Counter protestors gathered en masse across England yesterday (Aug. 6), taking a public stand against far-right extremist riots. Many created human shields outside asylum centers and held placards daubed with a simple message: “Refugees Welcome.” Christian leaders in the U.K. and beyond applauded the gospel-like response.
The counter protestors appeared in their thousands, of varying ages, racial backgrounds and beliefs, reportedly including the cities and towns of Accrington, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Harrow, London, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Finchley, Oxford, Sheffield, Southend, Southampton and Walthamstow.
Reports say the counter protestors' initiative seemed to have quelled the racist and Islamophobic riots for now, while law courts have begun sentencing rioters for various offenses.
Commenting to Christian Daily International, Christian leaders applauded the heartening response by the counter protestors, highlighting that the message of welcoming immigrants reflects the values of the gospel. Churches have a particular role to lead by example in showing love as the situation evolves, they said.
Rev. Jan Wessels, General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance, commented, “As our Lord Jesus Christ has called us in the Sermon on the Mount to be merciful and peace makers (Matthew 5:7-8), one of the marks of ‘Good News People’ is their hospitality to strangers, i.e. ‘migrants’ (Matthew 24:35).
Contrasting the positive attitude of the counter protestors with the hatred displayed in the violent riots, Wessels emphasized, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control instead of hatred, discord, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and other ‘acts of the flesh’ (Galatians 5:22-23).
“And the apostle Paul in the same letter admonishes us to ‘do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10) – and many of the migrants coming to Europe and to the U.K are indeed [believers].”
Wessels also pointed to the importance of churches as centers of communications that will remain active beyond the momentary counter-demonstrations.
“I think it is clear what the stance of followers of Jesus Christ and Christian churches is, and where their support should be as Good News People, and especially as communities of dialogue and reconciliation.
“We really have a much 'higher' way: that of Love (1 Corinthians 13). That is where the Church has always been able to make a difference and even change difficult situations.”
In the face of extremism, Wessels called upon Christians to reclaim their identities as people of the gospel, saying, “Let us be that Good News People again: towards all those angry people and towards all those migrants that have left everything behind; risked their lives many times in search of peace, of security, of freedom, of a future for themselves and for their children.
“Just imagine what we would do in their situation.
“And then again, Jesus says: in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12),” he said.
Echoing Wessel's comments, Dr. Krish Kandiah, director of the Sanctuary Foundation supporting refugees arriving in the U.K, said, “It was very encouraging to see the streets of cities and towns of Britain filled with people peacefully demonstrating that they were against racism and xenophobia.
“Many had banners that proclaimed that refugees are welcome. Christians believe that God is a God of welcome and mercy and so we should be using our voices to speak against xenophobia and racism and modeling the hospitality of God in our homes.
“It has been a privilege to see so many Christians across the U.K. welcome and support refugees and asylum seekers in ongoing and practical ways.”
Emily Shepherd, chief executive officer of Welcome Churches, a church-based charity supporting refugees, shared on social media that more than 50 churches held a call to explore their reaction to the far right riots.
“It was SO encouraging to hear what churches have been doing around the country to support their communities at this time - from buddy systems for their refugee friends, to supporting shop owners, and A LOT of prayer!” Shepherd said.
“I was especially amazed to hear how many prayer meetings were happening across the country last night, as the protests were meant to be happening - I think we are seeing God answer those prayers today.”
Police forces up and down the country staged the largest mobilization in their history yesterday, to control the situation in case the riots, sparked after the murder of three girls in Southport, Merseyside, happened again.
As Christian Daily International reported yesterday, the Christian Police Association had called upon fellow believers to pray for and support police officers who had to deal with the violent riots. The CPA's statement referenced James 5:16 that says, “effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
