Archbishop John Sentamu says, of Mrs Cain’s case and that of Christian nurse Caroline Petrie (who was suspended for offering to pray for a patient) that they represent a “seeming intolerance and illiberality about faith in God which is being reflected in the higher echelons of our public services”.
He said: “Asking someone to leave their belief in God at the door of their workplace is akin to asking them to remove their skin colour before coming into the office. Faith in God is not an add-on or optional extra.
Sentamu makes a very interesting point here. Does the demand to be professional and politically correct require a veiling of our Christian faith? Is it right to rejoice in the freedom we still have to express our love for God at home and in our churches, while accepting that in the workplace it is not appropriate to express this belief?
We could assume that the authority of God is something private, even inward. Yet, the Bible says "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it the world and all who dwell in it, for he founded it..." Isn't it right, that just as we might talk about our family with people at work, we should talk about our Heavenly Father? And of course, knowing about my family isn't going to change someone's life forever; knowing God will!
It's good to pray.
- For this girl, her family and others involved: grace and wisdom in how to proceed
- That Christian children in schools across the country would boldly speak of their faith
- That Christian workers would not see the workplace as somewhere outside God's authority, but rather another place to joyfully tell of their salvation in Jesus
- For God's will in this nation: strength to endure increasing 'persecution' or a more positive, indiscriminate attitude towards Christians (starting in the government)
