9 April 2014
Willing to go to jail over "Allah"?
"HOW many here will continue to use the word 'Allah'?" a speaker asked the congregation of Bahasa Malaysia-speaking leaders and Christians at the Berdoa Untuk Negara event on 16 Feb 2014 at SIB KL.
Almost all hands in the room of over 200 people went up.
"How many here will be willing to suffer persecution because of it?" the speaker continued. Amidst chuckles, half the number of hands went down.
While the questions may have been a rhetorical one, they certainly provoked thought about the cost of Christian discipleship in the current Malaysian context.
East Malaysian church leaders.
The event, organised by the BM Commission of NECF Malaysia, was to engage BM pastors and churches on current national developments affecting the freedom of religion, in particular the three cases concerning the use of "Allah" in the courts - the Catholic Herald's appeal to the Federal Court, the Jill Ireland case and the SIB Sabah case. Various speakers from BM churches took turns to address the gathering about the challenges faced by BM churches, especially rural ones, and about the on-going conversions to Islam by force or deceit.
A total of 45 BM churches and organisations were represented, mostly from the Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) denomination. There were a few from the mainline denominations as well.
The event was part of a series of roadshows by the BM Commission to prepare BM churches to face possible challenges arising from the use of the word "Allah" and to help them understand their rights and freedom of religion. The roadshows are to continue nationwide at major cities until April 2014.
The highlight of the meeting was a prayer session and a declaration that was read by SIB Sabah President, Rev Datuk Jerry Dusing.
The declaration affirmed God's goodness and blessings on Malaysia and asked for genuine freedom of religion for every community. Protection was asked for Bumiputra Christians so that they would be free to worship God as they have been according to their tradition.
A plea for forgiveness was made for all sins, prejudices and negativity that Christians have held against others, and an exhortation was made for Malaysian Christians to forgive those who have wronged and defamed the Christian community. A special plea was made for Malaysians of other faiths by declaring God's love, salvation and blessings for them.
A spirit of boldness and courage was proclaimed over Bumiputra Christians, especially over the younger generation, to remain rooted in their faith and loyal to God's plan for their lives.
The declaration also proclaimed God's sovereignty over the government and judiciary, and asked that they be fair, have integrity and adhere to the Federal Constitution.
Finally, the declaration affirmed the commitment of BM-speaking Christians to continue working for harmony and righteousness in Malaysia, submitting the country to the Lord's sovereign plan.
Praying for Malaysia. |
