Christian
radical reflections 49,
December 23, 2004 AD
Dear Danny and Daniel:
When I read the 5 page summary by Justice Higgins of why he has found against you both, I recalled something written by Stephen Jay Gould in Chapter 20 "A Visit to Dayton" (pages 263-279) of his book, Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes (W.W. Norton New York 1983) and went and looked it up. Whatever else the "Scopes monkey trial" became, it was also the result of a scheme hatched in Robinson's Drug Store to "put Dayton on the map." Gould points to commercial and political forces at large in the American social landscape, who were eager to promote the testing of the contentious Butler Act, said to be a violation of conscience, let alone of freedom of speech. But on the local level in Dayton, free thinkers like Scopes and respectable citizens of fundamentalist Dayton like "Doc" Robinson, came together to play their part in what is regularly referred to as America's famous show trial. Gould tells us things about that trial which are regularly ignored when evolutionists take on fundamentalists, when evolution is pitted against creation in a life and death struggle. It was also a matter of shrewd commercial manipulation and political ideology.
Now the purpose of this letter to you is not to suggest that you put on the seminar back in 2002 in order to test the Victorian Racial and Religious Tolerance Act and therefore put yourselves "on the map" so to speak. But I have a strong sense of unease when I read the many press releases that have been issued, both those in support, and those lamenting the challenge to free speech which the ruling seems to imply. For mine, this has been a test case and it has been all too convenient for the arch-defenders of the legislation who took the side of the ICV, as well as those who believe the legislation to be seriously flawed and took your side. In other words I want to counsel you to serious reflection upon what has happened here and how this case is potentially diverting yourselves, and other Christians of good will, from proclaiming the love and grace of Jesus Christ to all, including all those of the Muslim community here in Australia.
Sure there is the question of freedom of speech. There are also questions in my mind, about the statements in support of Mr Justice Higgins. I even wonder whether parts of the press release by Mr Zirnsak on behalf of the Uniting Church of Australia constitute a violation of the very same laws by vilifying you and CTFM for your "fringe", "marginal" and "extremist" characteristics. That kind of talk - "you are wrong and must be extremist because you are not in the mainstream" - is not helpful and is spurious. But don't think I am counselling any legal counter-attack. Not at all. Please do not take that line of response to this letter.
I think I have a better suggestion and to the degree that what I say to you is normed by Jesus' teaching I think I have the liberty to claim the Spirit of Christ, just like the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 7:25,40). This is a Christian brother offering counsel. That's the only basis for what I say here.
In Christian terms the cause of evangelisation of Muslim people must be framed in the loving caring spirit of 'second mile Christianity' (Matthew 5:41). And together we must ask ourselves whether that has been shown, also in this case by Catch the Fire Ministries? Let me appeal to you as those who claim to be scrupulously biblical - consider our Lord's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount:
Ø Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:25-6).
I have a simple suggestion. I am well aware that in the midst of contending interests which, no doubt, are trying to push you this way and that, it may not be easy to do what I say, but it is a simple suggestion nevertheless and it does hold out the possibility of making a real and true advance in evangelisation terms.
My suggestion: Catch the Fire Ministries convenes a series of meetings for the sole purpose of hearing from the three converts to Islam as to why they converted and how they now view Christianity in contrast to how they viewed it prior to their conversion. The three sessions (2 hours each, say of a Saturday afternoon) would be so that CTFM and its supporters can check their own understanding of what Islam means to converts to Islam. Hear them out. Let them have their say in your domain with a prayerful self-denying ordinance concerning your own and your own people's speaking. That means letting the Islamic converts, and others they bring along, also asking you any questions they have of you and your Christian faith but it is for the sake of your friendship with them that you strive to give them the floor in friendship. No debate. Jesus' command to His disciples has to be basic to us or we are simply careering on and will suffer the consequences. Let it be unfettered in the sense that it is chaired by someone who has not taken sides in the court battle - eg the National Director of the Evangelical Alliance. Let him open it with the Lord's Prayer and let the proceedings allow the Muslims present to open the proceedings from their side by a similar common Islamic prayer or invocation if they should choose. It is not a worship service. But as a seminar it should not offend anyone's conscience.
Let CTFM organise such a series so that the three appellants in your case can explain their conversion to Christian people who need to learn about the why's and wherefore's, how they see and understand themselves.
Now with this case we have seemed to enter a twilight when creative actions are most needed - the command of Jesus "Make friends!" always gives us Christians room to move and in this situation such friendly movement is indeed required lest the cause of evangelisation be stalled.
Cordially in the Name of the Saviour of the World, Jesus Christ.
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December 2004 © Christian Radical Reflections, is written by Bruce C Wearne (PhD), 29 Lawrence Rd., Point Lonsdale Vic 3225 AUSTRALIA, 61-3-5258-3913. Each edition may be photocopied or retransmitted in its entirety but not otherwise published, reprinted or transmitted without permission. This personal project aims to encourage positive Christian citizenship, the development of policies and political attitudes that better express our love for God and our neighbour. Your comments are welcome. Email can be sent to bcwearne@ozemail.com.au http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/index.html |