Christians are often accused of using ‘faith’, as opposed to ‘reason’. In reality, all people use both faith and reason. This has major consequences for intellectual debate and public policy issues. For it means that there is no such thing as ‘objectivity’. Everyone brings their faith to the discussion table.
Lilian Ladele is dismissed from her role as a registrar because of Christian conscience. A council worker is sacked for suggesting that a terminally ill patient should look to God for help. We are all aware of examples of Christians being sidelined in public life.1
More at stake
There is more at stake here than a bit of persecution. The freedom to proclaim the gospel is being removed in some areas of society — most notably those controlled by the state. Millions of children are growing up in complete ignorance of the gospel — or worse, to fear Christianity. Christian children in our schools are often made to feel ridiculous. ‘But persecution leads to gospel advance’ someone might say. But if we turn to history, the argument doesn’t necessarily ring true. You may point me to the Marian persecution of Reformers in the UK in the 1550s — to the candle which was lit by Latimer and Ridley. But I’ll point you to the 16th century persecution in France which virtually extinguished the gospel in that country.
