U.K. Christians Challenged to Be Bold, Not Nice
LONDON – The convener of the Global Day of Prayer London has delivered a tough call to Christians in the United Kingdom to wake up and take an uncompromising stand for their faith.
More than 10,000 Christians in London prayed in each of the capital's 33 boroughs as part of the Global Day of Prayer, which was observed in 219 countries on Pentecost Sunday.
Speaking at the Newham prayer meeting in East London, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede said that it was time for Christians to pray and act. He warned in particular of the threat posed by ungodly legislation being passed by Parliament and plans to build a so-called mega mosque at the site of the London Olympics.
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"I used to be a Muslim. The Muslims don't just want to build a mosque. They want to take over," he warned. "If you want to roll over and play dead while the legacy of your forefathers is thrown in the dust and you can't stand up and say enough is enough then you are not fit to be a Christian."
Oloyede said Christians in the United Kingdom need to "stop trying to be nice and cute" in the face of threats to their faith and the well-being of the nation.
"All that stuff about not offending anyone is nonsense," he said. "I used to try to be nice to everyone but God said to me: You cannot be my messenger by being nice to everybody. So are you going to just play nice or are you going to be a follower of Christ?"
He stressed that he was not asking Christians to be violent or unkind but rather to be bold and "true to the calling you have as a citizen of the Kingdom."
He went on to urge Christians to be true believers by living out their faith.
"Many Muslims behave better than us Christians. Don't be compromised. Be a Christian or don't be. Stay in your nightclubs or come to church. Either be for God or be against him. There is no in between."
Telling gathered believers that the future of Christianity in the United Kingdom lies in their hands, Oloyede challenged them to plunge a stake in the ground where they were and take each part for Christ.
"Many Muslim leaders have told me that if the Christians in this country stood up for their faith they would back off," he noted. "London, England, wake up! You choose which way this nation will go. Pray that this nation will wake up to its true calling and intercede until we see his glory."
In a video message broadcast to the Global Day of Prayer London prayer meetings, London Mayor Boris Johnson paid tribute to the many Christian-run projects he said were helping to build community cohesion across the capital.
"We need your prayers at this time," Johnson said.
Christians spent Sunday afternoon praying for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done. Time was also given to pray for believers working within government, education, the NHS and the police, as well as for church and ministry leaders.
For the first time this year, the Global Day of Prayer meetings were preceded by youth prayer meetings.
