Questions re the Archbishop of Canterbury's comments on Sharia Law

Following the controversial address by Rowan Williams, a couple of weeks ago, the storm he brewed up refuses to abate which just highlights how disastrously unwise he was in both the content and timing of his speech. This is a far more serious issue than the cleric and many others including Christians in this nation, appear to grasp because it threatens an integral part of the historic structure of the culture of this nation.

In response to the Archbishop's verbal catastrophe Geoff Farnell, pastor of Ainsdale Evangelical Church, has written the following.

This problem is not going to go away and needs to be addressed not only by the Archbishop by reconsidering his position as 'spiritual' leader of the church, but by church leaders across the nation in their congregations, many Christians in their daily walk - and indeed those who do not profess any Christian faith - because the consequences likely to follow, if Mr Williams suggestions were acted upon, would be diabolical in their contemplation for every generation of native British people to come.

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Response to the comments on Sharia Law made by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, February 2008

The position in the UK for a few hundred years, and which worked very well, was one where all religions accepted the UK's protection/hospitality and worked within society dominated by the Church of England. This system was based upon Biblical precepts of truth and justice. It resulted in a free society with Christian denominations preaching the gospel to non-believers, but happy to live alongside others who did not believe in Christianity, in other words peaceful co-existence.

However, there is now some trouble with certain Muslims who are on a crusade for world domination through physical force. For several decades many Muslims have been content to accept the situation as outlined in the opening paragraph of this letter, and it needs to be emphasised that many still do. The difference is that now we are faced with a strong resurgence of militant Islam. A recent survey in the UK found that over 40% of Muslim young people wanted to live under Sharia law.

Islam, like Christianity, has many different “denominations”, but overall it cannot be said, today, to be a religion of peace and tolerance. Many world conflicts are being fomented by Islamic militants. This behaviour by many modern Muslims is consistent with what Islam has often been in the past, when it has frequently advanced through deception and conquest. This is verifiable history.

Several missionary societies are now involved in helping Christians, who are under severe persecution because of expanding Muslim activity. This persecution is usually through the introduction of Sharia Law. Examples of these organisations are Barnabus Fund (led by Patrick Sookhdeo) and Open Doors (led by Brother Andrew). There have been hundreds of thousands of Christians, if not more, martyred at the hands of Muslims in these last few years.

The method is always the same. Muslims congregate together, and then threaten others within that area. Sharia Law is then introduced and forcibly applied. The area under Sharia Law is then expanded until, if possible, a whole country is taken over. Islam is a political system as much as it is a religion, with world domination as it's aim.

This information is not normally presented by the media and consequently it is questionable if most people understand the true nature of Islamic fundamentalism. After all Britain has been appeasing the Arabs and consequently Muslims since the beginning of the nineteenth century, almost certainly because of Oil! As Chamberlain found, appeasement does not work.

The government seems to be attempting to maintain oil supplies at the same time as trying to control militant Islam across the world. It is using “multi-culturalism” in support of these policies. However if Britain became on Islamic state, then the people would see Islam's true face. Most likely neither the UN nor the international community, as well as our government and media are going to easily accept the truth.

What should Bible believing Christians do?
As Bible believing Christians we believe that the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is God's inerrant written revelation, and that salvation is found in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection offers salvation to everyone. We believe in proclaiming the good news of salvation, only in the Lord Jesus Christ, to everyone. Therefore to be consistent with our faith, we need to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ by doing the following three things.

1. Keep praying and keep proclaiming the truth.
2. Make more effort to evangelise Muslims. This needs to be done, even though successful evangelism initially stirs up opposition and may result in more persecution. This is seen in many countries and to some extent now here in the UK. A lot of Muslims have come to the UK to escape Sharia Law and many Muslim converts to Christianity have been hounded and sometimes injured in parts of the UK where Muslims are numerically strong. The Bishop of Rochester is under police protection in the UK because he has spoken about his own experience at the hands of militant Islamists when living in Pakistan.

There seems to be a growing confusion regarding the differences between Bible believing Christians and Islamic militants. Bible believing Christians present the gospel of salvation through Christ in a non-violent manner, but Islamic militants will seek to advance the cause of Islam by violent means.

3. Make it clear that all people including Muslims are loved. If we do not share the gospel with Muslims as the Lord leads us, we are not showing them love, as we believe the only hope is in Christ. A particular welcome is extended to them if they disengage from incitement to terrorism and make very effort to integrate into society as British citizens.

The current law vis a vis incitement to religious hatred seems to be satisfactory following the defeat of the governments proposed changes last year. Any further proposals to bring back the proposed changes should be resisted.

In addition, to maintaining a society of peaceful co-existence for all faiths, where the gospel of salvation in the Lord Jesus can be peacefully preached to all, Bible believing Christians should be prepared to say the following two things.

1. Muslims should be required to accept UK law. For example Muslim men should only have one wife if they want to live in the UK.

2. Muslims should have appropriate representation in Government. There is no reason why Muslims should not be treated the same way as other non-Christian religions such as Judaism. That is to say that they should be free to follow their own customs and practises, but within British law.

Unfortunately the Archbishop of Canterbury does not seem to lead the Church of England through proclaiming Bible truths. Salvation by grace in Christ does not seem to be his key message to the Church and the nation. Many who claim to be Christians are therefore not emboldened in gospel truth and have no clear standard to live by. Consequently his comments on Islam can be seen as encouraging further Muslim expansion. We already have Muslims now wanting to demonstrate in Downing Street for “equal rights”. After listening to the Archbishop what person seeking God is going to want to go to church?

It is the job of the Bible believing Christians to say what the position is, even if there are unpleasant repercussions. If the early church had not taken this approach there would have been no church and no Christian civilisation.

What can non-Christians do?
To do nothing is easier in the short term but may end up with an Islamic state and no peace with God at the end of it. To try and do something may help to prevent Sharia Law coming. To become a Christian and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour may be more difficult in the short term but with it comes the satisfaction of forgiveness from God and peace in our hearts now and joy for evermore when we die.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

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