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Ministry on the Frontline: It’s time for Christians to wake up,” says Baroness Caroline Cox

By Toks and Funmi Olowu of IMPACT Magazine, London, England
Special to ASSIST News Service

LONDON, UK (ANS) -- Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox, is a devoted human rights advocate, who continues to risk her life by taking the tenets of her Christian faith into the heart of battle fields and poverty stricken danger zones all over the world, where millions of people are persecuted and oppressed. IMPACT Magazine was privileged to interview this humble and remarkable woman when we met in the Peers Lobby, at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in London. Find out what inspires this fearless fighter fondly described by her peers as the Voice for the Voiceless? Find out in the discussion below, (Pictured: Cover of Baroness Cox: A Voice for the Voiceless, a biography by Andrew Boyd).

IMPACT: What has been the influence of your parents on your life?

COX: I will always be grateful to my parents. I was brought up as a Christian in the Anglican Church of England. I can clearly remember the text that the Bishop read to us on that day, ‘Have I not command thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest’ (Joshua 1:9 TKJV). My parents had a very deep sense of service. My father was a surgeon and my mother was a teacher. I also went to school where I enjoyed worshipping the Lord and remember some of those hymns up till today. (Pictured: Baroness Cox outside the British Parliament in London).

IMPACT: How did you become a member of the House of Lords?

COX: That truly must be God’s sense of humour because I was not active in politics. I was not even fond of public speaking because I was nervous in such situations. However for many years I did fight against Communism and hard-line Marxism in this country. This happened while I was working in an academic department of twenty people, sixteen of who were Communists. I came up against their definition of education. Mine was the freedom to pursue the truth in the context of academic standards and criteria. But theirs was hard-line indoctrination involving academic intimidation. What I saw happening was the opposite of my understanding of education as a Christian. What was going on around me was a denial of the truth and the presence of hate instead of love. So I challenged that situation for nine years and eventually wrote a book titled ‘The Rape of Reason’. This book was widely acclaimed and led to my recognition by former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher who invited me to become a member of the House of Lords.

IMPACT: Why is this problem of Persecution so close to your heart?

COX: I think the plight of the persecuted should be of concern to every Christian for two reasons. The first is that it is a biblical mandate for us to speak for the oppressed, heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit those in prison. Our love and concern must be unconditional and more embracing. Secondly, according to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, when part of the Body of Christ suffers we all suffer. For too often, we who live in the comfort zones in the West do not reach out to stand alongside, let alone share the suffering of those who are paying with their blood for the Christian faith. This is the specific mandate to all Christians.

IMPACT: As you’ve been around the world seeing Persecution face to face, what would you say is the main cause of this problem?

COX: There are three broad types of persecution in the world today. First, we find it in countries still being ruled by totalitarian or communist ideologies. For example China, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma. I pray that those are dying ideologies. They are not likely to expand and seem to be holding on to power. Their existence is a matter of time. The second is extremist fundamentalism. These exist in countries like India, where you have the Hindu extremist party (BJP) that persecutes other religious communities. The third and most rapidly growing form of persecution in the world today is associated with militant Islam. I think as Christians we have to be fully aware of this. We have to make a distinction between the vast majority of the worlds over one billion Muslims who are peaceful and law abiding and at the same time be concerned about the growth of militant Islamism. We need to pray for wisdom and discernment to know how to wake up and be free from this growing form of Christian persecution in many parts of the world. Take Nigeria for instance, I have seen the results of the carnage in the northern part of the country. Sudan continues to be a place of horrendous carnage, which has left two million people dead and five million displaced. In countries where Muslims and Christians have lived together for many years; Indonesia for example, extremist Islamism has brought horrific terrorism resulting in many deaths.

IMPACT: Do you see us getting any closer to resolving this issue with the increasing massacre of lives?

COX: It is my personal belief that Christianity needs to wake up. We are losing ground very fast in so many areas of the world spiritually, geographically, politically, legally and militarily. In Africa militant Islam is massively on the march. This was greatly emphasised at the last conference of African lawyers. In Nigeria, Sharia Law is taking a foothold even when it is fundamentally incompatible with the Nigerian constitution and also with the universal declaration of human rights; This declaration enshrines equality before the law and freedom to choose and change religion. Sharia denies both options. You can choose to become a Moslem but it is a oneway street because you cannot come out. So we have to be aware of what is at stake at the moment. As Christians we have to think spiritually and strategically, on how to develop a well-informed response to this threat.

