A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

At a time when being a Christian in some muslim countries is tantamount to a jail sentence and even possible execution, the reverse seems to be happening in the UK. You see…

With Muslims established as a privileged class and non-Muslims converting to Islam simply to avoid the misery of second-class status, British prisoners already sound like Sharia entities. “Prisoners convert to Islam for jail perks,” by Richard Ford in The Times, June 8 (thanks to Paul):

Inmates are converting to Islam in order to gain perks and the protection of powerful Muslim gangs, the Chief Inspector of Prisons warns today.

Dame Anne Owers says that some convicted criminals are taking up the religion in jail to receive benefits only available to practising Muslims.

The number of Muslim prisoners has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s — from 2,513 in 1994, or 5 per cent of the population, to 9,795 in 2008, or 11 per cent. Staff at top-security prisons and youth jails have raised concerns about the intimidation of non-Muslims and possible forced conversions.

This kind of news is not surprising. Taking the easy road always appeals to most of us as a self preservation base instinct. However Jesus did warn that following him would mean losing one’s perks in life, even losing the family honor and more so earn one the ridicule and abuse of society. Infact he advised that one needs to count the cost first.

Costly it has been for one Iranian pastor. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing imminent execution for converting to Christianity from Islam. Following a recent trial he has been sentenced to execution upon the charge of apostasy. With no celebrity tweeting or agitating for his release, he remains in the proverbial lion’s den awaiting the dawn of day either this side or on the other side of eternity.

I admire such courage in adversity. I wonder what perks he easily could have gained over the last 3 years in jail if he only softened his stance.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ~ Matt 16:24-26

Dear God, stamp eternity on my eye balls that I will not lose focus for temporal perks. This life is just a vapor and like the morning dew -one moment sparkling and gone the next!