Oh Sunday we went to Grace Bible Church. This is the “backup” congregation: the cburch I usually go to is 500m uphill and meets very early: Grace is 700m downhill and meets twice, with the second service at 11. One of the older elders was preaching. Not on this passage; on the death of Christ in Luke.

But he said something to us. And it was a test we could use of our spiritual health. It is simple.

Who do we fear.

God, or man. For if we fear God and his judgement, we will want to be holy, so we can give glory to him. If we fear men, we will seek approval, and our God will be our desires; lust, power, gluttony, greed, envy. We will demand that we are not confronted: that there is no shame, and that there is a safe space.

Which then leads to perdition.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

(1 Peter 1:13-25 ESV)

Do not ever think that this world is our friend. Even the most inoffensive of our churches, when they preach the gospel are shunned and shunted.

According to a Church of England spokesman, they believed their video was approved, and that it would be shown before showings of the new Star Wars film starting on December 18. However, the church was later told their minute-long video could potentially cause offense, so it would not be shown.

“Billions of people across the world pray this prayer on a daily basis. I think they would be astonished and deeply saddened by this decision, especially in the light of the terrorist attack in Paris where many people have found comfort and solace in prayer,” expressed the Archbishop of Canterbury to The Mail. “This advert is about as ‘offensive’ as a carol service on Christmas Day.”

It wasn’t until after the Church asked for an official document of DCM’s policy that banned their advertisement that the agency produced a formal policy on their website stating, “To be approved, an advertisement must … not in the reasonable opinion of DCM constitute political or religious advertising… Religious advertising means: advertising which wholly or partially advertises any religion, faith or equivalent systems of belief (including any absence of belief) or any part of any religion, faith or such equivalent systems of belief.”

“I find it extraordinary that cinemas rule that it is inappropriate for an advert on prayer to be shown in the week before Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,” the Archbishop of Canterbury said.

The Church plans to fight the ban with legal action, as they believe they are the victims of religious discrimination. According to Stephen Slack, the Church’s chief legal adviser, under the Equality Act, commercial organizations can not refuse services on religious grounds.

I like the Anglican video. I like the ordinary people of Britain: I like the sight of acts within the church, baptlsm included. But this is deemed offensive by a commercial organziation, who wants us to pay money to see their myths.

And believe them instead.

May his kingdom indeed come. But this may not be now. Our job is to remain coherent, true and faithful. And if we have words taken from us, let our actions indeed bear witness to Christ, and glorify God.