It isn’t easy to define ‘religious freedom’ in Morocco.
The Moroccan Constitution ‘guarantees the free exercise of worship for all’. Foreign Christian residents can attend officially recognised churches, and Morocco’s 3,000 to 4,000 Jews generally go about their lives freely.
However, the law does not allow Morocco’s estimated 4,000 to 8,000 local Christians to attend the approved churches. And attempts ‘to undermine the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion’ can be punished by three months to six years in prison.
In situations like this, most Moroccan Christians adopt the view that ‘discretion is the better part of valour’! David, the Moroccan presenter of Worship in my Home on SAT-7, says some live as isolated, secret believers, while others meet in fives or tens in people’s homes.
Meeting carefully
Authorities rarely arrest them because they know Christians represent no danger to society. Nevertheless, some believers attend meetings irregularly ‘for fear of reprisals from families and authorities. Fear is still the enemy of believers in Morocco,’ he adds.
It is for these house churches that Worship in my Home, now in its sixth season, is designed. David explains: ‘We invite isolated Christians in North Africa to join us and, at the same time, we give an example of how to organise a simple worship occasion in people’s homes.’
Although the series is filmed in Paris, its set resembles a comfortable North African home. Over 13 episodes, David is joined by guests and a musician leading worship in a traditional style. In a simple, conversational format, the programme addresses the spiritual and wider cries of its North African viewers.
‘We talk about our Lord Jesus and the quality of life he gives,’ David says. ‘We contrast the peace our Lord gives and the peace the world gives, and we explain the difference between faith and religion.
‘In the latest series, we are exploring: true worship and the character of God as Father; the meaning of “God is love”; what does it mean that “God is my refuge”?; who is the Holy Spirit?; and we consider Jesus’ Lordship over the world.
‘We first of all help our audience understand real faith and the power of prayer and worship,’ David explains. ‘We also offer them our friendship and caring. We give them examples of the providence and intervention of God in the lives of people in the Bible and in everyday life today. We depend totally on the Lord to bless our viewers and strengthen them in his name.’
Feedback from viewers shapes the programme content.
