Whilst it is true that the rise of Islam has not caused the decline of Christianity—it is also true that Islam, in conjunction with their allies, the Green Progressives, will accelerate the death of Christian Britain, and will result in discrimination and persecution against real Christians.

The Bradford taxi driver was insistent—despite my sceptical questioning. “Yes, they have burned down two churches—and no one can say anything about it because you will be called racist…Bradford is no longer Bradford—the Muslim influence is too strong.” That conversation a decade ago came to mind this past week when I read of two political proposals to ‘make Britain Christian again’ or ‘keep Britain Christian.’

Rupert Lowe, the leader of the Restore party tweeted “Britain is a Christian country, and under a Restore Britain Government—it will remain a Christian country.” Meanwhile Reform UK stated that they would grant some 40,000 UK churches listed status to stop them being converted into mosques. Zia Yusuf who acts as Reforms ‘shadow home secretary’ promised that this would prevent alterations affecting their historic character and would restrict change of use. What is intriguing is that Mr. Yusuf, a Muslim, argues that this is required to restore Britains Christian heritage and to ensure that Britain remains Christian to its core. All this is deemed necessary because of ‘the sheer quantities of people that came to the country in a short period of time”

There were various Christian responses to this. Some welcomed it, seeing it as a good and necessary intervention in what could be termed the ‘religious culture wars. Others regarded it as a cynical move by what they perceive as ‘the Far Right’ seeking to capitalise on Christian symbolism in pursuit of their political ends. A common response from not a few evangelical leaders was along the lines of the MP, Stuart Anderson, who tweeted “Christianity is not about buildings. It is about having a relationship with Jesus. Knowing He is the way the truth and the life and sharing this wonderful news.”

That is of course true. But it is also a truism which falls into the trap of making an either/or case when the situation is more complex. The fact that there is a greater truth, does not mean that there are not lesser ones.  Whilst Christianity is about having a personal relationship with Christ and sharing the wonderful news—it is also about the implication and outworking of that news—at a personal, community and national level. No true Christian would argue that Christianity was about buildings—but there are very few who would say it has nothing to do with buildings. I find buildings very useful and would find my evangelism much hindered without the great old building that is Scots Kirk, Newcastle.  I thought of Mr Anderson’s remarks on a stopover in Istanbul. I wanted to go and see the Hagia Sophia, probably the grandest church building ever built. But sadly, I couldn’t—not only because of time constraints but also because it has been turned into a Mosque and since 2024, Christians have not been permitted to enter the lower hall. Maybe it’s my relationship with Jesus Christ, and my desire to see him glorified, that I feel more than a little upset that his church and people have been so colonised in this way?!

Others noted that Islam was not the problem, it was the rejection of Christianity by the native Brits which was the real reason that Britain was losing its Christian heritage. We would only get to be a ‘Christian country’ if the majority of people were truly Christian. Again, there is great truth in this. But it is not the whole truth. You do not require the majority of the population to be truly converted (how would you measure that anyway? Most of us are in churches where we cannot really determine the real percentage of real Christians are—the wheat and the tares grow together.

This also applies in terms of Islam. I am told that the majority of Iranians no longer regularly attend mosques. Does that mean Iran is not really a Muslim country? My own view is that when a town or city in the West becomes more than 15-20% Islamic, then the whole community is greatly changed. Give me 10% of a community becoming clearly Christian and there is no doubt that that community would be turned upside down!

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