Displaying items by tag: Religion

In February we reported that anti-Semitic hate crimes in the UK had hit a record high, prompting prayers for more visible and frequent prosecutions for such incidents. The Jewish community was targeted almost four times a day last year, which also saw the highest tally of incidents since data gathering began. Three-quarters of all anti-Semitic incidents were in London and Manchester, where most Jewish communities live. Hatred is rising, and Jewish people are suffering as a result. This should concern everybody because it shows anger and division, threatening all society. In 2015 the international community agreed on a definition of anti-Semitism. The UK’s Labour party has not signed up to it, saying its own code of conduct already covers the definition. On 23 July Labour MPs and peers backed the international definition. Jeremy Corbyn disagrees.

Uzbekistan has an ‘Administrative Code’ which states it is illegal to produce, store, or import religious materials into Uzbekistan. ‘Proselytisation’ and other missionary activity is illegal, and people are being arrested for sharing their beliefs. The latest trial for this offence was on 23 July when two Jehovah's Witnesses were on trial for talking about their faith. Also, police acted illegally during their arrests, and a male police officer searched the bodies of women. Police, prosecution officials and the judge refused to answer questions from Forum 18 - a proponent for religious freedom - about their actions, and refused to explain why the state insists that state permission is necessary to exercise fundamental human rights such as the freedom of religion and belief. Islam is the largest religion in Uzbekistan, and there are still 34 people groups (55.7% of the population) that have not yet heard the gospel. See: https://joshuaproject.net/countries/UZ

Dominic Raab, the UK’s new Brexit secretary, is settling into his new job. We can pray for all his conversations to be directed and strengthened by heaven. May Mr Barnier adopt encouraging tones with Mr Raab as they work towards signing off the remaining 20% of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and UK. Pray for Mr Raab’s mantle of authority to be strengthened by God, ensuring his voice is heard clearly above all other voices within the European Commission. As he faces questions and negotiations around UK’s exit, may he have eloquence and clarity on every detail. Ask God to anoint him with a double portion of grace and strength to deliver UK’s parliamentary decisions and amendments. We can pray for the decisions made in future meetings to be in line with God’s purposes for our nations, as politicians’ thoughts and words come into line with heaven’s wisdom.

At a major Lambeth Palace conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury explored how disabled people can participate fully in church life. Livability, a disability charity, and Lambeth Palace heard the voices of those living and working with the disabled, through videos and live discussions. The Church is called to be, and has huge potential to be, a place where all people are valued and belong. Human rights guarantee inclusion and social justice for the disabled, but another dimension is needed. ‘Setting God’s People Free’ explored the challenge to empower, liberate and disciple 98% of the Church of England who are not ordained, and set them free for fruitful, faithful mission and ministry, influence, leadership and, most importantly, vibrant relationship with Jesus in all of life. Justin Welby said ‘deep listening conversations’ to those with lived experience of disability are absolutely vital if we are to be a Church where everyone is valued and everyone belongs.

Churches are closing but small groups of believers meeting to study the Bible and to pray are multiplying. Clifford Hill writes, ‘I’ve been looking at the reasons why some people leave their church. A variety of reasons are given. Unhappiness at the introduction of different worship styles, change of leadership; but by far the most quoted reason is unhappiness with the teaching, or with unbiblical practices being introduced. Many leaving their churches are mature Bible-believing Christians dissatisfied either with the lack of sound biblical teaching or that the Gospel is never applied to current issues in the world. This is, by far, the most worrying factor in what is happening in the Church today. It is the lack of a prophetic sense of mission. When the church loses its prophetic mission of declaring the Word of God, it loses vision and dynamic, and slumps into a routine form of religion.’ For the full article, click the ‘More’ button.

In a population of 430,000 only 5.2% are Christian; everyone else is a Sunni Muslim. Churches in Malaysian territories bordering Brunei have been bold in their evangelism directed at Bruneians who come across the border for work or leisure. Some have reported numerous conversations with Bruneians who seem hungry and seeking for spiritual truth. Pray that these conversations will linger in their minds, and that the Holy Spirit will bring revelation and understanding of spiritual truths. May He make many inquisitive to know more about Jesus. There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Brunei, where Muslim leaders have influence over the Sultan - the ultimate protector and defender of Islam. This results in Christian marginalisation. Neighbours of Christians only need to report them to authorities to hinder the practice of Christianity. See also https://windowreporter.com/prayer-points-day?day=20

‘I am sure that in the Arabian peninsula there are easily ten million Christians’, says Bill Schwartz, OBE, Anglican Archdeacon in the Gulf and Chaplain of Qatar. Most notable is how the region’s religious mix has shifted in a totally unprecedented way, as foreign workers have flooded in to benefit from the explosion of jobs. Today, at least 50% of migrants and expatriates ‘have some kind of Christian tradition’. In Qatar, where foreign workers outnumber locals by ten to one, there are now more Catholics than Muslims. New church buildings are being built, including one in Abu Dhabi to accommodate 5,000 people at a time. There is opportunity for Christian witness in societies that have been culturally isolated for thousands of years. Schwartz says, ‘I have more opportunities to talk about faith in the Gulf than I ever do in the US, because religion is so important here.’

Four people were arrested when an estimated 4,500 people marched through the streets of Glasgow on on 7 July as part of the annual Orange Walk. A priest was attacked outside St Alphonsus’ church on Stevenson Street as the congregation gathered for afternoon mass while the marchers passed by. A worshipper who saw the incident said, ‘The priest was spat at, verbally abused, and also assaulted by a baton. I was disgusted. I eventually got hold of an officer after screaming at her to get resources to protect him.’ It is not known if the priest reported the incident to the police, or if it was another member of the public. A police spokesperson said, ‘We can confirm we are investigating reports of an assault on a man outside a church in Glasgow at around 4.20 pm on Saturday’.

Rod Liddle, of the Spectator, spoke about gay conversion therapy and the Government proposals making it illegal saying, ‘This is all at the behest of campaigning bodies like Stonewall, and their insistence that an alternative opinion to theirs should be made illegal’. He added, ‘Gay conversion therapy has made the lives of thousands of people happier. I spoke to one chap who had considered himself gay for much of his twenties and thirties, was uncomfortable about it, and is now straight and happy. Nobody is suggesting that all gay people might benefit from it. Nobody is questioning the right of gay people to live happily, free from discrimination. Yet because some gay people are so intolerant of any views which differ from their own, they wish to make these views illegal.’

Adverts on buses promoting a church-run event in Blackpool featuring Franklin Graham are being removed after a number of complaints were made. Blackpool Transport, which oversees the buses, claimed the ads ‘resulted in heightened tension’. A number of people had taken to social media to claim that he would be preaching hate and homophobia at the event, due to take place at the city's Winter Gardens in September. Jane Cole of Blackpool Transport said, ‘The removal of these adverts is as a result of us listening to and acting on customer and public feedback, which we aim to do at all times. Blackpool Transport is a proud ongoing supporter of the Pride and LGBT+ communities, and in no way did we intend to cause any distress or upset.’ Graham said, ‘I'm not coming to preach hate, I'm here to preach about a Saviour - Jesus Christ.’