The BBC recently showed a very balanced programme about the affect of legislation on Christianity in our country. The following quote is the BBC website overview of the programme:

“For years now, some town halls have been renaming their Christmas Lights as Winter Lights festivals. More and more Christians are ending up in court, defending themselves against what they see as victimisation for not being allowed to wear a cross to work or to pray for a patient. Many Christians feel that Christianity - once the heart of British society - is being pushed to the margins. Nicky Campbell investigates whether Christians are being discriminated against. He explores the effects of multiculturalism and asks Muslims whether they are offended by Christmas Lights celebrations. Campbell also analyses the impact of recent human rights legislation and the Equality Bill: do they promote a more or less tolerant society? A poll specially commissioned for the BBC reveals what the public think. If the Christian faith is being sidelined from the public space, is that a good or a bad thing? Campbell interviews Christians who claim they have been discriminated against, as well as leading religious and secular voices, including Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols; Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks; Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir Ali; Shami Chakrabati, Director of the civil rights organisation Liberty; and Polly Toynbee, President of the National Secular Society.”

Without doubt the programme makers discovered that some Christians are being punished for standing firm on the principles of their faith, thereby facing huge conflict and even job loss. Well intended legislation is and will have the effect of marginalising Christians from the mainstream but didn’t Jesus say that life for us would be controversial and uncomfortable? The concluding comments were wise and insightful. If the freedom to think and act differently is withdrawn from us, the whole idea of democracy is potentially in jeopardy. Ironic really!

Wherever there is injustice we must be ready and willing to make a stand – not just on matters that appear to threaten our faith and beliefs but also in broader issues of injustice that we don’t necessarily rise up against. What about the exploitation of people so that we can buy products more cheaply – and so the list could go on.

There are clearly powers at work that seek to cultivate an anti-Christian or anti-God environment for us to live in. Nothing new here then. We know we have an enemy who is ready to try and overwhelm God’s kingdom with his own dark kingdom. After several thousands of years at trying to do this he has only served to achieve accelerating God’s kingdom. Good news but an uncomfortable journey for us!

There’s a big question for us to consider. Do we think our Father God is big enough, and caring enough to allow an environment to be established that is more conducive to reaping a harvest than it has been for many years? Perhaps in the past, the idea that we are a “Christian country” has actually hindered people from seeing God’s truth and grace. People have assumed they are Christian because they live in a ‘Christian country!’

We have an opportunity to reveal Jesus and the kingdom. Jesus and the kingdom are always in sharper focus when the territory is hostile. Countries and communities that reject God always end up bland and devoid of creativity and individual inspiration. There’s no competition. Let’s choose our battles wisely and invest our time in loving people and serving them without prejudice and judgement. We’re going to face many dilemmas and some tricky decisions but as we live as one and love God and His world, He will lead us forward into being exactly what and who He wants us to be. At this present time in Reading we are experiencing huge favour in so many walks of life. It’s just possible we could live to regret not making the most of the opportunities afforded to us.

We are not experiencing anything like the persecution that many are dealing with around the world but things are moving fast . . . . and soon there’s a General Election.

Steve Prince, is the leader of Brookside Church, Earley, Reading.