LAW AND ORDER

THIS LAST WEEK the British LAW SOCIETY has suggested Guidelines that would commence letting in  Islamic SHARIA LAW to be observed side by side with British Law.    Many cries have gone up in protest.    'THIS is a Country with a Christian Tradition and heritage.!' To be under Sharia Law would be to return to the Stone Age!'  'THIS is England!  We have our OWN law!'  To air but a view.  There are MANY more.   I am sure even you will have your own view.
It is, of course, a RELIGIOUS matter more than political.      To be a true Muslim is to observe the Koran, and the Koran, for the most part will require obedience to its 'Law' the Law of Allah - the Shariah Law.       In Islamic Countries, Law based on the Koran is the order of the day.    And in SOME such Nations it is the Sharia Law that holds sway.   This is in many ways understandable, and although it may be strange, even unacceptable to one from a Christian or other Country following a different Legal Tradition based on different Religious concepts and laws, it has at least to be respected.
BUT the LAW we live under affects to LIFE we live as well.   It enforces standards and ethics that lie at the base of our human expectation of Justice.      The Koranic Laws have more in common with the Law of Moses in their harshness - a harshness meant to deter and even prevent the prevalence of crime.      To the modern Western world with a Christian heritage it is a Law TOO HARSH to be accepted.      In the last 50 years this has even seen to be the harsher as the West has rejected the Death Penalty for murder, Corporal Punishment at School and at home, and a growing permissive attitude to Divorce, Homosexuality, and Abortion.     This has indeed distanced us from the Islamic attitude in regard to what displeases God - and what is even conducive to a moral and settled society.
They have remained Legalistically tied to the Letter and Law - they have not grown in discovering the TRULY Loving and Merciful Heart of God.    Obviously I cannot examine or discuss the ins and outs of our two very differing paths of development, or even understanding of WHO God is and WHAT He is like.        Even Christianity can be 'legalistic' -  but JESUS, whilst upholding the Ten Commandments' said there was MORE to living IN the Law than just ENFORCING it.   It had to be kept and enforced IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD - in His Love.          Our path has been marked out by God in and through JESUS, His Life and Words.     This has given a new dimension to Justice - WE have a concept of God's Justice, tempered with Mercy and GRACE.  

In Society we have those who identify with Race, Colour, and Religion.     Among them are those who will be less or more intense about how they permit these things to dictate to their life and thought.
Even in Christianity there is an enormous difference of expression and even belief.     AND, as I said before many of them are VERY legalistic.    Others Traditional, and still others divided by all kinds of interpretation of what God requires of them.    To a great degree the modern Christian, the Church goer, has been conditioned to see Christ as a loving, do-gooder;  Someone kindly, forgiving, and charitable.       BUT in truth the Christian IS required to remember the LAW, and to DO it, as well as to love and be merciful, and full of grace in his/her dealings with his/her neighbour.   Jesus did not throw the Law out of the spiritual Window;  He testified to a Judge, and to a Judgement.   He came to help us all to avoid that Judgement.         Indeed it might be said of the 'Christian' that he has lost his Way, and forgotten his God, as he has sought his own secular enjoyment and pleasure, and to lose sight of Who Christ really is, and WHY He came to this Earth in the first place.

In all this it is only emphasised how sinful we all are by nature, and how prone to still we still are given the opportunity.    

In KENYA we are multi racial and religious society.        More than 200 different Christian Denominations,  Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others,     Where at times violence breaks out in a community, it is often due to a difference in the way some understand LAW.

WHEN WE OPENED Testimony School, we opened it as a Christian School; a School that would not only follow the Kenya Academic School Curriculum, but a School that would also present Jesus Christ, to the exclusion of all others.        ANYONE could learn in our School, but ALL would attend Christian Education Class, and weekly Christian Union Meetings.    They would also attend morning Assembly and join Christian Prayers and listen to the Word of God as written in the Bible.     Every parent bringing a child to learn with us from outside in the community, has to sign on the Admission Form that they AGREE to this - and we have a VERY mixed School population.
NO ONE seemed to resent our demands or find them offensive.
THEN one day a Representative of the Hindu Community came to request us to open up an opportunity for one of their Sadhus to open up a Class for Hindu students on a weekly basis.  We said that we could not do this, as we were a Christian School.      She was very upset and took her complaint to the Education Board in Town.    I was called to account.      I explained that the Constitution guaranteed Religious Freedom.    Our School was Christian School.  It did not bar other students of other faiths from attending, but did not make provision for other faiths to be taught.     There were Hindu and Islamic School in Town where parents of those faiths could send their child.     SOME of those schools would not even ACCEPT a Christian.       WE explained the situation to every prospective parent, and without exception all had happily signed up to our conditions and rules.   We had a VERY happy and supportive parent and student body.       There was no further argument.   We have continued to enjoy a mixed student and parent body without complaint of any kind.
IT IS POSSIBLE for people to live together no matter what their differences are.     We need to have the option to choose our path.    We have need not to FORCE our beliefs on one another.   To a degree it can be LIVE and let live!      On the other hand we may have to honest with ourselves in the choices we make.        If England is Christian, why insist that England becomes Buddhist?    By all means build a temple, and worship as you wish if it is possible - otherwise why not choose another Buddhist Country to stay in.        People who are unaware of the Islamic Faith fear Sharia Law - with good reason. Such people would be foolish to move to Iran.       OH that we could all live in peace, but these last years prove the opposite.     Things WILL worsen in these respects.    Be READY, and prepare yourself as to how you will react.

