Thought for the Month - January 2016

"Good will to all men" by Barry Adair
(I want a religion…)

Nissar Hussain was recently battered with a pickaxe in Bradford, UK. And the reason for the beating - he had converted from Islam to Christianity.

Back in 1996 Nissar and his entire family converted from Islam to Christianity and life in Bradford has been hellish ever since. So bad, in fact, that the family ended up leaving the Church of England. Although quite a few British Muslims are now eager to abandon the faith of their forefathers, only a few are brave enough to convert to Christianity and make a public profession of their new faith in Jesus. This final step can often lead to violence as converting from Islam, according to some Islamic teaching, is punishable by death!

(The hadith records Mohammad saying: "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him")

CCTV footage showed Nissar Hussain being bludgeoned with a pickaxe. His beating and the ongoing persecution to both him and his family is sickening to read about. This wasn't Syria or Iraq or Yemen or Saudi Arabia but Bradford, England.

I will let Nissar himself explain a little of this persecution…

"The Muslim community are largely decent people but because of the taboo of converting to Christianity we are classed by them as scum and second-class citizens. Over the years our lives have been subjugated and stripped of any dignity. Our lives have been jeopardised and subjugated, we have been forced to live under a climate of fear…"

I don't want a religion where you can be beaten or murdered if you want to leave that religion.

I don't want a religion where the end justifies the means.

I don't want a religion which subjugates women.

I don't want a religion which allows child brides.

I don't want a religion like Islam.

I want a "religion" which teaches to love your enemy and to do good to those who persecute you.

I want a "religion" which is personal and not subject to man-made rules and regulations.

I want a "religion" which relies nothing on my abilities but wholly on the abilities and holiness of an infinitely powerful and loving God.

I want a "religion" which starts with a supremely innocent baby coming to a sin-soaked world to save hell bound sinners like me.

I want a "religion" which maps out the only way of salvation through Jesus Christ and a way back to our creator God.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

How many of us are truly thankful of our upbringing, of the freedoms we enjoy, of our free-will to live out our lives in peace?

In this new year let us redouble our efforts to do good unto all men, to be thankful to our heavenly Father and to praise Him for all He has done for us.

Happy New Year from all in 'the Grove'.

And please email us or use the link at the bottom of this page if you would like to know more about our God and Saviour.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:14)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!