The hypocrisy of our leaders in marching for free speech, riding the wave of revulsion which followed the Islamists attack on the office of the Charlie Hebdo magazine, was revealed in two ways.
They linked arms with representatives from Russia, China and even harder to believe, Saudi Arabia – where a blogger has just been sentenced to 1,000 lashes for criticising Islam!
Secondly, the “march” was simply a photo opportunity the crowd being organised to simulate a large gathering! This was revealed by a photo taken at a different angle!
What was the right they were supporting? It was called freedom of the press.
It demonstrated just how decadent we have become that the blaspheming of a religious leader by a magazine, which has scarcely any limits (although they did fire one of their journalists for being anti-semitic) becomes a cause célèbre.
In continuing to lampoon the Prophet Mohammed in their next issue Charlie Hebdo breached the boundaries of decency. They were simply provocative. Because their action was lawful does not mean it was right. This triggered a further wave of violence in various parts of the world. Boko Haram killed 2,000 people in the Nigerian city of Baga. They have now entered Cameroon. They burned many buildings in a village, killed an unknown number, and kidnapped over 80 people, mainly women and children.
Je suis Charlene became the new slogan highlighting their latest atrocity.
This was using a ten year old girl from the Nigerian city of Maiduguri as a suicide bomber. She was not even aware she had a bomb strapped to her – a bomb which would kill her and 19 others.
We cannot support the work of Charlie Hebdo although we mourn the loss of life. St Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church that “all things are lawful but not all things are helpful” Chapter 10 verse 23. Blasphemy laws may be difficult to enforce as society loses the knowledge of the sacred but they are obviously necessary.
Ironically the same magazine mocks Jesus Christ. Muslims, for whom shame has such a high value cannot understand how Christians can tolerate this.
Perhaps it would help them to view the cross as a victory where Christ triumphed over the powers variously understood as the devil, sin, the law, and death.
Looked at from this perspective our main problem is seen not so much as guilt but that we are trapped and we need to be rescued.
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Chapter 2 verses 14-15) is how the writer to the Hebrews expressed it. The poet echoes His victory: –
“The cross He bore is life and health, though shame and death to Him:
His people’s hope His people’s wealth, their everlasting theme.”