Britain's Christians Are Praying For Religious Freedom Amid Terrorism And Political Uncertainty
Christians in Britain are praying after a snap election last week left the largest party, the Conservatives, without a majority.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has since moved to form a minority Conservative government with the help of the little known Democratic Unionist Party.
The Christian Institute is urging people to pray for the government and the new MPs in the face of 'troubling times.'
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Britain has recently been hit by a wave of terrorist attacks, most recently on London Bridge and Borough Market in which seven people died. The knife attack came just a week after a suicide bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that killed 22 people.
The country has also seen a prolonged period of political uncertainty after voting to leave the European Union last year, with negotiations ongoing.
The Christian Institute's Simon Calvert expressed particular concern about the threat of terrorism and the government's response to it.
'The government and parliament have a difficult job ahead. There is no doubt that Islamist terrorism poses a very serious threat.'
Mr. Calvert said he feared the government's response to the terrorism could jeopardize Christian freedoms.
'We strongly support efforts to combat terrorism and the ideologies which underpin it, but it is vital that the political response is focused on the cause of these attacks – Islamism – and that Christian freedoms and the civil liberties of innocent citizens are not jeopardised.'
However, he strongly opposed government plans to introduce an 'Equality Oath' to be signed by doctors and teachers among others that would include a pledge to uphold 'British values'.
Mr. Calvert said that making people sign up to the government's view of equality would be 'dangerous and illiberal.'
He also expressed opposition to proposals for inspections of 'out-of-school' groups that could include church youth groups.
'We are concerned that these misguided responses to Islamist extremism threaten to take away vital freedoms from law-abiding people, and seriously undermine the religious liberty of Christians,' he said.
'So in the wake of the General Election, Christians need to contact their new MPs and urge them not to sweep away the historic freedoms this country was built on.
'In the weeks ahead let's do as the Bible says and pray for 'all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness'.'
