Monday 7 March 2016

The Death of "Freedom of Speech" in the United Kingdom

In 2009 the British Government passed the law concerning the adoption rights of same-sex couples. In 2014 they passed further legislation to enforce same-sex marriage. Enshrined in British law currently is the promotion of a confused ethic, and not simply the protection of minority groups; they seek to actively promote their new form of post-modern ethics. Currently the British government refer to "British values" and it is a somewhat fluid term that few ever attempt to define. What is clear however is that "British values" now includes an intolerance to any one, especially Bible-believing Christians who disagree with the government's ethics on marriage, sexual relationships, abortion, medical IVF experiments and other such related topics.

However, as a Christian minister, I want to make it clear that the net result from several fronts in the United Kingdom is the death of "free speech". In recent weeks a committed Christian has been expelled from a Masters degree university course at the University of Sheffield because he holds different views on marriage to the British government. He simply holds to traditional values on marriage, but yet the media label him "anti-gay". This is quite a slur-term. I am not surprised by these events, but I am surprised with the rapidity of government crack-downs. A credible organisation called Christian Concern gives more information on their website including a clip of the heavily biased and anti-Christian BBC interview of the man expelled from the course. Here is the link: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/freedom-of-speech/felix-ngole-i-am-perhaps-just-one-of-many

If someone works in the public sphere in the United Kingdom, such as a school teacher, a university lecturer or in the health profession and much of the business world, one's religion must remain silent. It is permissible to promote atheistic evolution, the promotion of same-sex marriage, to rubbish the idea of the Christian gospel and the true message of Jesus Christ, but it is not a level-playing field. The majority of political parties of each of the four British nations are determined to re-model society and clamp down on freedom of speech. You can have free speech in your living room, but you are effectually muzzled from disagreeing with government ethical and religious policy outside of the home. It is remarkable that this shift has happened; in my lifetime it used to be clamp-downs from intolerant Russian communism that did such things. I note that such an anti-Christian philosophy fell with the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Today, contemporary British governmental intrusions into public life are becoming increasingly common for those who hold to Christian values and a biblical view that marriage is only to be between a man and woman.

The Bible is very clear on several fronts. Jesus Christ "will build his church" (Matthew 16:18), no matter what opposition comes and also anti-Christian governments will not succeed in suppressing the gospel. The United Kingdom today is far from the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet each oppressive attempt to clamp down gives fresh opportunity for the truth-claims of the Christian gospel. For those reading this blog-post from outside the UK, then do pray for this spiritually needy nation. For those Christians living here, may we be exhorted from 1 Peter 3:14-17:

"But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil".

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