Who says it couldn't happen here?

Back in the 1955, psychologist, broadcaster and humanist Margaret Knight stunned post-war Britain by suggesting in two talks on the BBC’s Home Service (now Radio 4) that moral education should be uncoupled from religious education. Her comments invited a mass of responses, some favourable, many not.  The decision of the media to air her talks (after declining several times) marks the moment when Christian values were allowed to be attacked publicly, in favour of secular humanism, for the first time.

Things have changed dramatically since then. During the 1960’s, legislation progressively removed the boundaries on pornography, (Obscene Publications Act); obscenity (the Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial); and theatre productions – to name but few.  Meanwhile, the undermining of orthodox Christianity continued apace, with the so-called ‘rupture’ of Christianity, exemplified by Californian Bishop James Pike’s denial of the doctrine of the Trinity and the virgin birth and Anglican Bishop of Woolwich John Robinson’s denial of the incarnation.

With the undermining of orthodox Christianity, with its perceived restrictions on freedom of thought and expression, a generation has now grown up with no regard for the traditional faith of its forefathers. Now the Bible is seen as simply one ‘holy’ book amongst many, containing outmoded ideas shrouded in myths and narrow-minded dogma.  Perhaps it’s not such a big surprise, then, to discover that beliefs which do not fit in with the prevailing secular humanist culture, which in the intervening years have developed and become entrenched in Western society, are not only unpopular but increasingly outlawed.

Across the pond, in Houston, Texas, the city has issued subpoenas demanding that a group of pastors turn over to the authorities any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity, or comments regarding Houston’s first openly lesbian mayor. Failure to comply could deem the pastors to be in contempt of court.  So not only are biblical truths unpopular, they’re now illegal!  No doubt the pastors in question will stand firm and resist the pressure to compromise their heartfelt convictions.  Next week, the news may be of their arrest.

What happens in America soon occurs in the UK too. Don’t imagine it couldn’t happen here.  It won’t be long before our dedicated Christian pastors are criminalised for preaching and teaching the Word of God.  What will our response to such legislation be?

Back in Nazi Germany, Christian pastors had similar kinds of restrictions put on them.  Most capitulated to Government pressure.  They doctored their sermons, omitting any negative mention of forced abortion, euthanasia or rights for Jews, and praised the Reich.  Their sanitised churches survived.  Those, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who refused to compromise, paid a high price for dissention.  Today he is revered as a martyr.

For more on the Houston pastors, go to http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/ 

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