The dangers of EDOs

With thousands of migrants entering the UK as a consequence of the war in Syria, as well as from war zones in other parts of the world, the very real danger that Islamic extremists will be amongst those who get a foothold in Britain is of concern to all of us.  Whilst wishing to be compassionate towards those in dire need, none of us want terror to break out on the streets of our cities.  Discerning which migrants belong in which camp is virtually impossible.

Long before the migration crisis began, the Government put forward plans for Extremism Disruption Orders (EDOs) in an attempt to keep the peace within our shores.  The plan was to target the schools and institutions which harbour and foster extremist religious views, but as is often the case, the real target is being missed, and peace-loving Christians are the ones in jeopardy.

The wording of the Bill, for example, jeopardises the free speech of traditional marriage supporters.  Just a few weeks ago, Mark Spencer MP advised using EDOs against teachers who advocate that gay marriage is wrong.  The independent watchdog for terrorism laws has cautioned that proposed EDOs would put all sorts of people under suspicion – including any Christian value or belief that is at odds with our secular humanist state.

Not only Christians but environmentalists would be regarded as potential extremists under the Government’s Prevent counter-terrorism strategy.  In an article in the Times Educational Supplement (TES) a week or so ago, police told more than 100 teachers that environmentalists, including Green MP Caroline Lucas, would come into this category.

Most Christians believe that if they keep their head down and their sincere opinions to themselves they will be left alone – and that may be true, for the time being!  But this is another example of a head-on clash between the God of the Bible and the anti-Christian State. 

This is not time for sitting on the fence; we have to choose whom we will serve.  When Joshua succeeded in allocating a place in the Promised Land for each of the tribes, he called them together to renew the covenant with the God of Israel.  He said:

If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15) 

Our Christian values are becoming increasingly alien to the culture we live in and we have the same choice to make!  As the threat of terrorism increases in our land, and therefore the means the Government uses to curb it, that choice can only become more pressing.

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