Letter to the Stornoway Gazette

(This is a slightly shortened version of a letter which appeared in the ‘Stornoway Gazette’ of March 12th. We are grateful to both these letter writers (Mr Humphreys and Mrs Morrison) and would encourage others to follow their example).

Having watched Eorpa the other night, I feel I cannot but add a few comments. Firstly as a Christian parent, I am amazed at the way some very intelligent people seem to confuse having respect for individual people who have other beliefs and having respect for the belief; or the religion itself. I wish my children to grow up treating everybody with courtesy and friendliness, but I also wish them to grow up in the absolute and certain knowledge that the Word of God is the only rule to direct them. I want them to love their neighbours whoever they are, but I want this love to be Christ-centred love where there would be no confusion between loving them and loving their religion.

Secondly, the desire to have a Christian school is criticised partly on the basis that it has supposedly ‘come from across the Atlantic’. I believe it is a purely scriptural desire but isn't it odd that some of the very people that are critical of a so called inward-looking Highland Christianity, are not critical of what they call "American ideas".

The proposition is also criticised on the basis that it means that children may be going to a different school to some of the children on their street. Well, I am hoping to send my first child to a Gaelic medium school in the summer. I am grateful for this provision as my children’s first language is Gaelic. Now, nobody criticises my decision to send my children to this school, although it will result in them and their neighbours’ children going to different schools.

Have we as Christians really reached the point in Britain today where we rely on the state to do everything for us? Can we truly say that the state upholds Christian teachings and values? Do you not know that the same state, that so many are happy to see educating our children has allowed millions of unborn children to be aborted, has legalised homosexuality and continues to extend their rights.

Most teachers do a fantastic job in what is in many cases nowadays an incredibly difficult situation. We need to pray and be vigilant as Christian parents for our children.

Anne Morrison, Bishopbriggs

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