Weekly Action - 21 August 2023 - Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Religion
This Tuesday 22 August is the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, where the world remembers all those who have been persecuted for their faith. More than 50 governments around the world significantly restrict religious freedom.[1] Whilst wider social harassment, discrimination and persecution from some parts of society takes place in more than 90% of countries.[2] For us as Christians this should be a particular concern, for Christians are one of the groups most targeted for such appalling crimes. More than 360 million Christians around the world suffer persecution and discrimination because of their faith.[3] Christians like Matius, a friend of Arise from Indonesia. One Sunday whilst he was away from home, Islamic extremist gunmen targeted his church. They threw grenades in the building whilst the congregation were worshipping, then shot them as they tried to run outside. Matius’ wife and children were killed. The police in the part of the country where he lives turned a blind eye, and have made no serious efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
How should Christians respond?
As Christians how should we respond to tragedies like this? We know that God hates all violence and persecution against any community, anywhere. We should do all we can to stand in solidarity with those who suffer from such violence. As the prophet Isaiah says “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? … If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isa 58: 6 – 10) In addition to this wider support for the rights of all, as Christians we should also stand in particular solidarity with fellow Christians, where they are persecuted. We should support them in every possible way as our family. Thus, speaking of the church Paul says “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor 12: 26) and the Hebrews are commended because “Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison” (Hebs 10: 33 – 34).
Reform Movements
But how can we best help those who are persecuted for their faith? The key factor that marks the difference between those who face religious persecution and those who do not, is having a government that is democratic and supports universal human rights for all. Where dramatic improvements in democracy and human rights have occurred, they have overwhelmingly been driven by mass peaceful reform movements of ordinary people demanding change. This is a key conclusion from a major report from Arise, the Arise Manifesto. In recent decades peaceful reform movements have had dramatic success in Serbia, Madagascar, Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Nepal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, East Germany, Slovenia, Mali, Bolivia, the Philippines, Zambia, South Korea, Chile, Argentina, Haiti, Brazil, Uruguay, Malawi, Thailand, Bulgaria, Hungary, Nigeria, and many other countries. Of course such movements require great courage and perseverance from those involved. They are not guaranteed to succeed every time. But overwhelmingly the power of ordinary people peacefully refusing to submit has proved to be remarkable.
Throughout history, Christians and churches have played a hugely important central role in such reform movements (The Arise Manifesto, pg 283 – 303). Supporting such bottom-up Reform Movements (and the Christians that are so often at the heart of them) is one of three key focus campaigns for Arise.
This week will you take action as part of Arise’s Reform Movements campaign, to strengthen democracy and human rights around the world, and help protect all those who face persecution for their beliefs?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Write to Fiona Bruce MP, the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, in your own words expressing your concern and asking the UK government to do more to support Reform Movements around the world. Write to her at:
Fiona Bruce MP
Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
FCDO
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Pray
Pray for all those who face discrimination or persecution because of what they believe, whatever it may be. Pray that democratic governments that truly respect human rights come into power in their nations, and protect them from this abuse. Pray especially for Christian brothers and sisters who are living with persecution because of their faith.
Give
Give to organisations like Barnabas Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors or Release International who do crucial work supporting Christians, and people from all faiths and none, who are persecuted because of their beliefs.
Practical Action
Spread the message further by getting in touch with us at info@ariseuk.org and requesting a speaker from Arise to come and give a talk in your church.
Ethical Consumption
Try and avoid buying products and services from companies whose operations (inadvertently or not) are helping to prop up unjust regimes that perpetrate or tolerate religious persecution. Check out the Ethical Consumer website for guidance on this.
Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Find out more
It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area. If you are already in an Arise group, take this action to your wider church, and get them all to do it too.
Find out more in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. It looks at what the Bible says, and what we can learn from the best data and the world’s leading experts on the five major areas of evangelism, discipleship, social justice, development and the environment. It then draws these lessons together into a practical road map for the changes we need to see in our world, which the Arise movement campaigns to achieve.
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[1] A Closer Look at How Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the World, Pew Research Center, (15 Jul 2019), https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/07/15/a-closer-look-at-how-religious-restrictions-have-risen-around-the-world/
[2] Harassment of religious groups continues to be reported in more than 90% of countries, Pew Research Center, (10 Nov 2020), https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/11/10/harassment-of-religious-groups-continues-to-be-reported-in-more-than-90-of-countries/
[3] World Watch List 2023, Open Doors, https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/