I was so encouraged today to read that David Cameron, our Prime Minister, has stated for the record
The UK is a Christian Country
In a speech in Oxford on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the prime minister called for a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain’s “moral collapse”. He said “live and let live” had too often become “do what you please”. The PM said it was wrong to suggest that standing up for Christianity was “somehow doing down other faiths”. … he staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values … “We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so,” he told the audience at Christ Church … “But what I am saying is that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.” … Mr Cameron also said it was “easier for people to believe and practise other faiths when Britain has confidence in its Christian identity” … “Many people tell me it is much easier to be Jewish or Muslim here in Britain than it is in a secular country like France,” he said. “Why? Because the tolerance that Christianity demands of our society provides greater space for other religious faiths too. “And because many of the values of a Christian country are shared by people of all faiths and indeed by people of no faith at all.” (Source: BBC NEWS)
As you would expect these comments caused a real stir. If you are a Christian in the UK I would encourage you to commend Mr Cameron (Add you comment here).
What I really loved was the comment from the Muslim Council of Britain member and imam from Leicester, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra.
“It’s very seldom I get excited by what our prime minister has to say and this is one of those times. As Muslims we also believe in the Bible. We believe in the teachings of Jesus. Not only that, but in the teachings of all the biblical prophets, including Moses in the Torah. So this is something that we feel is absolutely in tune with the Muslim thinking. We have to base our behaviour according to scripture, God’s revealed message.
“For a long time Muslims have been trying to express this idea, that for us as Muslims Islam is not just a religion but a way of life. To divorce politics from religion is not something we are able to do, we cannot leave our religion at home or in the mosques, it comes with us wherever we go. So it’s refreshing to hear the prime minister say Christians should do the same. I agree Britain is the best country for Muslims to live in, at least in Europe.” (Source: BBC NEWS)
It seems that there is encouragement for us as christians to actually stand up for what we believe, to be clear about what we believe. The key here is that in the past Christians have stood up and tried to be radical and it has come across as arrogant rather than humble. It came across as intolerant of “others” rather than wanting to be their friends! We have conveyed Jesus as DISCONNECTING, ARROGANT and INTOLERANT rather than as the outrageously accepting person that he was.
This is what BBC News website readers who are atheists or who profess next to no faith are saying about Cameron’s comments:
Bob: “As an atheist I was initially enraged my Cameron’s comments, but upon closer inspection I have to agree with him. The UK is indeed mostly Christian. However, so long as ALL faiths continue to be examined and discussed in CoE schools, I can’t complain. My children can choose for themselves what they want to believe. The only thing we preach in our household is tolerance.”
Esoxhunter: “Forty years ago I was taught RE in a secondary school. It was the Christian faith we discussed. Though I cannot claim to be a Christian, much of what I was taught has been useful in my adult life. The value system of honesty, belief in right and wrong, of standing up for what you believe in and much more works today, as it did then. The only trouble is that RE isn’t taught like that now. It’s not PC.”
Source: BBC NEWS
Can I say, that if ever there was a day to stand up and be counted it is today! If ever there is a time to be praying for David Cameron it is today. If ever there is an opportunity for conversation about what you believe it is today! If ever there is a time for us to be outrageously accepting of others it is today!
Just a small pointer.
I don’t remember Jesus preaching freedom of worship for other religions.
I do know that in Acts 17:22-31 gives us the opinion of God on this matter.
Just going to highlight verse 30-31:
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.
And of course to put this in context, this was Paul’s words to the Athenians in relation to their worship of other gods.
It is therefore missing the point to say that Christianity opens up the way for members of other religions to thrive in a nation practising their pagan faiths. Wow God forbid!
I’m not politically correct i know. However, I believe in speaking the unadulterated truth of God’s word.
However, yes Britain was raised up to be Great Britain back when the nation was still Christian in the original sense of the word. Today a departure from the laws and statutes of God specifically, the bible and an embracing of the ways of the world has led to the decline of Britain. Political correctness and Globalisation become keywords and spawned words such as ‘Tolerance’ and these precepts of men have now taken precedence over the commandments of God.
So it is good that the prime minister has said something like this.
I would go further to say that Britain needs to come back to the living God, not just values and traditions but a revival and a wholehearted turning to God in repentance.
Christianity in essence is still offensive when the message of the Cross is preached, Jesus is still THE way, the truth and the life. not a way but THE way. And there people are stumbled. We are not to compromise truth for the sake of converts, then we just get weak Christians, easily offended, loving the blessings but shunning the cross, producing the current spiritual status quo in people and the eventual lie that all faiths lead to heaven