March for Jesus
It was reported this week that the Walk with Jesus March planned for the 31st of January in Whitechapel was cancelled by our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer; this would provoke the local Muslim community.
Whitechapel, located within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is widely recognised as having one of the largest and most concentrated Muslim communities in the United Kingdom. The area is deeply associated with Islamic faith and practice.
The walk was seen as reckless, as it was defined by metropolitan authorities, and it presented an opportunity for potential violence.
The march was promoted across various social media platforms, inviting participants to worship Jesus Christ during January, which the organisers describe as a month dedicated to the holy name of Jesus. This march was not exclusive to Whitechapel; the authorities granted permission for it to take place in other areas and countries, but not within Whitechapel.
This follows on from previous demonstrations, such as a mass deportation tour, where the fear of violence or disorder has been anticipated. Marches have been planned, and local communities, such as the Bangladeshi community, responded by wearing masks and balaclavas while dressed in dark clothing.
In response to the pending march, it was reported that protesters descended on Whitechapel to “stand firm” and show that they were “ready to defend our community,”, chanting “Allahu Akbar” as they marched.
We are in a world of great racial, social and religious tensions. As we see across the globe, there are voices and scenes that are overwhelming, and these voices can easily drown out reason or clarity.
The mission of the church is to declare the name of Jesus, not the right-wing or left-wing message, but the global, all-inclusive message that Jesus saves.
In Philippians 2:9–11, it states, “Therefore God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Christian author, pastor, and preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The name of Jesus is the great centre of hope for the believer; it is the name that drives away fear, dispels darkness, and overcomes the enemy.”
The gospel must be shared and wisdom applied, but only through perfect love can fear be expelled.
Race must never be the motivation for our proclamation, but the voice and the message, which Christianity is at the core of our identity within Britain, should be shared.
We must pray for God to intercede and for him to be glorified in all things as He draws all men unto Himself.