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The ultimate test

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” Galatians 5:6

“To befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of religion“
Mahatma Gandhi

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend“
Martin Luther King Jr.

Pick up your newspaper and it is not hard to find evidence of one of the greatest issues facing our nation right now – and also, inevitably, one of the greatest issues for us as God’s
people.

Here are some recent examples from my newspaper of choice:

“Almost half of Britain’s mosques are under the control of a hardline Islamic sect whose leading preacher loathes Western values and has called on Muslims to ‘shed blood’ for Allah.”

“Nervous mosque leaders are hiring security guards and installing CCTV cameras to protect worshippers from a backlash against terror attacks.”

“Even now, and without government help, we are spearheading a campaign to work with 100 mosques across the country and help to transform them into dynamic British institutions that are welcoming of all.”
This from a letter from Dr Bari, the Secretary-General of The Muslim Council of Britain. Every month in Frontline we tell you the stories of our brothers and sisters facing violence, often coming from those claiming to act on behalf of Allah.

And as I was reading Secret Believers, Brother Andrew and Al Janssen’s remarkable new book, I could not escape the reality rarely exposed in public – that those who come to faith in Christ from a Muslim background face a range of reactions that would threaten, damage and terrify most of us.

Never let us understimate the courage of those who persevere through loss of family, being forced from their home, and the threat and actuality of violence. It is encouraging – and also challenging. To me the challenge comes in facing up
to my own attitudes in responding to Islam. It is vital that the Church in the UK and Ireland is alert to the reality of Islam
and the suffering of those who face persecution in its name.

At the same time, there is a greater challenge. So many of our persecuted family can teach us how to respond to threats with love rather than fear. “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). It is a sobering exercise to read all the New Testament references to love and apply them to the Muslim community in our midst. It is a reminder that love is more than passive acceptance: it has to be expressed in positive action. Brother Andrew’s simple mnemonic – I Sincerely Love All Muslims – right now may be the ultimate test for the Church. And for God’s sake it is one we must pass with an A grade.