English Yokel

Praise God that there are still some Christians left in the Church of England

Yokel had better own up to having abandoned the Church of England quite some time ago, because of its determined lack of belief in the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. So it has come as something of a surprise to find that not every member of the C of E takes his beliefs from the Druid Williams.

Yes, Yokel is referring to the motion due to be debated at the forthcoming General Synod, put down by Paul Eddy. Mr Eddy says "the Church can no longer avoid hard questions about its beliefs". But what are the Bishops concerned about? He said he had received angry e-mails and telephone calls from senior figures in the Church denouncing his motion. “My Muslim friends say they can't understand why we Christians don't evangelise more, especially as they have a strategy to convert Britain,” Eddy explained. Telegraph letters published a few on the topic in April.

And the Ministry of Propaganda chimes in with "Mr Eddy's stance is likely to alienate many Muslims at a highly-sensitive time in the relationship between Islam and Christianity in the UK". Not quite the way many Muslims see it of course. They do not fear upsetting the Christians, they just get on with their "da'wa" as fast as they can. Exeter is a case in point.

Perhaps what the "senior figures in the Church" would like to see is this situation, reported from Algeria. Christians on a legal charge of "not having permission to be a Christian". Is a Muslim state ever likely to give such permission? [Tip: Remember that there is no separation between mosque and state, Islam sees itself as a whole coherent and complete lifestyle, with the comprehensive rules for everything.]

The demise of the C of E has been oft predicted, but Yokel sees it becoming just an irrelevance if Mr Eddy's motion is defeated, and the women bishops decision goes the way that the "modernisers" want. If the "church" does not stand up for Christ on this occasion, it will clearly be responsible for leading folk away from the one true God. And in these days that is perilous both for those who lead, and those who are led.