A short video was shown recently at a meeting I attended and which depicted how the state forces in China - army and police - were used to round up Christians and subject them to the most cruel ill-treatment imaginable. Churches were closed down - except those who were licensed by the godless state; they were allowed to operate. But Christian churches are not tolerated.
Why or how was it possible that police officers implemented those laws that authorised the persecution of Christians? For this reason: police believe that "The Law is King." Not God, not Christ, not Scripture - the LAW. And whatever the law says must and will be implemented by the police, no matter what. They are, after all, the law enforcement agencies of state. Their role and task is to ensure that what the majority of people say the law is to be (through their elected politicians), is what they will enforce.
So when the majority of people in NI and also in the UK as a whole say it is better for society that we do not have these troublesome churches and Christians who stand up and say that sodomy, and all its cognates, is wrong, then they will have to be removed from society.
I attended the inter-denominational Christian service of witness outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday 4th August 2012, and with the thousands who attended and participated in the display of sodomy, the few dozen Christian witnesses were focused on by the police because we were regarded as the most likely trouble-makers and disturbers of the peace.
I witnessed the same as a participant in a march of the victims of terrorism in Londonderry a few years ago, and the police videoed our every movement, building up evidence upon which to level charges against us, if necessary. I had the privilege of addressing a huge crowd in Trafalgar Square, London, a few years ago, and every move and speech was videoed by police. When similar marches were held in Spain, and I participated in at least two of them, the police assisted and facilitated our march. We were not regarded as suspects who might cause a breach of the peace, but were honoured for our stand against terrorism.
Because the police do not seem to be able to think for themselves and simply take whatever the politicians throw at them, the day is not far away when men and women of that mindset will be instrumental in persecuting Christian here in Northern Ireland. What will Christian police officers do when they are asked to act against their fellow believers? What will be their response when they are commanded by a godless commander to arrest Gospel preachers? Will they obey their orders? Or will they have the Christian grace and courage to disobey orders, and face the consequences for such courageous action?
That will test the best of them, will it not? The men who are Christians first and foremost, and then policemen, will know what their Christian duty is; but those who are policemen first and Christians second, will lead the charge against their fellow believers, and give as their authority Ephesians 6:5-9.
This is not only a Christian and spiritual issue, it is also a moral issue. A thing may be legal and also immoral at the same time. I have seen how the law was used to act immorally against a Christian. The police are masters at using the law irrespective of the moral issues involved in enforcing it.
Christians in the UK and elsewhere must become increasingly alert to what the authorities are doing and might even do in the future. Do not let your guard down, whatever the cost; and it could cost you a great deal, even your life, a reality that faces us here in Northern Ireland.
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