Once again the news is full of reports of widespread angry protest amongst Muslim communities worldwide BBC Online. UK Muslims too are outraged over the offending cartoon BBC Online. Meanwhile, Christians in Muslim countries are facing intensified persecution.
The Barnabas Fund website comments,
“Why should the hurting of Muslim feelings be equated with the injury and destruction of non-Muslim persons and property?” asks Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund. “This gross injustice has gone unremarked. Christian minorities in Muslim countries strive continually to demonstrate that they are loyal citizens of their homelands, yet over and over again they are punished for the deeds of people they do not know in “Christian” countries far away. They are desperately vulnerable, knowing that few would dare to come to their aid or to seek to bring their attackers to justice.”
As a Christian, I believe that God can look after his own glory. He does not want or need us to resort to violence to defend the honour of his name. Believers must be prepared to bear the reproach of Christ patiently and graciously.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.... Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:14 & 16).
But we should be prepared to speak up for persecuted Christians in Muslim countries where their liberties are denied and their faith is certainly not respected. I commend the excellent ministry of the Barnabas Fund to my readers.
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