Hi John and Doves,
After viewing the short 5 minute video in the link, it is obvious that open verbal warfare has begun. Between Christians and Muslims. It may not seem a big deal to you if you are not familiar with Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. It has always been a place of free speech. Anybody could take their soap box and have a rant about anything and everything. In the past, things have always remained civil - although most topics are contentious, it always made for an entertaining and thought-provoking place of free speech. We now live in a society that will no longer tolerate free speech.
What struck me, when watching the vid, is that the Christian man (from the Middle East too, at first glance) stood his ground. He wasn't backing down at all. This unusual stance had everyone discombobulated (lovely word). In the face of islamic aggression - most will back down, not wanting to "cause a scene". Which has enabled the bullying nature of this perverse "religion". To the shock of all - the Christian man stood up to the bullying. He was not having it!! The policeman kept telling the Christian man that it was he that was out of order because the muslims were trying to avoid him. The only reason the muslims were keen to avoid the Christian man is because he stood up to them. LOL. They were shocked.
I know we are told not to "cast our pearls before swine" and to walk away from people and places where we are not welcome. "Shake the dust from our sandals" and walk away etc. But, there was something pleasing about this Christian man's strength and conviction. He was fed up to the gills with the muslim hecklers shouting him down. He was reasonable but clearly angry.
It may seem like small potatoes to some, but I have a feeling this may go viral in western Christian culture. It will catch on. I pray it does. We all need to don our spiritual armour and stand up for our beautiful LORD Jesus. And - it's okay to get angry (but not out of control). When our LORD lost his temper with the money changers in the Temple courtyard - He lost it good and proper! Turning over tables and giving all the merchants a thorough shouting at. We don't have to be mealy-mouthed puritans. Almighty God created us with the potential for courage in the face of injustice. He created us with all the emotions. While we need to control them - we have a duty to publicly stand up for our faith. Because it is the TRUTH.
Maranatha, LORD Jesus.