An Anglican bishop has rejected claims by some lobby groups and
activists that Christians in Britain are being persecuted for their
beliefs.
In a short television broadcast in the 4thought.tv/ series on Channel
4, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, who is the Bishop of Croydon, a suffragan
appointment in the Diocese of Southwark, said that, in fact "we're
everywhere" and urged church people not to allow themselves to be fitted
into a "hierarchy of victimhood".
Acknowledging the genuine and terrible persecutions in Christian
history and affecting minorities around the world today, the bishop
denied that the choices facing Christians in modern plural Britain were
in any way comparable.
Even where there may be disagreement or conflict over symbols, values
and beliefs "there is a choice" about what to say and how to act, he
said.
The comments come as the pressure-group 'Christian Concern' (formerly
Christian Concern for Our Nation) launches a 'Not Ashamed Day' on 1
December, urging those who share their understanding of the Christian
message to assert themselves in public life by "speaking up for the
Christian foundation of our society."
Thousands have signed Christian Concern''s 'Declaration', and former
church leaders like Lord Carey and Bishop Michael Nazir Ali have given
support. But most church leaders and many more Christians are choosing
not to get involved in the 'national initiative'.
On Twitter, the cause had fewer than 200 'followers' in the run up to
the midday launch, and many responses have been less than enthusiastic.
One repondent posted: "I'm not ashamed of Jesus Christ, but I am
ashamed of the moral superiority of many of his followers", and "I'm not
ashamed of Jesus Christ, but I am ashamed of the violence and bigotry
carried out in his name".
Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank
Ekklesia, which has been monitoring claims about unfair treatment of
Christians in Britain, and will be publishing a report about it shortly,
commented: "While some noisy lobby groups and former church leaders are
willing to accommodate to exaggerated or false claims about the status
of Christians in Britain, many thousands of others (the majority, in
fact) are not.
"For example, this week, the Methodist Church in Britain is
rightfully turning our attention towards the 300 million Dalits (victims
of caste-based discrimination) across the world."
He continued: "Using language that mixes up the inconveniences and
challenges of living in a mixed society with the terror of living in a
disintegrating or dictatorial one is something those involved in
spreading the 'British Christians are persecuted' meme should most
definitely be ashamed of."
"We need to be theologically clear amidst the siren voices of alarm,"
said Barrow.
"That Christians do not rule others in the way they once
did, does not amount to 'persecution'. Instead, it is an invitation to
rediscover patterns of church life in a plural society which show the
heart of the Christian message to be about embracing others, not
isolating ourselves; multiplying hope, not spreading fear; developing
peaceableness, not resorting to aggression; and advancing compassion,
rather than retreating into defensiveness."
Bishop Nick Baines' broadcast, 'Are Christians the new persecuted?', can be watched here: http://www.4thought.tv/4thoughts/0150-Bishop-Nick-Baines-Are-Christians-...
Also on Ekklesia:
'Shameful claims and alternative Christian living', by Simon Barrow - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13679
'Why Christians should be ashamed on World AIDS Day', by Jonathan Bartley - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13668
'Humanists and Christians criticise "Not Ashamed" campaign' - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13681
'The Westminster Declaration: a considered critique', by Savitri Hensman - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12060
'A level playing-field for British Christians', by Symon Hill - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12853
SIC: Ekklesia/UK
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