The golden rule is given to us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:12, NIV
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
1. BREAKING THE GOLDEN RULE IN MALAYSIA
Our government has broken the golden rule when dealing with the Christians regarding the copies of the Bible or portions of the Bible held in both Port Klang (5,100) and Kuching (30, 000). As the copies have been printed in Indonesia, the word used for God is Allah.
Here I mention just two ways in which the golden rule has been broken:
A. Defacing the Bible
The copies of the Bible were stamped with a serial number and the text ‘“AlKitab Berita Baik” ini untuk kegunaan penganut agama Kristian sahaja dengan perintah Menteri Dalam Negeri.’ (This Good News Bible is for the use of Christians only, by order of the Home Minister).
Nobody has the right to deface the Bible, the Koran or the sacred books of any other religious faith.
B. Reneging or Going Back on an Agreement
In December 2005, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi made an agreement with church leaders that Christians were allowed to import the AlKitab on condition that its front cover has the words “Penerbitan Kristian” (a Christian publication) along with the symbol of the cross. This was definitely a compromise on the part of the Christians.
‘On Tuesday, 22nd March 2011, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala, said that the solution put forward by the government is as follows:
’The BM copies of the Bible currently impounded in Kuching and Port Klang will be released with the words “For Christianity” stamped clearly in Arial font, size 16, in bold. No other words or serial numbers will be stamped on the Bibles’.
I understand that the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), representing the Roman Catholic Church, the Council of Churches of Malaysia and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, will reject these words as they rejected the original stamping. The God of the Bible is for the whole world. Therefore, they will not collect or take delivery of the copies until an agreement is reached.
We praise the Lord for the lead that the CFM is giving to the churches in Malaysia, and the Executive Committee need our constant prayers.
2. BREAKING THE GOLDEN RULE IN USA OR UK
Supposing the government in USA or UK had detained a consignment of copies of the Koran and had stamped on the cover of each copy ‘FOR MUSLIMS ONLY’. Within 24 hours of the reporting of this action, there would be massive protests and demonstrations throughout the Muslim world – AND JUSTIFIABLY SO! (Why were there no such worldwide demonstrations when our Bible was defaced?!)
Governments, as well as their citizens (this includes us!), would do well to both remember and act upon THE GOLDEN RULE.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
March 29th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
How did Jesus expect His disciples to react under persecution? (In Matthew 5:12 He said), “Rejoice and be glad!” We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor sulk like a child, nor lick our wound in self-pity like a dog, nor just grin a bear it like a Stoic, still less pretend we enjoy it like a masochist. What then? We are to rejoice as a Christian should and even “leap for joy” (Lk. 6:23). (John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, IVP, 1978, p. 52.)
One of the greatest paradoxes in Christian history is that the church is most pure in times of cultural hostility. When things are easy and good, that is when the church most often goes astray. When Christianity seems identical with the culture and even when the church seems to be enjoying its greatest earthly success, then it is weakest. Conversely, when the church encounters hardship, persecution, and suffering…then it is closest to its crucified Lord, then there are fewer hypocrites and nominal believers among its members, and then the faith of Christians burns most intensely. (Gene Edward Veith)