I was reading with some interest the recent European Court case involving four Christians.  The outcome was all too predictable – Christians 0, Secular Culture 1 (apart from one case, to cover the essential decisions in all the others).

What I found most interesting was the comments that followed.  One dominant thread was that of “if you can’t do that job because of your beliefs, tough – go find another job”. Now, what that really is about is the emergent new intolerance, breaking free from its shell for all to see.  Really, it was there all the time – all the nonsense about tolerance and diversity were mere platitudes to cover the essential reality of nations descending again into paganism, and one worldview replacing another.

What’s particularly notable is that the new intolerance is now on public display, and the reality is it will become more entrenched as time goes on and the new worldview cements its hold.  Expect to see more restrictions on what Christians may do.  Don’t expect the eventual realisation that Christians have been ‘marginalised’, ‘sent to the back of the bus’, ‘unable to get decent employment’ etc. to be a wakeup call.  Rather, what you will hear is  “your bigoted beliefs, your problem”.

In this new totalitarianism, there is no softening of Christian love or charity; in this new diversity is only uniformity; in this equality, some are less equal than others; in this tolerance festers the most rank form of intolerance.  And most will either not care, or celebrate it.

Well, this sounds a bit grim, doesn’t it?  Still – all is well, for “in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16 v33b.  The world will hate you, it is what it does.  If you bear the mark of Christ, you will be hated.  But He has overcome the world, defeated it and led captives in His train.  There will be a wedding feast of the Lamb.  And on that day, the spirit of this age will be cast out to the place where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Because the Lamb has overcome all.  Will you stand with Him, follow Him, even if that means following in His footsteps to the cross?