The ISIS Christian Union & a Blind Britain
So… we heard at the begining of the week that a Christian
Union (for Yankee readers that’s a Christian student club) was disbanded at an
unnamed British college under the government’s new anti-extremism laws. Yesterday,
David Cameron said that such an act was ‘ludicrous’ and that people needed
common sense in applying these new laws meant to battle intolerance, hate
speech, extremism, etc.
The trouble for Cameron – and for most of the
secular, philosophically anchorless West – is that there is no longer any consistent
measuring stick that we can use to measure what extreme is. When we throw out what
is absolute, we have all the strength of a dried leaf to face the destructive. In place of Christianity, we try to teach ‘British Values’ in our
schools. But what worthwhile ‘values’ does Britain have that didn’t grow out of
its once held Christian world-view? Before the gospel came to this country we were
running around naked, worshipping frogs and eating each other. #BritishValues
Ironically, arch-atheist Richard Dawkins recently and
reluctantly quipped that only Christianity as a movement has the ideological strength
to confront the growing tides of radical Islam. Even he realises that no
Islamic terrorist group is going to be persuaded to lay down their weapons upon
a reading of his ‘God Delusion’.
Cameron – and most of secular Britain that his
comments represent – is simply blind to how dangerous Christianity is to all
other world ideologies. Cameron and those like him see Christianity as a
toothless movement: safe and boring – but nostalgic enough to warm the heart of
their grandmother.
There's a reason that Islamic countries burn
copies of the Bible and imprison or kill Christian leaders and converts. It’s because they
see clearer than most Westerners. There’s a reason that early Christians were
fed to the lions in Rome. We are proclaiming that Christ is King over all world
powers, that he will one day judge his creation and that -through his death on
our behalf - only he can forgive of sins. The Romans rightly saw the early
Christian movement as one that ‘turned the world upside down’ (Acts 17.6).
Cameron – and most of the UK – is blind to what
Christianity is. ISIS, the Taliban and most of those in power in the
Islamic world see much clearer. Christianity is best understood from the inside
– as a believer. But if you are not an insider, then the best view is from a
distance - like one observing a mountain. The worst possible position from which
to have a clear view of Christianity is from just outside on the door step –
which is where the UK is now.
Those who disbanded
the unnamed Christian Union may just be getting far enough away to see properly.
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I’d love to put together a lengthy argument but I’m not convinced it’d change your mind in any way.
ReplyDeleteInstead I’ll just say this reads like an old drunk man at the pub blabbering on about the ‘glory days’ when his football team was the winning team. I’ll let you fill in the rest of the metaphor yourself.
But think of all the fun we're missing out on?
DeleteGlad you find my prose 'intoxicating'. ;)
I would be glad if you did put together an answering article. You might not change the author's mind but you might change mine. This piece reflects my own views perfectly, so it would be very interesting to read a different perspective. Don't worry about making it lengthy - just bullet point the essentials.
DeleteWe are still in the glory days and our team's definitely going to win! Why not join us? You'll get a bruising but its an exhilarating ride!
Hi Joshua, I enjoyed reading your "pub rant" as Jo above puts it. I agree, every since Christ preached,
ReplyDelete"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ."
He was on a collision course with individuals and ideologies that seek power through fear, hate and subjugation. What are you going to do when the person you're killing keeps loving you. How are you going to counter that?
Christian's can be very scary people when they've got their "love" mojo going shedding it abroad through the Holy Spirit. : )
Rant on brother...
I greatly approve of this message,
ReplyDeleteAnd the image that goes with it!