Sheep Posts 1
“Sheep Posts” is a series of short blogs from our colleagues in EurECA (European Educators Christian Association, eureca-online.org). This amazing body provides networking and support for Christian teachers (and their national organisations) right across Europe. Their aim is to “encourage Christians, mostly in secularised schools, to live out their faith and bring the light of Christ to their workplace – courageously, gently and wisely.”Why call these blogs “Sheep Posts”? — because Jesus calls us “His sheep” (Matthew 10v16). We are most grateful to Matt Kaegi and Liviu Căprar, M.Ed. (EurECA Executive Officer) for permission to publish these blogs.
Like sheep among wolves
The picture that Jesus uses in Matthew 10:16 is quite stark: He sends his disciples “like sheep among wolves.” Many Christians in secular western or in Muslim societies or in communist China feel like that.
In Europe, we are often intimidated by the dictate of “neutrality”: Christian teachers are made to believe they must not reveal their Christian identity, because that would violate the religious freedom of others. So, we live in contradiction between our faith that the world can only be redeemed through Christ, and the dictate of secularism.
Do you know that the European Convention on Human Rights ECHR*, §9, states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom … in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance”?
Since all European countries have subscribed to the ECHR, we must learn to claim our right to freedom of faith and to overcome the intimidation of secular dominance.
Sheep among wolves in Europe
The picture that Jesus uses in Matthew 10v16 (“I send you like sheep among wolves”) makes us shiver: Does Jesus want us to be eaten up for being his followers? Probably not! Read on: “Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
“Shrewd” I believe we can understand as “intelligent” (we don’t need to turn into “snakes”): We must use our intelligence
- to understand our challenge,
- to know what the ECHR* §9 and the laws of our country say
- to understand the conflict between Christian and secular worldviews
- to be prepared to react appropriately when the opportunity comes.
“Innocent” is translated in some versions as “without guile”: I understand this as “authentic”. So, to be authentic, we must not hide our faith. It is an important part of our identity, our authenticity.
The wolves in Europe are the secularist/ materialist/rationalist worldviews which claim dominion over others. Christians have widely adopted the world’s view that “secularism is neutral but faith in God is not”. We must use our intelligence and authenticity to overcome this false dogma.
If we follow Jesus’ advice, we need not fear.
[All blogs on our website are the personal view of the writer and do not necessarily represent a position taken by CVE Scotland.]
