Arrest the Christian 'Outsider'

Recently several pastors from the Caledonia area have come out publicly to talk about the issues within Caledonia. This is a good thing and all people in leadership should make public statements regarding what is happening.

The Church, or Christians, have sat back far too long without speaking about the issues. Therefore, as a Christian, I have decided to do a series of stories about Christianity and the Events in Caledonia.

For those who are not Christian please take no offence in this and please read the editorials because I believe the principals contained within these Editorials are things common to most of us.

One thing you learn from reading the Bible is that there is nothing new under the Sun. How we act and how people in authority act has been repeated a thousand times before. This was the reason for my quoting from Martin Luther King Jr. because when we fail to learn from history then history will repeat itself.

Allow me to give an example that is Paralleled to our arrest from the life of the Apostle Paul.

In Ephesus Paul, who was an outsider, had been travelling and speaking to the people. A local businessman got upset because Paul's message was interfering with his ability to make a profit from the public. So this businessman gathered other local business owners together to stop the Apostle Paul.

After this businessman spoke to the other businessmen it states, "They were furious". We then read the whole city was in an uproar and the people seized some of Paul's supporters. Paul tried to speak to the crowd to bring about peace and order but the crowd continued. It was only out of fear that the Roman Guards would react to this riot that they stopped. (Acts `9:12-4`)

In another case Paul was seized by a crowd who claimed, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar." The local Roman magistrates ordered Paul to be stripped & beaten for throwing the city into an uproar and then had them placed in jail. The next day they wanted to release Paul from jail but Paul said to the officers, "They beat us publically without a trial, even though we are Roman Citizens, and threw us in prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." (Acts 16:20-37).

In another case the Apostle Paul was speaking in Jerusalem and when the crowd heard that Paul was present they stirred up a crowd to seize him, (Acts 21:27-31). Once again Paul found himself in jail just for speaking out. Once again the Romans, who only wanted to keep the peace, held Paul in jail although he had committed no crime and the Roman leader even stated there was no charge against Paul.

Because the Apostle Paul was unwilling to stop speaking out in various towns he was brought before the King. The King was willing to set Paul free since he had done no crime but Paul appealed to Caesar - meaning that Paul wanted his day in court. The King could not release Paul and had to send Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar himself.

2) People in power will follow the crowd to be seen to do what the crowd wants, but then secretly make a deal to do the right thing. After beating Paul and placing him in jail the Romans wanted to send Paul away secretly. This is the way it is with both the OPP and McGuinty. The OPP illegally arrested us and illegally kept me in jail overnight, but now secretly the OPP, through the Ontario Government, will pay us for damages caused.

3) It is far easier to attack the messenger than to listen to the message.

4) It is far easier to blame the messengers for inciting violence or causing a riot than the people who do the violence.

5) Paul believed that citizens have Rights and that as a Christian you can claim your Rights before the Government to force them to deal with the abuses of Power.

6) Paul believed that Christians should appeal their 'just' cases all the way up the system and even be prepared to go before Caesar.

7) Caesar had Paul killed - leaders will find the easy way out.

Should Christians stop travelling to other towns just because some don't like it or some organize groups against them? The Apostle Paul continued to travel and continued to speak out.

Should Christians sit back behind the walls of the Church and say nothing? We are called to be a light which is not to be hidden under a basket.

Have Christians failed to stand against injustices? Completely we have - 1st against the injustices of Canada against Native people and then because we refuse to help the people in Ipperwash.

I wonder just how many of these pastors who now have spoken out about Caledonia, have also spoken out over the last 15 years about Ipperwash?

Do we as Christians only get involved when the injustice is in our own town or do we come to the aid of our fellow Canadians?