Whenever there is an atrocity committed against Christians elsewhere in the world I get asked what we are doing about it here. The insinuation is that we appease Muslims, but ignore the plight of Christians being persecuted or victimised in Muslim-majority countries.
The quick answer is that loads of stuff goes on under the radar at national, international and diplomatic level. Anglican Communion partnership links mean that dioceses and bishops here are intimately connected to those places where Christians suffer. Relationships are often strong and communication good. However, such situations often mean that 'we' are wise enough not to salve our own consciences by making proclamations that make us feel better but do nothing to help the sufferers. Public silence does not equate to inactivity or inertia.
The latest atrocity was in Pakistan and the Archbishop of Canterbury was strong in his observations on events there. I also raised questions in a post the other day. But, what do we do on the ground, as it were?
In Bradford the President of the Council for Mosques called a meeting the day after the suicide bombing in Peshawar and a common statement by Muslim and Christian leaders was agreed. A joint appeal was launched at the same time in order to provide both symbolic and practical support to the Christian community that was attacked. The statement reads as follows:
Unfortunately attacks on places of worship of both Muslims and Christians alike are becoming more frequent. In recognition of this, Christian and Muslim leaders are encouraging all to join in prayer and supporting a joint appeal through mosques and churches across the city to raise funds to support the victims of this most recent atrocity.
We invite faith leaders of mosques and churches to support this worthwhile initiative through prayers and by raising funds for the appeal.
Bradford Cathedral, with my encouragement and at my instigation, is to hold a silent prayer vigil this coming Sunday evening from 6.30-8.30pm and Muslim representatives will be present. The vigil will be introduced by the Dean of Bradford and Dr Philip Lewis (Interfaith Advisor to the Bishop of Bradford). (I will be in the north of the diocese that evening in a rural parish.) Furthermore, a place of prayer will be established within the Cathedral for those Christian victims of such violence and other minorities who are subject to violence on account of their faith. This place will remain until Remembrance Day.
While writing this I have received information about a serious outbreak of civil violence in Khartoum, Sudan, and continued violence against civilians (mainly African and Christian in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile regions of Sudan. These are our brothers and sisters and we know many of them by name. So far the appeal in my name to support displaced people in these areas has raised well over £100,000 in eighteen months. There is more to be done.
But, perhaps this illustrates what partnership means and how we respond in Bradford to events that appear as news headlines.
September 26, 2013 at 10:25 pm
One has to wonder though…(The verse in the Bible that states ‘ If God be for us, who can be against us’ is found in Romans chapter 8 verse 31). …. have Christians been abandoned?
September 26, 2013 at 10:34 pm
True_Belle, I think I have illustrated how they have not been abandoned. It is also significant that who Paul wrote that to the Romans he was facing his own persecution.
September 26, 2013 at 10:49 pm
Nick , I hear you . Never the less, it is a very lonely cruel world out there. I feel extremely saddened to hear that the violence and suffering continues in Khartoum and Southern Sudan.
How on earth can these conflicts be resolved.. people are being persecuted for their connections with Western influence and religious teachings…why?
September 26, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Such conflicts are not new. Some cannot be easily resolved. The mystery of Christianity is that in the Incarnation God opts into this cruel and beautiful world and does not exempt himself from it. Those who bear his name are also not exempted, but plunged into the heart of it all. The Psalms express the cry that comes from being here. The hard bit is living with it while it all remains unresolved, but keeping the haunting music of hope alive amid the present noise of complex confusion.
September 26, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Nick, your reply is reassuringly positive.. even though the tyranny and terror that are affecting good people are so overwhelmingly atrocious, I do hope they know we are thinking of them . That’s the best I can come up with.
September 26, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray…
Shakespeare, Richard III
September 27, 2013 at 2:14 am
“God opts into this cruel and beautiful world and does not exempt himself from it. Those who bear his name are also ..”
He chose to let us crucify His son.
Is this not part of His way of being in the world, and so vital to our presence in it also? What we call the human condition?
Do Muslims and Jews have a similar notion of God’s presence in their lives?
September 27, 2013 at 8:46 am
It is also far too painful to consider the battles that Christians v Christians endured/ endure as well as Muslim v Muslim or any other sectarian quarrels and global conflicts..
Our own British historical past seems to be long forgotten.
September 27, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Reblogged this on hungarywolf.
September 28, 2013 at 12:34 pm
My concern about attacks on Christians all over the world is that the Muslims that do it clearly are not interested in the niceties of inter-faith dialogue. One of the key issues is that Islam sees itself as a successor to the corrupted Judaism and Christian faiths. Violence and death are seem as justified especially if there is a smell of offence towards Islam or Allah. Unfortunately since Muhammad’s hand was guided by God there isn’t much scope to liberalise. My greatest fear is that the head in the sand inaction, nice political correctness of the West will have no traction in Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya and Palestine amongst others, where we abandon our brothers and sisters in Christ to violence.
Having said all of that I still search for the appropriate response. Engaging our Muslim friends and neighbours can only be good. A Muslim shipowner in Jerusalem said to me that when he sees church burning in Egypt it makes his hairs stand up such is his shock and sadness.
Our Christian brethren need prayers but something more.
September 29, 2013 at 8:44 am
Simon, Islam is not the monolith that it seems to be in the West. I don’t know any Christians who wish to be defined by those who murdered in Northern Ireland. Pressure from Muslims outside Pakistan matters, but it is multifaceted – as is the range of activity going on at local, regional, national, religious, political, diplomatic and other levels. There is much more than prayer going on.
And this morning there has been more murder in Peshawar. As usual, the conflict is multivalent.
October 3, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Those persecuted for Jesus Names sake ask repeatedly for one thing – Pray for us. The International day of prayer on Nov 3rd is a huge opportunity to let the Holy Spirit flow through this land as we do as we are commanded to do in Hebrews 13:3. http://vimeo.com/74200670 in 3 mins shows the truth. Somalia, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, along with 51 other countries in the world Christians face a very real daily persecution for their faith the worst being torture & death. Sharia Law is very clear on how to deal with those who practice apostasy & just as clear on how to deal with those who will not convert. What is going on in Nigeria clearly shows on a daily basis the conflict between faiths. This country provides a freedom to choose to have any faith right up to “Jedi” being acknowledged. An Islamic state does not. Possession of a Bible is punishable by death – any Christian activity is punishable by death, lawyers representing Christians at trial simply disappear. Those in authority must stop trying to control the truth of what is happening world wide, do not quench the power of the Spirit, do not pray in silence stand up for the Word, stand in the truth that is Jesus acknowledge God as our creator and He will perform miracles
November 11, 2013 at 8:38 pm
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