Crucial Issues

On 20th November 2002 nearly 400 people filled Carley Baptist Church , Leicester, to hear John Burn and Humphrey Dobson, from The Christian Institute, explain how Christians can act and pray effectively in their effort to be salt and light in society. To be alongside so many committed Christians was a real encouragement.

John Burn opened the meeting by defining that Biblical law must underpin the law of the land as this was the only way to provide security. He reminded us that the Bible is not just for personal use, it is the public truth. Therefore, it is right for Christians to endeavour to promote God's ways in society.

Four areas of concern were highlighted: education, religious freedom, adoption by cohabiting homosexual and heterosexual couples and the downgrading of cannabis. Both speakers stressed that in all areas Christians must use the current laws to defend themselves as there are many aspects of the law which are good but the church has become feeble and is often not prepared to make a stand. Some Christians think that to make a stand is old-fashioned but Acts 16 gives us the confidence to know that this is the right thing to do. Christians must not capitulate as their actions always set a precedent for others.

It was pointed out how the government is consistently trying to undermine Christian morality in its new laws and it was interesting to discover that one half of all peers who supported increased rights for homosexuals had been appointed to the Lords by Tony Blair.

What part can we play?

  1. pray-for more Christian teachers -for M.P.'s and peers to be converted
    - most of those who say they are Christians do not demonstrate this in their decisions.
    - for repentance of the country Rom 1, Lam 3:40
  2. Church leaders "must be less feeble" and give teaching of Biblical ethics from the pulpit in order to shape public debate
  3. be active in schools-governors, P.T.A., assemblies, set up a C.U., parents' school prayer group
  4. take part in radio phone-ins
  5. organise a petition
  6. keep contact with M.P. and councillors and write letters to politicians

Humphrey Dobson quoted several examples where the volume of letters written to peers had made a big impression and the challenge was put to everyone to be much more proactive in all the ways mentioned above in order to show strength. Feebleness of commitment to the outworking of the Christian faith is allowing much that is wrong to go unchecked. "Win or lose we have the right to fight".

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