JESUS WAS OFFERED DRUGS on the cross to alleviate his suffering.    He REFUSED.    Many have written about this even suggesting Christ was a 'drug addict'.     BUT we know that although he was tempted in every way just as we ourselves are, yet He never gave in to the temptation.    HE was not a Druggy.   He turned away from anything and everything that might distort, spoil, or destroy the Image of God in Him.

THIS YEAR we have seen many of our boys and girls both from inside and outside the Homes, bringing CANNABIS into the School, and into their lives.     We have seen promising minds and intellects blown away, and personalities and character suddenly changed and altered.      It has been quite a challenge.   We are still working on it.     We have been told that this drug is to be more and more legalised.    It is being hailed as a NEW Medicinal Wonder drug.      WELL this is not the truth for those under 18 - for them it is a danger - more it is will potentially ruin their lives. Here are a few of the things CANNABIS, Marijuana, Bhangi will do for your kids -
Continued use can affect memory, attention and ability to think clearly, making it difficult to concentrate, learn new things, and make sound decisions.     It affects movement and balance whilst smoking or drinking.  It produces a moderate reduction in I.Q.      
It produces a poorer (not better) performance in school.   Results in increased absenteeism from School, and increases risk of dropping out of School, College without graduating.
It also contributes to impaired emotional development, general dissatisfaction with life, and an increased likelihood to suffer from depression, anxiety, psychosis and other mental illness. THIS IS ENOUGH IN MY OPINION TO MAKE IT WORTH BANNING, SUPPRESSING, and even OUTLAWING.

BUT this drug is addictive; hard to give up once you start seriously to take it.   Once your are 'hooked' you are on the way DOWN towards even worse, even more destructive hard core drugs such as Heroin and Cocaine.!!!       And, yes, Eldoret is full of the worst moral and social evils.    From a small, quiet market town of 40,000 in 1972,  to a bustling small city of one million thriving on every evil trade. This has demonstrated a downward trend in our society generally, throughout the Country.    PRAY for OUR children.     Pray also for your own.

In School we have of course worked hard to get the co-operation of our parents, and in School we have done our best to set up a good Counselling Service and also commenced an Awareness Project.
We see clearly the thrust of the Enemy in all that is coming upon the children of our world.   We know this is not some unmotivated, natural world wide development.      This is a planned environmental attack using the media, and the general collapse of a god conscious population.     AND it is not only the West or 'Christian' World that is under this attack - it is worldwide.      We have another drug on the market here - from Asia.    It is known as KUBER.   Perhaps not SO dangerous, but certainly a good introduction to more risky solutions, and also contains an element of Cannabis.
KUBER is a smokeless chewing tobacco containing up to 25% nicotine, making it (once again) highly addictive.     It also contains up 28 different cancer causing agents, and users take in up to three to four times more nicotine than a cigarette.    It has already been banished from Malawi and Tanzania.
What are its Effects?
MAINLY Delusions, Hallucinations, and lowered inhibitions.     Additional side effects, can be Dizziness, Headaches, Drowsiness, Gum bleeding and week teeth.      LONG TERM effects can produce Discolouration of Teeth, Cervical Cancer, Infertility, and Mouth & Throat Cancer.

When JESUS died on that Cross He knew what He was doing.   He was not on drugs.   He knew what He was doing, and He did it for me, for you, and for our children.    HE knows the Way out and away from sin, and from the destruction it wreaks.    HE knows how to get the better of drugs and drug addiction. If Jesus lives in us, we also have the POWER to turn away and RESIST the temptation of drugs.         If Jesus is LIVING in us ?   THIS is the real question, for without HIM we can - non of us  - achieve anything.

EASTER is not far.     Pray for NEW LIFE to engulf us all.    

Our love to you all in His Wonderful Name


John, Esther, and Daryl Green