Are Christians making an unnecessary fuss over the stamping of the Alkitab?

Xavier Gomez said (and I agree):

the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein acknowledged that the Bibles were stamped, and insists that this was standard practice and not meant to deface the books. his statement is incorrect, untrue and misleading.

the Christian community and its representative bodies have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only meant for Christians. it is an escalation, interference and subjugation of Malaysian Christians and their right to conduct religious education and worship freely.

Malaysian Christians of both Protestant and Catholic persuasions are deeply hurt and outraged at the Malaysian Home Ministry’s action of desecration of over 5,100 copies of the Al-Kitab (Bible) stamped with serial numbers, government seals and warnings that the books are meant for Christians only.

it is a violation of Article 8 and Article 11 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and the enshrined rights of Malaysian Christians to practice their faith. this is the first time in Malaysian history that Scriptures of Christians have been deemed illegal and a security threat.

any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by such action. The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience to find amicable solutions without compromising their fundamental beliefs.

that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. “it is the government that has moved the goal posts over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions.” (CFM). Christians are horrified by the arrogance of the Home Ministry and its officials and the contemptuous act of defacing the Alkitab is both sacrilegos and a step towards subjugation.

such conditions that belittle Christian faith and religion and which contravene religious freedom and the federal constitution should not be allowed to become a precedent. Christianss should not be made subject to accept Muslim views on Christianity and its practice and matters of faith as normative, or link the Alkitab row to the Catholic Church’s court case on the right to use “Allah” — the Arabic word for God — in its newspaper.

the Alkitab and the “Allah” court case are separate issues; and the federal government is unauthorised to ban the Alkitab under the law. Such developments as Christianity being singled out as a threat is unacceptable, as there are no such conditions imposed on the holy books of other religions, including Islam.

the Bible detentions are not the only difficulties which churches face in resolving key religious liberty issues with government authorities. we have repeatedly encountered restrictions that ran contrary to the guarantee of religious freedom provided in the Federal Constitution.

furthermore, under the 18 Point Agreement for Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia, it is clearly stated that there is no official religion for Sarawak. therefore the detention of the Bibles at the Kuching Port is not only unconstitutional but it also violates the spirit of the agreement for Sarawak to participate in the formation of Malaysia.

it must be borne in mind then that the matter is first and foremost a matter of law. I am glad that the church in Malaysia is stirring and speaking up against what is clearly unfair and unconstitutional.

followers of Jesus Christ will never respond with violence. but we can speak up for what is true and right.Christians are called to think and act clearly, and these are times not to ‘spiritualise’ such issues, but to walk faithfully and to be unapologetically, the church.

The bible calls us to: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy.(Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV).

as Dr Soo Inn Tan had recently asked in his commentary on ‘graceworks,’ “Has the church been stirred to merely speak up for her own concerns or are we committed to being agents of the Kingdom of God, speaking up on behalf of all deprived of their basic rights? “Is the church as excited about speaking up for tribal groups who have been cheated and bullied?

how about the many refugees in the land? do we even see them?” the only reason for evil to prevail is for those who know the truth to be apathetically politically-correct. now is not the time to remain silent or play church.

I want you to take a look at: Are Christians making an unnecessary fuss over the stamping of the Alkitab? | The Micah Mandate : Mandat Mikha