because God gave us free will as a precious gift. We abused it, yet God loved us still. If people choose to go to the Mosque or if gay people want to stay at a bed and breakfast, it’s their choice and I’m really uncomfortable with these campaigns asking the government to legislate on these issues. Especially when God desires us to follow him with our heart, not just with outward conformity.
I’m uncomfortable because when these petitions are sent around they claim to speak for Evangelical (or ‘Born-Again’) Christians and I don’t like issues of individual conscience being presented as issues of Christian doctrine or orthodoxy.
I’m uncomfortable that these petitions vilify and demonise Muslims and the gay community, when we need to see that the vast majority of conscientious Muslims are seeking God in the only way they know (see Acts 17:22-23 for Paul’s attitude to people of a different religion and how he concentrates on what they have in common rather than pointing out why he thinks they’re wrong).
History shows us time and time again that when an idea welded by those in power tries to stifle a different idea held by a minority it always has the reverse effect. The Church has thrived time and time again under persecution. Despite the fact that I think it goes against the heart of the gospel to so aggressively harass others, it’s not even a good idea from a purely practical perspective.
And what are we afraid of anyway? Where should we point the accusing finger because people aren’t finding Jesus’ offer of abundant life and want to go to a mosque? Is it the governments fault? Is it their responsibility? Or does the blame lay a bit closer to home?
On a level-playing field I’m convinced that Jesus’ radical message of life, hope and love will beat all other ideas every time. We don’t need to try and fix the game with the government's help, and personally I think that by trying we’re actually making our job an uphill struggle.
I firmly believe Christians should be involved in politics and government, campaigning for justice and the poor. Sticking up for the disadvantaged and the needy. Reminding society about the people that everyone else wants to forget. But not picking fights with minority groups!
So let’s get behind something we can all agree on… changing the national anthem to Spandau Ballet’s classic!
_
Labels: general comment
posted by Dave at 10:53 am
3 Comments:
Well said!, I think we forget sometimes that God is actually in control of events in this world, and maybe we should put our energies into reaching people who need God, tackling issues in a different way with love and not borderline persecution.
Whilst I agree with most of what you say, we need to realise that increasing the rights of homosexuals actually serves to erode our freedoms as Christians. Look at the Christian couple in Somerset who have decided to give up being foster parents because they would have been required to promote homosexuality for gay children in their care, against their convictions and conscience as believers, or the magistrate who has stepped down for similar reasons. Yes God loves people who are homosexual, and so should we. As a Social Worker my Code of Ethics requires me to be non-judgemental, so does scripture, but this does not mean that we must condone, promote or support this lifestyle.UK law does. That's what the petition was about, not persecution.
Whilst agreeing with most of what you say, we need to realise that increasing the rights of, in this case, homosexuals, erodes the freedoms of Christians (and Muslims). You may have read about the Christian couple in Somerset who have decided that they must give up fostering children because they would have been required to actively promote and support homosexuality with any gay child in their care. Something that was in direct conflict with their convictions and conscience. There was also a magistrate who has stepped down for similar reasons. As a Registered Social Worker my Code of Practice requires me to be non-judgemental. So does Scripture! God loves homosexuals, and so should we, but we are not called to promote or suppoert this lifestyle. This petition was about protecting our freedoms as Believers, not persecuting the Gay community.
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