IMPACT: There so many churches especially in Africa praying against this attack, why do you think it is still growing?

COX: As I mentioned earlier we have to wake up with a spiritual and strategic response. Part of that will be to study the true nature of militant Islam and its agenda. This is not taught in Bible Schools, Theologies or Seminaries, so Christians are currently like sheep for wolves. In Nigeria for instance, I have seen a lot of evangelism against persecution, but there is very little evidence of a spiritual strategic approach in response to the dangers of militant Islam. There are virtually no more registered Christian churches standing in the Centres of Kaduna, Bauchi or Kano. We have allowed ourselves to become naive by not really thinking about the nature of Militant Islam. My message to Christians especially in Nigeria is to wake up. Prayer without deeds is dead. Sharia Law is now the legal system in 12 states in that country. I hate confrontation but it is there and your churches are burning. In such a situation you need to say enough is enough and seek guidance to engage the enemy.

IMPACT: You are identified with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, what does this Charity organisation do?

COX: Christian Solidarity Worldwide works on behalf of the oppressed in many countries. Its main activity relates to finding out what is happening by visiting the scenes of conflict for research and documentation. This is then reported by speaking up and speaking out at various levels such as Parliament, the United Nations, and Congressional briefings in Washington DC. In essence CSW exists to speak out on behalf of the oppressed. This is aimed at convincing leaders and politicians to take appropriate steps to remove the scourge of persecution from their countries. One of CSW’s primary methods to achieve this is to encourage solidarity for the oppressed through prayer. The aim is to seek wisdom and discernment in tackling this problem.

IMPACT: How much opposition do you face? Is the response encouraging?

COX: In Parliament the response is good because persecution and oppression transcends party politics. The majority of members are concerned and are supportive. I also speak at conferences and in Churches and wherever God opens doors. As far as the churches are concerned some are awake and responsive. However, too many churches in the West prefer to sit in the comfort zone and are reluctant to hear the gory stories of oppression and persecution. Having said that there are many who respond and are supportive. As far as the governments are concerned, especially where the atrocities occur, I am not their favourite person. For instance, I have been given a prison sentence in Khartoum for entering Sudan. The point is as long as the government declare these areas of oppression no go areas, and deny access by the United Nations and humanitarian organisations, I will have to enter the county as they say ‘illegally’. My challenge to them is open up Sudan then I do not have to enter that way. I used to fly over the Armenian airspace until I was told there was a price on my head. Surely when oppressive regimes are criticised they will threaten you. (Pictured: Baroness Cox giving gifts to youths at Karabakh in Armenia).

IMPACT: What do members of your family think about the risks involved in this work?

COX: They are very supportive. When I am going somewhere really dangerous, I do not let them know till I‘m back. There is no point in worrying unnecessarily.

IMPACT: What’s the advice you would give to women aspiring to do work similar to what you are doing?

COX: There was a time when I was very afraid to embark on such initiatives. God has a different plan for every person so not everyone has to go through my footsteps. However in answering your question, when we pray God shows us what to do. We are all little parts of His master plan. He has His ways that we as humans can never imagine. I think we really need to pray and ask how He wants us to serve and where. One of the principles I have is that when God opens a door in front of you, even if you never intended in doing it that way, go through it. Once you have gone through that door, God then shows you the horizon. Thank Him in your praises and then you open yourself up to opportunities. He then uses us as he wants and that is what we want; to be used by Him. Sometimes it may mean doing the risky things I do. It could be a different kind of ministry, but as long as it is His ministry it will be fine. We are serving a God who does exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask for. There is phrase which says ‘God does not ask for our ability, but for our availability’. We should always try to be available and He will always show us the right way.

Baroness Cox is a member of the House of Lords, and also President of the Trustees of Christian Solidarity Worldwide - see their web site www.csw.org.uk for more information. (Pictured: Dan Wooding after interviewing Baroness Cox in Southern California during a visit).

For more information on IMPACT, go to their website at www.impactmagazine.co.uk.

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