There’s been a lot of discussion in the media recently about Donald Trump’s expected appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. The comments in the secular press, certainly in Britain, have been overwhelmingly negative due to Ms Barrett’s views on abortion influenced by her Catholic faith.
A similar thing happened in the UK a few years ago when MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was questioned about his views on abortion and homosexuality. Just prior to this he had been the up and coming posh but trendy MP who appealed to a wide demographic. His Catholic views, however, suddenly made him unpalatable. People seemed to assume that he needed educating or that he would apologise and back down realising his mistake. Instead, he suggested that a new form of bigotry was emerging against Christians. It was suggested to him that he would never be able to hold high office in Britain with his views as they were unacceptable to a vast swathe of the population.
Most people are surprised to hear that Christians up and down the country are facing intolerance and discrimination on a daily basis. They reject the idea that Christians are becoming a side-lined minority because they still think we live in a Christian country. A lot of people with no faith to speak of still class themselves as Christians and still ask what group/denomination you are part of if you express anything beyond mere intellectual assent to a vague belief in God. They class such people as extreme or suggest that they take their religion too seriously.
When pointing out that Christians are now regularly silenced and sacked, and occasionally prosecuted for their biblical beliefs, people initially may be sympathetic. However, when gay marriage or homosexuality, abortion or creation are mentioned, they change their tune and either fall silent indicating passive disapproval or denounce such views openly. They advise that things have moved on, society has progressed and that science has proven that people don’t have a choice about some of these things.
Others tell Christians that it’s okay to hold these views privately but that they should never bring them to work. They are told that they must not allow their Christian views to influence decisions in the workplace. They are told that they cannot express religious opinions. They are banned from purchasing stalls at public markets if they are intending to sell or distribute Christian books.
Just last week a friend of mine who had been told he was making a positive contribution to an open public market with his potter’s wheel display, was suddenly banned because he was giving away Christian books. He was told he couldn’t even share his own story of conversion as he showed people how to make pots. In essence, he was gagged and rejected. The authorities wanted the feel good factor of people being able to learn a new skill, but not the real message of hope in Jesus that can permanently transform broken lives. How tragic.
The expectation that Christians can somehow divorce themselves from what they believe and then continue as if they were atheists whilst at work is evidence of a fundamental misunderstanding of what a Christian is.
A Christian is a new creation, they have been rescued from their sin and born again to a new life with a new Master. They are living for a new life, beyond this one, in Heaven with Jesus. They won’t conform to the world or embrace secular values. They cannot adopt views that are acceptable to the masses if they go against what is clearly stated in the Bible which is God’s Word. They won’t change what they believe or soften their stance on controversial issues. If they do and are ashamed of Jesus, He says that He will be ashamed of them when He returns.
A true Christian cannot and will not leave their faith at home because it is who they are. They likely believe they have been placed by God in their workplace to influence those around them by their words and behaviour. How can they do this if they are no different to their peers, if they don’t stand up for what they believe when the opportunity arises?
Would you ask someone to cut off an arm or leg or to wear a gag or blindfold in order to go to work? Of course not. Yet, the expectation that a Christian can leave their faith at home is no different to this ridiculous suggestion. This is why Christians would rather lose their jobs, their homes and everything else than deny their Lord.
Many stories of Christians being discriminated against quietly slip from public attention but are regularly highlighted by organisations like the Christian Institute and Christian Legal Centre who are working tirelessly to defend them.
Are we really a tolerant, democratic country or do we just support freedom of expression and conscience when it suits our purposes?
