This article takes a candid look at why Christians do not defend the law, which was created to protect their characteristics.
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Under the Equality act 2010, it is against the law to discriminate against someone with a protected characteristic such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
So why is it that despite having legal protection, we continue to see particular characteristics exercising more of their rights over others? Specifically, why are religious characteristics being trampled underfoot by the rights of gender reassignment and sexual orientation?
There have been numerous cases this year that have walked the fine line between freedom of speech and state censorship. These cases arose to the surface because of claims cited under the harm or offence principle.
Under the intense scrutiny of the media, these cases were used as an opportunity to label Christians as bigots or homophobic rather than properly address the issue of protecting free speech.
From barristers and social workers to teachers, parents and even students. All dissenting voices were punished by their institutions than received a trial by social media and were #judged and #sentenced before the gavel was even raised. Receiving the lashes of verbal discrimination and ridicule the accused were humiliated for holding convictions deemed eccentric and outdated.
So how did we get here?
Having spoken to many in the faith the common response seems to be that the Church has fallen asleep and is figuratively a giant which must be woken up!
Really! How long will we pander to such childish responses? How long will we pray such prayers? How long will we be saviours calling for deliverance?
History shows that rarely has a body of people "called the church" responded in such a manner. Frankly, it has always been a few patriots who have been called out of the apostate norms to pay the price by turning tables over. The most important question is, how did we get here in the first place?
- First, we did not speak boldly to the authorities, reminding them they are accountable to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- Second, we were not vigilant in holding the government to account concerning the law. Rather we believed the lie that others would enforce the law for us.
- Third, we bought into the narrative of the separation between church and state by outsourcing governmental responsibility. Ridiculing others who warned of the political clouds looming.
- Fourth, rather than unify under our King as a nation, we followed men and doctrinal caricatures which fractured and divided us into denominations.
- Fifth, we did not pull up the weeds of sinful and carnal behaviour amongst us. Instead, choosing a false peace, we turned the other cheek proclaiming "as for me and my house" while the leaven of sin continued to reign in our midst.
So in order to turn the tide, we need to be doers of the word rather than just hearers. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
- We must recognise our own contribution individually and corporately to the problem.
- We must seek his face for the strength to change.
- We must turn from misrepresenting our authority and not being observant of his law.
- We must put an end to corruption and stop the outsourcing of government.
- We must finally address the lack of patriotism by disciplining one another in the spirit of comradeship.
Only then, when we have brought forth the fruit of repentance protecting what is of value to our Lord, will he hear from heaven, and will forgive our sins and heal our land.
Citizen, will you take a stand and defend what has been protected?
For King and for country...
