On 11 February, the General Synod of the Church of England discussed a motion to affirm that the Church’s main purpose is to preach the Gospel with the aim of winning people to Christ. The motion was won with overwhelming support. The motion calls for clergy to be given extra training, support and encouragement to bring the Gospel message to non-Christians. Paul Eddy, who is a media consultant for CCFON and member of the synod, tabled the motion. The intention behind his motion goes further than bringing the Gospel message to potential converts among the Muslim, Hindu or other communities. His address goes right to the heart of the central division between liberal and traditionalist Anglicanism.
The most recent tension between liberal and traditionalist Anglicans has centred its attention on what the Bible says about homosexuality. Mr Eddy wants to challenge the Church by confirming the traditional duty to tell the truth about this issue, even if it feels uncomfortable, and to tackle the liberal drift.
Ziya Meral, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity, had to pay a high price for his decision when his own parents disowned him. He says: “They said ‘go away, you’re not our son.’ They told people I died in an accident rather than having the shame of their son leaving Islam.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7355515.stm
Naiz is a former Muslim, who became Christian and joined the Church of England. His decision to convert to Christianity also cost him much. He has been disowned by most of his family and threatened to be killed by Muslims. But Naiz insists that seeking to win people to follow Christ is a Christian duty.
He says: “Jesus said to his disciples ‘go and make disciples of all nations by baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit and teaching them every thing I have commanded you’. So it's the duty of the Anglican Church to do this.”
However, there were critics of the motion who sais that converting people to Christianity will damage the Church’s relations with members of other religions, including Muslims. They resisted Mr Eddy’s motion claiming that it is inflammatory and divisive. However, Mr Eddy knows the duty to spread the message and teaching of the Bible – as a universally accepted duty for Christians – is hard to argue against.
In May 2008, Mr Eddy has come under intense pressure from liberal bishops to withdraw a similar motion. He has also been denounced by some Muslims, but said the Church can no longer avoid hard questions about its beliefs. He said he had received angry e-mails and telephone calls from senior figures in the Church denouncing his motion. Speaking on BBC Radio Four, he said that in an effort to be inclusive and inoffensive, the church had “lost its nerve” and was “not doing what the Bible says”.
“Both Christianity and Islam are missionary faiths,” he said. “For years, we have sent missionaries throughout the whole world, but when we have the privilege of people of all nations on our doorstep, we have a responsibility as the state church to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Most Muslims that I've talked to say, ‘I really wish that Christians would stop watering down their faith and expecting us to do the same.’ He continued: “Until we start really saying what we really believe in our faith, there will be no respect. Actually, to present to a Muslim that we believe Jesus is the only way to God, they’ll say, ‘We know that’. They will expect us – if we’re true Christians – to try to evangelise them, in the same way they will expect us, if they’re true Muslims, to adopt their faith.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7418957.stm
Andrea Williams, Director of CCFON, said: “ If Christianity is true then it is the most important message of all and one that should be taken to every person.”
BBC News