Self Sacrifice and Protest

A recent news story caught my eye last night
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-12833585

A woman set alight to her census in protest against an arms firm supporting the government's Office for National Statistics, despite knowing full well that to not fill out your census is a criminal offence. This takes a lot of bravery willing burning a government document knowing that it may result in a prison sentence and although it was not specifically a Christian or Anarchist act (although it is a pacifist act which are included within Anarchism and Christianity), I take heart that there are ordinary people out there willing to face prison sentences, or worse, for what they believe in. It also reminds me of the Apostles and Christian martyrs who suffered death and persecution willingly at the face of oppositions for their belief in Christ.


There was a recent march by the EDL through my home town and, although I feel very strongly about the need to stand up against fascism and the politics of hate, I decided not to go, partly through not wanting to annoy my GF, partly through not knowing much about the march but also partly through cowardice. 
I really want to start living my faith properly but at the moment I keep managing to find convenient obstacles, some real some made up that stop me from fulfilling my faith.
To protest and stand up for your beliefs often means having to sacrifice something of yourself. More often or not it some thing small and insignificant liike time or money (or a nice peaceful ride home in the car with your GF rather then having her go on about how she thinks its silly that you want to shout at some racists). but other times it means a sacrifice of something more then that, imprisonment, death. Luckily we live in a country where it is very unlikely that we will be put to death for our beliefs but in others we see people willingly paying the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, peace and justice, much like the apostles did.


I just hope God can show me the way through these self created obstacles standing in the way of me and my active participation of my faith and help me gain the little courage that is needed to do what is right.  

Time to take a stand

Its time to make a stand against fascism and hate and make sure it never becomes politically "legitimate" to hate again.
UKIP are attempting to become the dominant opposition party whilst the EDL wish to make a move into politics
We must unite and stop them before it's too late.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/farright-group-to-become-a-political-party-2233613.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12658045

Jesus preached about loving one's neighbour and forgiveness, but our political system allows for people who actively preach hate and punish the innocent, the system is flawed, this must not be allowed to happen.

Jesus has been declared ILLEGAL

Jesus Christ, who based his ministry on the homeless, poor and needy, and who declared himself homeless (Luke 9:58), has been declared illegal by the Conservative council of Westminster. Westminster, which is one of the wealthiest councils, has declared a ban on sleeping in the streets and giving food to the homeless as providing aid just encourages people to be homeless. A prime example of the anti-Christian stance taken by Governments around the world. It is now a crime to help those most in need.

Sickening.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-david-cameronrsquos-assault-on-the-homeless-is-dickensian-2231372.html